Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Does the JCF move matter to the person-on-the-street?
BY: CJN STAFF
Professional and lay leadership of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland are currently engaged in an impassioned debate over the location of Federation’s headquarters.
The organization needs a larger, updated facility; the only question is, should that facility be located in downtown Cleveland or move to Beachwood in the same general area as The Mandel JCC, the Maltz Museum, Siegal College, and several synagogues and day schools?
Federation leadership, major donors, and other interested citizens have argued their positions in the pages of the CJN for weeks. But when you consider that the majority of Jewish Clevelanders have little direct connection to Federation … does the location of the headquarters even matter to them?
The CJN tried to find out.
“I’m a fan of moving east,” offers Beverly Weltman of Lyndhurst, noting it would make for a “more homogenous community.”
would make for a “more homogenous community.”
However, Weltman is the lone voice of that opinion among those randomly polled by the CJN. Most people we encountered were staunchly in favor of keeping Federation downtown.
Even though she’s not active in Federation, JoAnn Salon, 58, of Shaker Heights thinks it is bad for the city of Cleveland if Federation moves east.
Steve Kalette, 59, of Shaker Heights feels, “It would be a shame if they move out, another organization turning its back on Cleveland.”
For Jamie Peltz, 46, an Orange resident, the issue is about the future leadership of the Jewish community. “If they want kids to come back to Cleveland after college, they better have a vibrant downtown,” she says. “Everyone keeps abandoning the city, and then (they) ask each other why Cleveland has so many issues.”
“I’d like to see downtown stay alive,” adds Leonard Lurie, 64, of Shaker Heights. “Too many companies and businesses are leaving.”
Even though there are excellent Jewish organizations in Beachwood, Paul Levin, 61, of Shaker Heights feels “Federation should have a wider view” and either add on to and renovate its existing building or find new space in the central city.
Beth Israel-The West Temple member Rick Keller, 53, opposes a move to an eastern suburb. “Federation is here to serve the entire Jewish community, which includes East Side, West Side and South Side. They should be centrally located for all.
“I don’t understand why the city of Cleveland hasn’t chimed in more than it has,” adds the Westlake resident. “The city is asleep at the wheel.”
“Sadly, Beachwood is looked upon as the center of Jewish life,” says Dr. David Shapiro, 47, of Avon Lake, who admits he was unaware that Federation even has a building. Although he concedes it would make sense to move to Beachwood, he notes, “those of us on the West Side might look at this as one more pull of Jewish life farther from (us). We’re clearly in the minority.”
The CJN’s coverage of this issue has sparked the interest of Julianna Senturia, 30s, of Shaker Heights. “The arguments are so good for both sides,” she says. “I see the appeal for staff to go east, but understanding how much we rely on the success of the city, we should stay downtown. We will feel the repercussions if we don’t.”
“There is a place for both facilities,” reasons Doreen Warn, 50, of Beachwood. “Downtown is a place to engage the entire community, including the collegiate community. At the same time, there should be importance in attaching it to the heart of the city (area) where most Jews live.”
Not everyone is that engaged in the debate. Sheryl Markowitz, 44, has not been following the issue, nor does she feel a Federation move affects her personally. “There’s a national election going on,” says the Beachwood resident. “In the pantheon of things to worry about, that’s not one of them.” Whether the organization stays downtown or moves east should be a financial decision, she adds.
Markowitz is not alone. A random sampling of people exiting The Mandel JCC included 11 individuals who had no opinion about the move.
Lyndhurst resident Jenny Kay, 29, notes most of her contact with the agency is over the phone, so location of the building is immaterial to her. Yet, she adds, it would be “nice for Beachwood” if Federation were located near the Maltz Museum and the JCC and other Jewish agencies.
“The people who run it should be the ones who decide,” says Gary Hoffman of Moreland Hills. “They know better than I do.”
“It won’t affect us at all,” claims Shosh Ault of Parma, 70. As a West Sider, she quips, “Downtown or the East Side, it’s the same difference to us.”
Janet Dery, Ellen Schur Brown, Stacey Hoffman, Susan H. Kahn, Marilyn H. Karfeld and Sarah Jacobson contributed to this article, which was compiled by Margi Herwald Zitelli.
editorial@cjn.org
The organization needs a larger, updated facility; the only question is, should that facility be located in downtown Cleveland or move to Beachwood in the same general area as The Mandel JCC, the Maltz Museum, Siegal College, and several synagogues and day schools?
Federation leadership, major donors, and other interested citizens have argued their positions in the pages of the CJN for weeks. But when you consider that the majority of Jewish Clevelanders have little direct connection to Federation … does the location of the headquarters even matter to them?
The CJN tried to find out.
“I’m a fan of moving east,” offers Beverly Weltman of Lyndhurst, noting it would make for a “more homogenous community.”
would make for a “more homogenous community.”
However, Weltman is the lone voice of that opinion among those randomly polled by the CJN. Most people we encountered were staunchly in favor of keeping Federation downtown.
Even though she’s not active in Federation, JoAnn Salon, 58, of Shaker Heights thinks it is bad for the city of Cleveland if Federation moves east.
Steve Kalette, 59, of Shaker Heights feels, “It would be a shame if they move out, another organization turning its back on Cleveland.”
For Jamie Peltz, 46, an Orange resident, the issue is about the future leadership of the Jewish community. “If they want kids to come back to Cleveland after college, they better have a vibrant downtown,” she says. “Everyone keeps abandoning the city, and then (they) ask each other why Cleveland has so many issues.”
“I’d like to see downtown stay alive,” adds Leonard Lurie, 64, of Shaker Heights. “Too many companies and businesses are leaving.”
Even though there are excellent Jewish organizations in Beachwood, Paul Levin, 61, of Shaker Heights feels “Federation should have a wider view” and either add on to and renovate its existing building or find new space in the central city.
Beth Israel-The West Temple member Rick Keller, 53, opposes a move to an eastern suburb. “Federation is here to serve the entire Jewish community, which includes East Side, West Side and South Side. They should be centrally located for all.
“I don’t understand why the city of Cleveland hasn’t chimed in more than it has,” adds the Westlake resident. “The city is asleep at the wheel.”
“Sadly, Beachwood is looked upon as the center of Jewish life,” says Dr. David Shapiro, 47, of Avon Lake, who admits he was unaware that Federation even has a building. Although he concedes it would make sense to move to Beachwood, he notes, “those of us on the West Side might look at this as one more pull of Jewish life farther from (us). We’re clearly in the minority.”
The CJN’s coverage of this issue has sparked the interest of Julianna Senturia, 30s, of Shaker Heights. “The arguments are so good for both sides,” she says. “I see the appeal for staff to go east, but understanding how much we rely on the success of the city, we should stay downtown. We will feel the repercussions if we don’t.”
“There is a place for both facilities,” reasons Doreen Warn, 50, of Beachwood. “Downtown is a place to engage the entire community, including the collegiate community. At the same time, there should be importance in attaching it to the heart of the city (area) where most Jews live.”
Not everyone is that engaged in the debate. Sheryl Markowitz, 44, has not been following the issue, nor does she feel a Federation move affects her personally. “There’s a national election going on,” says the Beachwood resident. “In the pantheon of things to worry about, that’s not one of them.” Whether the organization stays downtown or moves east should be a financial decision, she adds.
Markowitz is not alone. A random sampling of people exiting The Mandel JCC included 11 individuals who had no opinion about the move.
Lyndhurst resident Jenny Kay, 29, notes most of her contact with the agency is over the phone, so location of the building is immaterial to her. Yet, she adds, it would be “nice for Beachwood” if Federation were located near the Maltz Museum and the JCC and other Jewish agencies.
“The people who run it should be the ones who decide,” says Gary Hoffman of Moreland Hills. “They know better than I do.”
“It won’t affect us at all,” claims Shosh Ault of Parma, 70. As a West Sider, she quips, “Downtown or the East Side, it’s the same difference to us.”
Janet Dery, Ellen Schur Brown, Stacey Hoffman, Susan H. Kahn, Marilyn H. Karfeld and Sarah Jacobson contributed to this article, which was compiled by Margi Herwald Zitelli.
editorial@cjn.org
 |
 |
|
| Meet some great grads | Holding down the fort |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of clevelandjewishnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments. Registration is free.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
