Cleveland Kesher, Summer 2024

Kosher food pantry secures new home, Page 4

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Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry finds new home in South Euclid

Abigail Preiszig

The Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry purchased a new building at 4090 Mayfield Road in South Euclid.

The nonprofit organization has operated out of a garage, two trailers and some sheds at Semach Sedek Shul at 2004 S. Green Road in South Euclid, for over 20 years, an arrangement it has outgrown, Executive Director Sarah Ya e Alevsky told Cleveland Kesher on April 17.

“I think things will change dramatically,” she said. “We will be able to have a lot more programs for people, a lot more volunteer opportunities, (we) will be able to serve people better because we’re going to be in a better place …”

Semach Sedek R.I.A.S. Synagogue, the operator of the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry, purchased the three buildings, previously owned by Joseph C. Schulte and home to Schulte Mahon-Murphy Funeral Home, on April 17 for $495,000. It paid with donated funds, Ya e Alevsky said.

“Over the past three years, we went through several iterations of building projects, including renovating our current facility and building from scratch nearby,” Muriel Weber, chair of the food pantry’s advisory board, said in a news release, announcing the transaction. “We came across the Mayfield Road property in January. It is five minutes away from our current location and very convenient to the people we serve.”

The food pantry was to become part of the Friendship Circle of Cleveland’s proposed campus a few doors away on South Green Road. However, plans for that campus have been put on hold, Executive Director Rabbi Yossi Marozov told Cleveland Kesher in an emailed statement on April 22. That created the need for the pantry to look elsewhere.

The Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry plans to demolish part of the existing structure and add a one-story warehouse facility. Construction costs will be about $2 million, according to the release.

The organization is working with an architect and project manager to finalize construction plans. There is no set timeline, but the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry plans to roll out its capital campaign later in the spring

and hopes to break ground for demolitions this summer, Ya e Alevsky said.

“The next stage of this project is to raise $2 million to construct a warehouse in the back, we have gotten some commitments, but there is a long way to go,” she said.

Plans for the new space include a kitchen, teaching garden, pantry market area and gathering space that will aid in service and expand volunteer opportunities, according to the release.

The city of South Euclid is “extremely excited” the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry will remain in the city. It reflects its values and is an important community-wide mission on Cleveland’s east side, Mayor Georgine Welo told Cleveland Kesher on April 18.

“It’s really what South Euclid is about,” she said. “It’s about diversity, helping others, being a good neighbor, because our slogan is, ‘When you come together you thrive,’ and so once again in this community, there’s an organization that is bringing people together and is helping not just South Euclid thrive, but the east side thrive.”

The Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry is a partner agency of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Hunger Network. It is one of the busiest food relief facilities in Northeastern Ohio, the release said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it served just over 4,000 people per month, but due to inflation and higher food prices that number is close to 6,000, which includes weekly drivethru distributions of food to assist about 250 area families and delivering food bimonthly to about 1,500 senior citizens in 11 low-income apartment buildings, according to the release.

It was established over 40 years ago by Rabbi Zalman and Shula Kazen as part of their e orts to help Russian Jews settle in Cleveland through the Semach Sedek Russian Immigrant Aid Society.

On the cover: Muriel Weber, from left, chair of the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry advisory board, executive director Sarah Ya e Alevsky, pantry director Tamara Witkes, Tracy Thomas, o ce manager, and Lenny Glazer, warehouse manager, in front of the food pantry’s new home at 4090 Mayfield Road in South Euclid. | Submitted photo

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Friendship Circle’s proposed South Euclid campus on hold

Cleveland Kesher

Plans for a new Friendship Circle of Cleveland campus focused on adults with disabilities are on hold, Executive Director Rabbi Yossi Marozov told Cleveland Kesher.

Friendship Circle of Cleveland purchased two houses and a vacant lot at the corner of South Green Road and Acacia Drive for $452,000 in July 2022, the Cleveland Jewish News previously reported.

“In consultation with our Board and supporters, it was decided to hold o on the vision, and focus on developing and expanding our core programs at Friendship Circle,” Marozov wrote. “The property as we envisioned it presented challenges with zoning, size of lot and topography. We are committed to serving our community, guided by our strategic plan.”

Ideas for the new campus, which intended to provide vocational training and social connection for adults with disabilities, included a new home for the Cleveland Kosher Food

Pantry, a kosher cafe and drive-thru, the CJN had reported.

The Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry’s new building at 4090 Mayfield Road in South Euclid was financially a better fit, Executive Director Sarah Ya e Alevsky told the CJN.

The new space will create more volunteer opportunities that she wants adults who have aged out of Friendship Circle of Cleveland programming and other agencies to be a part of.

“We’re going to give them volunteer opportunities including in the garden, the kitchen and the warehouse,” she said. “We want to give them some training and

Cleveland Hatzalah graduates inaugural class of EMT’s

Cleveland Kesher

Cleveland’s inaugural Hatzalah class graduated in a ceremony May 13 at Young Israel of Greater Cleveland in Beachwood. The EMS group will provide life-saving assistance to Jewish communities in Beachwood, Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Hatzalah, a volunteer EMS service for Jewish communities, was first founded in the Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood of Williamsburg to improve medical response time for the historically Hasidic neighborhood in New York City. A small museum including EMS equipment from the original NYC branch was set up in the lobby of Young Israel with a history of the organization. Today, Hatzalah chapters are in over 13 countries, many operating private ambulances.

Volunteers will go to emergencies with their own vehicles, operations committee member Michoel Bloom told Cleveland Kesher, and are not meant to provide transportation to hospitals for the time being.

Graduates of the Hatzalah program underwent over 160 hours of medical training with University Hospitals Emergency Training and Disaster Preparedness Institute. The inaugural class awarded University Hospitals with a plaque, thanking it for sponsoring their EMT course hosted at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in Cleveland Heights.

A dinner held in their honor preceded the graduation ceremony, in which each of the graduates took turns thanking their loved ones for supporting them in the endeavor. Hatzalah’s from Israel to the United Kingdom to Argentina celebrated the new Cleveland Hatzalah in a video message before Nachy Solo , director of Hatzalah Detroit, welcomed the new class.

Dr. Dan Simon, president of academic & external a airs and chief scientific o cer for University Hospitals, said, “I want to congratulate the graduates in front of me. Your commitment to over 200 hours of training both in classroom and infield training is very inspiring to all of us. ... We say that if you save one life, it is as if you save the world. You will save many lives and many worlds,

Dr. Dan Simon, president of academic & external a airs and chief scientific o cer for University Hospitals, speaks to the graduates. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

congratulations.”

As volunteer organizations spread among their communities, Hatzalah enables quick response times when an ambulance may be at a hospital miles away or unavailable. Volunteers earned EMS certification through their training, enabling them to act as first responders in their communities and provide critical healthcare in emergencies. Awarding graduates with an EMS bag and diploma were Dov Berman, Hatzalah executive board member and Dr. Rafi Israeli, Hatzalah medical director.

While Cleveland’s Hatzalah has not yet been fully integrated with local health care institutions, the organization is working with 911 dispatches to “bridge the gap” between communities, Bloom said.

The 32 graduates of Cleveland’s first Hatzalah class are: Shlomo Duno , Avrumi Elbaum, Paci Elbaum, Shmuel Feuer, Josh Grodko, Naftaly Herskovic, Dovi Howitt, Shmuel Kessler, Shloimie Klein, Yossi Klein, Elchanan Mantel, Avi Mittelmann, Heshi Neiman, Shmuly Neuman, Daniyel Pister, David Pollack, Betzalel Rosenzweig, Shragie Schi , Alan Schleisinger, Chuni Stern, Dovid Yovits, and Yechiel Zelczer. Ten of the graduates are “veteran providers” on the program: Doron Bennett, Michoel Bloom, Yossi Chapley, Mair Cohen, Eli Goldstone, Yossi Heifetz, Shimon Mermelstein, Doni Raskas, David Ribakow, and Donny Steinberg.

For more information about Cleveland Hatzalah, visit hatzalahcleveland.org.

Fiamma by Mendel kosher restaurant to open at Eton

Cleveland Kesher

Fiamma by Mendel will open at Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere this

combine his skills in wood-fire cooking with his fiery personality, according to a news release.

The menu will include artisanal woodfire pizza, handmade pasta, fresh seafood and salad, putting emphasis on quality and freshness in the restaurant and combining Jewish and Italian culinary traditions, the release said.

“Fiamma is not just a restaurant, it’s a culinary journey,” Segal, owner and operator of Mendel’s Food Group LLC, said in the release. “Our mission is to deliver top-quality food and beverages centered around the wood-fire, while providing our guests with exceptional service and a warm, inviting atmosphere.”

Prior to its opening, the space will go through a renovation, with modern, rustic and chic accents being added to the Fiamma space, Segal, a congregant of Bais Dovid and resident of Beachwood, told Cleveland Kesher.

Fiamma will have a clean, rustic and trendy atmosphere, and a commitment to excellence throughout its beverage selection, which will feature curated tequila, whiskey, bourbons and other alcohols.

Segal, who also owns Mendel’s KC BBQ, in Shaker Heights, has been interested in the “more artisanal” true Italian, neapolitan food since he discovered it a few years ago, he said. The style fits with his passion for cooking with wood and fire.

Antisemitism claimed as yeshiva students removed from airplane

Cleveland Kesher

Two yeshiva students who spent Pesach break in Cleveland were removed from a flight departing from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and they claim it was due to antisemitic profiling.

Yehuda Ro man, 21, of University Heights, and Reuvi Scheinerman, 17, of Cleveland Heights, were returning to their respective yeshivas in New York and Connecticut on May 5, with a layover in Washington, D.C. Neither knew each other prior to this incident.

“He didn’t know what hit him,” Motti Scheinerman, Reuvi’s father, told Cleveland Kesher. “He was visibly upset and nervous. He’s 17 years old. He’s flown many times by himself, but never any of that. This feels like this is racial profiling, it’s antisemitic. It’s wrong, he didn’t do anything.”

Scheinerman said Ro man noticed the tail of the plane was dented and called his mother, who told him to tell a flight attendant. When he did, he received no response, asked multiple times after and asked to speak to the pilot, Scheinerman said.

According to the local travel website DansDeals, the pilot asked Ro man to go back to his seat three times before he complied.

“I believe (Ro man) spoke to a flight attendant and then he spoke to the pilot, and the pilot kept telling him to sit down, and he was nervous,” Scheinerman said. “He did not sit down right away, and when he finally did, they came and took him o the plane.”

Ro man was originally scheduled on a di erent direct flight to New York City, according to DansDeals, but due to long security lines, he missed that flight and had to rebook.

“My son did not know, never met (Ro man) in his life,” Scheinerman said.

According to a report in The Forward, Scheinerman said the flight attendant told Reuvi, “You know what you did.”

Both were dressed in the standard yeshiva uniform of black pants, a suit jacket and a black fedora, according to Rabbi Dan Ele of Beachwood who operates DansDeals, as he wrote for the website.

Scheinerman said Reuvi had similar issues with long security lines, but he made it in time for his original flight. Typically, Scheinerman said, they fly on a di erent airline, but it was too expensive, so they ended up booking with American Airlines.

“Ten minutes later, (Reuvi) calls me that he was asked to leave the plane,” Scheinerman said. “He did tell me he thought when the agent came over to him – he was sitting close to the back of the plane – the agent wanted to move him up front a little closer because he was all the way in the back, but that didn’t happen.”

Both Reuvi and Ro man were escorted o the gate to the boarding area, and when they asked why they were removed, they didn’t receive an answer, Scheinerman said.

Scheinerman said Ro man decided he didn’t want to rebook a flight and decided to rent a car. Reuvi called his parents, and Scheinerman said he and his wife approved him riding with Ro man because she works at a Cleveland-area Jewish school and knew the Ro man family from her role there. After Reuvi got the OK, Ro man drove him to Connecticut and then himself to New York.

The airline told him they would come out with an o cial statement, which was never given, Scheinerman said. According to American Airlines’ website, unaccompanied minors ages 15 to 17 can travel alone with an optional service for minors, and a gate escort and guardian contact is required.

“I’m just waiting for a response from American Airlines,” Scheinerman said. “It seems odd that they don’t want to respond. It’s been over a week of sitting. My son’s upset.”

This incident is one of many involving Orthodox Jews being removed from planes. On Dec. 31, 2023, three Orthodox Jews were ordered o a JetBlue flight after changing seats. And in 2022, Lufthansa paid a $2 million settlement to 100 Orthodox passengers who were removed after a few objected to a face mask requirement.

Multiple attempts to reach American Airlines were unsuccessful.

Ro man could not be reached for comment.

Two women to be honored at Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry event

Cleveland Kesher

Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry will hold its annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration at 7:30 p.m. June 17 at Waxman Chabad Center at 2479 S. Green Road in Beachwood.

This year’s Rivka Goldstein Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to two longtime volunteers – Beachwood resident Marcia Arons and University Heights resident Meryl Kaplan. They are being honored for their weekly participation in helping to prepare food packages for the pantry’s weekly drive-thru food distributions, according to a news release. The award is named for the previous pantry managing director Rivka Goldstein.

“We have so much to celebrate, despite it being such a di cult year for the Jewish community,” Sarah Ya e Alevsky, director of the food pantry, said in the release. “This year, we looked for more ways to connect to one another, and serve our neighbors.”

Pantry manager Tami Witkes said in the

release that Arons and Kaplan are at the pantry twice a week, “rain or shine,” regularly over the last five years to help pack pantry bags.

“They are a constant presence at KFP, and their cheerfulness, compassion and joy in helping others is infectious,” she said. “We are thrilled to honor these two outstanding volunteers this year.”

A short program will follow the dessert reception. RSVPs for the celebration are required and can be submitted by emailing celebration@kosherfb.org or by calling the KFP o ce at 216-382-7202.

Arons Kaplan

SHOP CEDAR-GREEN

‘Neighborly feel’ abounds with plenty of shopping options

Lisa Matkowsky

Home to a variety of small businesses and restaurants, the Cedar-Green shopping district sits at the busy intersection where Beachwood, South Euclid and University Heights intersect.

In that area, you can find Issi’s Place, Blum’s Party Goods, Jade Chinese Kitchen, LeChaim Restaurant, Frank’s Hebrew Book Store, Chocolate Emporium, Tibor’s Kosher Meats and Boris Kosher Meats. These small businesses continue to be a popular shopping destination for the Jewish community as well as others, and they all work together to provide complementary services to the communities they serve.

Asher Levine, owner of Jade Chinese Kitchen, said the “location, location, location” is a key part of the success of the bustling center of commerce.

“We are located centrally, right in the middle of other shopping and neighborhoods, and very close to the communities from Beachwood, University Heights, South Euclid, Shaker

The inside of Chocolate Emporium features a variety of assorted sweets and other items. | Submitted photo

Heights and Cleveland Heights,” Levine told Cleveland Kesher. “This is such a great location also because when families or groups go out to eat, we find that while some family members might want pizza, others might want Chinese, and we’re right there. Or someone might need to go to the barbershop on the strip, and they can stop by and grab a roll of sushi, or they go to the bookstore and stop by for something to eat while waiting for their order. We bring business to them, and they send customers to us. Everyone gets what they want.”

That symbiotic relationship between the stores is part of the communal vibe the district emanates.

“There’s a friendly feel, we all work together to make sure the outside looks nice and is clean and inviting,” Levine said. “The stores complement each other. We took over Jade last July and gave it a more modern, fresher touch, a facelift, updated the menu, and hired a 5-star

SHOPPING | 16

Chaim Frank, owner of Frank’s Hebrew Book Store in University Heights, holds a book available in the store. | Photo / Cleveland Kesher

SHOP CEDAR-GREEN

SHOPPING

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Chinese chef.

“Our group we have working here is all a family from a Fujian province who have been here over 40 years. Everyone knows each other. The people from the community are constantly telling us how good the food is, and are repeat customers. We know people’s favorites. We are a staple in the community, and they use DoorDash and Uber Eats, every way to get the food. People have our food delivered everywhere, even downtown.”

Chaim Frank, owners of Frank’s Hebrew Book Store, also talked about the importance of location, in addition to the quality of the businesses and customer relations, to creating and maintaining a popular and enjoyable shopping experience.

“We used to be on Mayfield Road from 1950 to 1996, but then the community started moving away from that area,” Frank told Cleveland Kesher. “Our customers kept coming to us even though it was not convenient, out of loyalty, so we opened a second store here, then people were only coming here, so we closed the other store.

“We want to be where the people are, to best serve the community’s needs, and this is it, right near the butcher. They might be waiting by the restaurant and come to me to browse, or if the wife is shopping at Blum’s, for example, maybe the husband comes here. We all serve the same community, there are

several kosher restaurants, the location is right next to Beachwood, University Heights, South Euclid and close enough to Cleveland Heights, and it makes sense rent-wise and economically overall. It’s really a win-win.”

Chocolate Emporium owner Nathaniel Behboudnia told Cleveland Kesher “what makes the area a popular shopping destination is the convenience. Mainly, because of the location and also because of the great variety of di erent stores that are located in the area. Between Heinen’s across the street, the butcher shop, the tailor shop and the liquor store, the location makes it easy for a person to take care of all their errands in one stop.”

Behboudnia, whose store is located near the tailor, has been at that location for four years.

“We help each other out, take in mail,” he said. “It’s a neighborly feel, and that local feel carries over to where you can find our products. Our chocolates are available at Tibor’s, all Heinen’s stores, all Giant Eagle stores. In our store itself, customers can find more variety and can request special orders, custom made with names, emblems, wrappers.”

Chocolate Emporium also o ers other candies besides chocolates, and specializes in gluten-free and dairy free items. But like all the businesses in Cedar-Green, they are happy to get to know you.

Lisa Matkowsky is a freelance journalist from Beachwood.

Asher Levine, owner of Jade Chinese Kitchen, stands at the counter inside his restaurant.

| Submitted photo

SUMMER FUN LOOKING FOR A STAYCATION?

Lisa Matkowsky

There’s plenty of fun activities to enjoy right here in northeast Ohio this summer if you want to keep the family close to home. In addition to all the attractions that are always nearby for Clevelanders, Kirsten Ellenbogen, president & CEO of the Great Lakes Science Center, and Stephanie White, general manager of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, provided updates on what’s taking place throughout their venues for visitors to enjoy.

The Great Lakes Science Center at 601 Erieside Ave. in downtown Cleveland is a top 10 science museum as noted by the 2024 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards. This summer, the science center is bringing back one of its most popular and most requested exhibitions in history – TapeScape: International Tape Station.

“Using the humble product known as packing tape, the science center and designer and artist Eric Lennartson have built an allages playground entirely out of packing tape wrapped around a metal frame – called a TapeScape,” Ellenbogen told Cleveland Kesher. “Lennartson harnesses the tensile strength of tape, or its ability to stretch under stress, to design unique, multisensory installations strong enough for kids and adults to climb on and explore.”

TapeScape is available through Sept. 2 and is expected to be more popular than the last one presented in 2018.

“The International Tape Station is seven times larger than the last one we built,”

SUMMER | 20

Visitors explore the Sandtiger Shark at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. | Submitted photo

The Great Lakes Science Center o ers plenty for children to do. | Submitted photos

SUMMER | 18

Ellenbogen said. “It’s a remarkable ‘playscape’ structure inspired by the iconic design of the International Space Station, and is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and projection mapping technologies.”

This will be a fully immersive, interactive and hands-on experience for guests, who will explore the exhibit to learn about life on the space station and the ongoing research happening now.

These activities o er fun for families as they learn more about materials and how they are used in space. The exhibition is focused on the dynamic intersection of materials science and the groundbreaking research at NASA Glenn Research Center, showcasing the real-life Cleveland driven innovations aboard the station.

“Guests orbiting the perimeter of the tape station will also find a replica model of the Orion capsule, inviting them to step inside and

explore the future of space research, along with authentic space artifact displays, a ground-level accessible tape tunnel, and more,” Ellenbogen said.

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium at 200 Sycamore St. in the Flats West Bank in downtown Cleveland and built into the ground floor of a historic brick powerhouse that once generated electricity for streetcars, is known for its child’s eye-level exhibits, 360-degree views and diversity of species.

“Guests are always excited about the aquarium’s 11,000-gallon stingray touch pool, 230,000-gallon shark habitat and a 175-foot underwater sea tube,” White said. “We’ll be hosting an array of seasonal summer programs.”

That included a sensory hour in early June when it opened an hour early exclusively for guests on the autism spectrum and those with sensory processing di erences to provide

SUMMER | 22

SUMMER FUN

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an opportunity to explore nearby lakes and faraway oceans in a comfortable and accepting environment.

There will also be special programming on Father’s Day Weekend, June 15 and June 16, with fascinating facts about animal fathers, and visiting fathers, stepfathers, foster dads and grandfathers can save $5 at the ticket counter for in-person adult admission with the purchase of another adult or child ticket.

The aquarium will also o er Fin Fest, a monthlong celebration of sharks from July 9 to Aug. 6, and, as always, is open 363 days a year, including the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

“We have seven themed galleries which are home to more than 1,400 animals representing 250 fresh and saltwater species,” White said. “Poison dart frogs, moon jellyfish, giant Pacific octopus, cownose stingrays, dwarf seahorses, weedy sea dragons and four species

of shark are always guest favorites. Rotating daily activities include animal encounters, an invertebrate touch pool, a stingray touch pool, aquarist habitat feeds, scuba diver underwater sharks, scuba sessions and more.

“We’re located on the Flats West Bank, right along the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland. You can walk to Lady Caroline cruise ship, Jacobs Pavilion or Whiskey Island. On weekends in the summer, you can take the (Cleveland) Metroparks’ water taxi across the river to explore the Flats East Bank. And we’re a short drive from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock Hall and the West Side Market. A popular local summer destination for families across generations.”

Lisa Matkowsky is a freelance journalist from Beachwood.

A Dose of Inspiration

Na’aseh Venishma

By: Rabbi Chaim Feld

e just celebrated the holiday of Shavuos, commemorating the giving of the Torah on Har Sinai. The custom is to stay up all night learning Torah. To be quite honest, for me, it results in a net loss of both the quality and quantity of learning I accomplish. It would be far more productive for me to get a good night’s sleep so I could fully engage in learning throughout the entire day of Shavuos.

There is a famous Midrash that states that G-d o ered the Torah to all the nations of the world, and they all responded, “What is written in it?” Ask any child who attended a Jewish day school about this Midrash, and they will answer: the Jews said, “Na’aseh Venishma,” meaning “We will do and then understand.” We accepted without question.

Actually, this is not what happened. In parshas Mishpatim, G-d tells Moshe to ask the Jewish people if they want the Torah. They answered, “Na’aseh, we will do.” After this response, there are a few verses, and then the Jewish people declare the famous line, “Na’aseh Venishma.”

What occurred between their first and second responses? Before tackling this question directly, let me share a story. There was a newlywed couple in Jerusalem, deeply in love until their first significant disagreement. She was in tears, he was clueless what to do. The

next morning, he confided in his Rebbe, who advised him to bring her flowers and apologize. Complying, he presented her with the flowers and said, “Here, my Rebbe said I should give these to you.” Can you guess her reaction?

When Moshe initially asked the Jewish people if they wanted the Torah, they replied, “Na’aseh, we will do it.” What choice did they have? Consider what Hashem had just done for them: ten miraculous plagues, liberated them from Egypt, split the Yam Suf, drowned the Mitzriyim, and fed them manna from heaven. How could they refuse? According to Rashi, upon hearing this response, Moshe took blood from the sacrifices and threw it at the Jewish people. He conveyed to them that they were overlooking the essence of Judaism. It’s not merely about rituals; it’s about forging a relationship with G-d. G-d doesn’t seek perfunctory actions. He seeks our hearts. The reason we stay up all night is to demonstrate our dedication and love for Hashem and His Torah. It’s our proclamation, “I’m all in and entirely committed to this relationship.” It’s our Na’aseh Venishma.

Rabbi Chaim Feld is director of Clean Speech Cleveland and co-director of Aish Cleveland in South Euclid.

Marketing Mastery: Expert Insights & Strategies

Why your business needs a website care plan

Content provided by: Nachum “Nooch” Langsner

In today’s digital world, a website is a crucial asset for any business. It’s not just a virtual storefront but often the first point of contact between you and potential customers.

To ensure your website remains secure, functional, and optimized, it’s essential to consider a website care plan. But what exactly is a website care plan, and why is it so important?

WHAT IS A WEBSITE CARE PLAN?

A website care plan is a comprehensive service package o ered by web professionals to ensure your website remains secure, up-to-date, and performing at its best.

It includes regular updates, security monitoring, backups, performance optimization, and technical support.

Think of it as insurance for your website, ensuring it stays healthy and protected from potential threats.

WHY ARE CARE PLANS SO IMPORTANT?

1. Security: Websites are vulnerable to cyber threats such as hacking, malware and data breaches. A care plan includes regular security checks and updates to protect your website and data.

2. Functionality: Websites rely on various software components, including plugins, themes and core files. A care plan ensures these components are updated regularly, preventing compatibility issues and ensuring smooth website operation.

3. Performance: A well-maintained website loads faster, provides a better user experience and ranks higher in search engine results. A care plan includes performance optimization to keep your website running at its best.

4. Uptime: Website downtime can result in lost revenue and damage to your brand’s reputation. A care plan includes monitoring to ensure your website is always up and running,

minimizing downtime, and maximizing uptime.

5. Peace of Mind: With a care plan, you can rest assured that your website is in good hands. Any technical issues or updates are handled promptly, minimizing downtime and potential loss of business.

WHAT’S

INCLUDED IN A CARE PLAN?

A website care plan should include:

• Regular software updates: This ensures that your website’s core software, plugins, and themes are up-to-date, minimizing security vulnerabilities and ensuring compatibility.

• Security monitoring and malware scanning: This regularly scans your website for malware and other security threats, ensuring that your website remains secure.

• Website backups and restoration: It’s important to perform regular backups of your website and store them securely. In case of a website crash or data loss, this allows your vendor to quickly restore your website to its previous state.

• Performance optimization: It’s important to optimizeyour website’s performance to ensure fast loading times and a smooth user experience. This includes optimizing images, caching, and minimizing code.

• Technical support: A qualified team of experts can provide technical support and assistance whenever needed. Whether you have a question about your website or encounter a technical issue, your website partner should be available to help.

WHY EVEN SMALL WEBSITES NEED CARE PLANS

Even if your website is small or straightforward, it requires regular maintenance and updates.

Neglecting these can lead to security vulnerabilities, performance issues and compatibility problems.

A care plan ensures that even the smallest

Marketing Mastery: Expert Insights & Strategies

details are taken care of, keeping your website safe and optimized.

CAN’T I JUST RUN THE UPDATES MYSELF?

While running updates yourself is possible, it’s not always recommended.

Updates can sometimes cause conflicts or issues that require technical expertise to resolve.

A professional web designer can handle these updates e ciently, saving time and ensuring your website remains secure and functional.

WHY NOT RELY ON HOSTING COMPANIES?

While hosting companies often o er basic maintenance services, they are limited in scope.

Their services typically focus on server-side maintenance and may not include regular updates, security monitoring, or technical support for your website.

A dedicated web designer ensures that your website receives the attention and care it deserves beyond what hosting companies provide.

In conclusion, a website care plan is a wise investment for any business with an online presence. It ensures your website remains secure, functional, and optimized, providing peace of mind and allowing you to focus on growing your business.

Nachum ‘Nooch’ Langsner is co-founder and chief marketing guru at LocalBizGuru.

•Are

•We

•Learn

School SPOTLIGHTS

CHAVIVA HIGH SCHOOL

Sophomore biology students Kayla Goldish, left, and Batya Newman embark on a sweet exploration of genetics, using candy to construct models of DNA. This creative approach allowed students to visualize the complexities of DNA structure, making the abstract concept of genetic material accessible and engaging.

Rochel Leah Traube, from left, Tzippy Chafetz and Rivkah Esther Corbett in deluxe Purim shpiel costumes. Chaviva’s students wrote an original script based on commentaries on Megillas Esther and performed it before enjoying a Purim brunch.

Einav Danino, mother of hostage Ori, held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, and Chaviva freshman Avigayil Taub share a moment of grief and faith after Danino’s presentation to the school.

Chaviva’s courtyard becomes a lab as the school spent the historic day of the total solar eclipse learning about the phenomenon from a scientific, hashkafic and halachic perspective.

Content provided by Chaviva High School

School SPOTLIGHTS

Fuchs Mizrachi School

Second graders learned about the 10 days of thanks, , between Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha’atzmaut. They focused on people in school that they can say thank you to, wrote them notes and personally delivered them to express their gratitude. Pictured here is Rabbi Avery Joel, receiving a letter from Ezra Ornstein, from left, Vered Asher, Zusha Levine and Hannah Katz.

Content provided by Fuchs Mizrachi School

Alumni Michael Hoenig, class of 2000, joins his children and current Mizrachi students Gabriel and Isaac Hoenig at the annual Yom Ha’atzmaut parade.

First grader Miriam Berger enjoys a festive Israel themed and interactive snack in celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut

Fourth graders Orly Shoag, from left, Orli Teller and Eliana Cusner celebrate at the Yom Ha’atzmaut parade

Agudah Ohio is proud to announce

Parents of a child with special and unique needs don’t always know where to turn, whom to call, and what to ask. You are not alone.

Yahalom OH aims to help by supporting, educating, and guiding parents to ensure they are equipped with all the necessary information and resources that are available to make their diamonds shine.

As part of the growing national Yahalom network,Yahalom OH is here to serve as a collaborative resource working alongside our community organizations.

Contact the Yahalom OH office

Call 216.455.1111 Ext. 1 Email yahalom@agudahohio.org Mrs. Chana Barret

*All inquiries will be held in the strictest confidentiality Which local organizations are out there that can address my needs?

Can I connect with other parents going through this?

Can I obtain government resources for my special needs child? PR OV IDING SU PP ORT FOR FAM ILI ES T O HELP THE IR D IAMONDSSH

School SPOTLIGHTS

B HEBREW ACADEMY OF CLEVELAND

eis Chinuch Horav Dessler/Hebrew Academy of Cleveland recently held three di erent general studies project-based learning exhibits. The events empowered the elementary school students to research, explore and create magnificent projects, which were showcased at three di erent exhibits that brought capacity crowds to the school.

Content provided by Hebrew Academy of Cleveland

Portraits

Paintings

Paintings

Jacqueline Kott-Wolle

Jacqueline Kott-Wolle

Jacqueline Kott-Wolle

Jacqueline Kott-Wolle

Photographs

Photographs