Arts and Ideas
What We Offer
Creative Arts
Author Events
Leisure games
Film Screenings
Learning & Conversations
Jewish Experiences
Unleash Your Creativity
Our hands-on classes help spark your inner self and engage your mind. No matter your age or experience, discover new interests and hobbies through art classes, card and tile games, book clubs and Israeli dance.
Topics of Interest
If you enjoy dialogue about current events and historical context, we have a variety of classes that will engage your mind and expand your views. From weekly news highlights to issues of race to Jewish studies, The J supports lifelong learning.
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.– Maya Angelou
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.
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 books including Jewish life, historical fiction, Israeli literature, cooking, memoirs and more.
Playmakers Youth Theatre
An inclusive educational theatre program for students in grades kindergarten through college. We support and help build self-confidence, creativity, teamwork and an appreciation for the arts.
Men’s Club
Join the conversation at weekly morning programs where adult men connect with peers, socialize, share ideas and listen to guest speakers. Topics range from education, health, Israel, Jewish holidays, local economic development and more.
60 Connect
Connect with adults aged 60 and above during weekday programs that include exercise, live entertainment, games and outings. We provide congregate Kosher lunches and free transportation to assist older and disabled adults to eliminate isolation.
Featured Classes
Arts and Ideas
11/25/2024 - 11/25/2024
A free class for adults to learn tips for dealing with fear and stress.
Fear can greatly affect our brains. Learn how our body and brain perceive and react to fearful situations. We will also discuss practical tips for dealing with everyday fears and stressors so that we can learn to control our fear response and brain function when we are afraid. Class offered in person and virtual via Zoom.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
12/16/2024 - 12/16/2024
A free class for adults to exercise their brain to improve brain health,
Engage your brain in this fast-paced, mind aerobics class purposefully designed to rev up various aspects of your brain while promoting lifelong learning. Leave this course with the understanding of the three fundamentals needed to make an exercise an appropriate "brain workout."
Arts and Ideas, Adult
11/22/2024 - 11/22/2024
A free class for adults to exercise their brain to improve brain health.
Engage your brain in this fast-paced, mind aerobics class purposefully designed to rev up various aspects of your brain while promoting lifelong learning. Leave this course with the understanding of the three fundamentals needed to make an exercise an appropriate "brain workout."
Arts and Ideas, Adult
12/09/2024 - 12/09/2024
An adult class focused on the 2024 election results.
This class will discuss the 2024 election results and what they mean moving forward.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
12/11/2024 - 12/11/2024
A free class for adults to learn how gift-giving impacts memory and brain health.
This program will explore a simple brain-healthy concept that you can readily gift your loved ones this holiday season: the present of your presence. In this session, we explore the tradition and history of holiday gifts and how gift-giving impacts social connections, memory and brain health.
Arts and Ideas, Adult
01/21/2025 - 02/11/2025
A series of classes exploring the influence of slaves on shaping American history.
In this four-class series, presidential historian Steve Schecter will explore the incredible and often overlooked influence that slaves had on shaping American history. We will discuss their pivotal role in shaping the lives and decisions of some of our nation?s most influential figures, ultimately leaving an unforgettable mark on the fabric of our nation. Topics include George Washington's Three Favorite Enslaved; Thomas Jefferson and the Hemings Family; How the War Changed Lincoln; and A Partial Biography of Frederick Douglass.
Arts and Ideas Leadership
Beth Rosenthal
Arts and Culture Program Associate
216-593-6216
Deborah Bobrow
Director of Arts and Culture
216-593-6278
Jill Rembrandt
Sr. Director of Jewish Life, Arts & Culture and Healthy Aging
216-593-6254
