Jewish Life
The J is dedicated to offering programming that reflects Jewish values and is designed to educate the greater community on Jewish culture and traditions – creating a pathway for joyful, meaningful living. As an organization that is open and accepting of all, we create classes and events that appeal to every age and religious background.
See our upcoming Jewish Life events and classes.
Family Programs
Building community is important to families of all sizes. Our engaging and hands-on programs for children from birth through school age are offered year-round. Families connect, celebrate and explore together while listening to a Jewish author reading a children’s book, learning to make Israeli dishes, dancing to music at tot Shabbat or making dreidels and matzah houses.
Intergenerational Learning
The J brings people of all ages together with activities that bridge the generation gap. From holiday celebrations to challah-making workshops we encourage the community to share experiences that unite the young and the young at heart. Our engaging adult programs include art classes, news and current events discussions, lectures, book club gatherings and classes on Judaism that explore Jewish history, life cycle events and Torah study.
Israeli Connections
Israel has a rich history and culture that is important to Jewish life. To support educational programming and strengthen connections with Israel, The J has a shlicha (messenger or emissary from Israel) on staff. Adi Naor is from Haderah, a city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, north of Tel Aviv, after completing her service in the Israeli Defense Forces as a commander in the Education Corps. Adi enriches our community through activities, events and displays about Israeli culture, history and the Hebrew language.
Jewish Holidays
Judaism is rich with customs, rituals and holiday celebrations based on the Torah. We have created a series of guides to share the history, symbols and customs associated with each major holiday and provide ideas for activities for families.
Cleveland Jewish Book Festival
Indulge in a celebration of books written by nationally, internationally and locally acclaimed authors who share the stories behind their books. We highlight a variety of genres and topics including Jewish life, historical fiction, Israeli literature, cooking, memoirs and more.
Cleveland Jewish FilmFest
Watch a diverse, international selection of dramas, documentaries, shorts and TV series that explore, educate, entertain and provoke discussion on the Jewish and Israeli experiences. From dramatic to humorous, we screen powerful and award-winning films for all movie lovers.
Featured Classes
Jewish Life, Arts and Ideas, Adult
09/11/2025 - 09/11/2025
Celebrate the holidays and New Year through creative expression! Explore Judaic themes while making meaningful artwork, materials provided.
Embrace the spirit of the holidays and the New Year! This class invites participants to engage with the rich cultural and religious tapestry of Judaism by creating their own artworks that reflect these traditions. Join us on a journey of creativity, learning, and connection as we honor the beauty and significance of Judaic themes. All Materials will be provided.
Jewish Life, Adult
09/03/2025 - 09/03/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Jewish Life, Adult
10/29/2025 - 10/29/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Jewish Life, Adult
11/19/2025 - 11/19/2025
Enjoy lunch and lively Jewish learning led by local rabbis and educators. No Hebrew or prior experience needed.
Enjoy your lunch at the JCC with a side of Jewish learning! Each month we host a lunch and learn led by a different community rabbi or educator on a variety of engaging new topics. Bring your own brown-bag lunch, and desserts or goodies will be provided. All Jewish learning backgrounds are welcome, no Hebrew or text skills required.
Jewish Life, Adult
10/23/2025 - 04/07/2026
Explore Jewish holidays, history, and core concepts through engaging study and discussion, led by rotating rabbinic instructors in both in-person and virtual sessions. Open to all.
Explore Jewish observance of holidays and life-cycle events, major periods in Jewish history and significant Jewish concepts through lecture, engaging text study, meaningful dialogue and exploration in the community. Class will be taught in four sections with a different rabbinic instructor for each section. Some classes will be held in person at the Mandel JCC Community Room and some dates will be taught virtually via Zoom. Open to the community.
Jewish Life
09/21/2025 - 09/21/2025
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with fun, family-friendly activities at The J.
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with your family at the Mandel JCC! The program will be good for children ages 0-8 and their caregivers.
Early Childhood, Jewish Life, K-12
10/12/2025 - 10/12/2025
A fun family Sukkot celebration with pizza and activities.
Celebrate Sukkot at the Mandel JCC Sukkah! Enjoy a pizza lunch with other young families. For children 0-8 and their caregivers.
Early Childhood, Fitness, Jewish Life, K-12
10/26/2025 - 10/26/2025
Beat the winter blues with active play in The J’s gym—bikes, balls, mats and more! Great for families with kids ages 0–8.
Get out of the cold and join us in The J's gymnasium for large muscle activities such as biking, balls, play mats, and more! Meet other young families and enjoy a safe space to release that winter energy. Good for families with children ages 0-8.
Early Childhood, Fitness, Jewish Life, K-12
11/23/2025 - 11/23/2025
Beat the winter blues with active play in The J’s gym—bikes, balls, mats and more! Great for families with kids ages 0–8.
Get out of the cold and join us in The J's gymnasium for large muscle activities such as biking, balls, play mats, and more! Meet other young families and enjoy a safe space to release that winter energy. Good for families with children ages 0-8.
Jewish Life Leadership
Sarah Jaffe Kasdan
Director of Jewish Life and Culture
216-593-6288
