Jewish Education Center of Cleveland

The Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JEC) is a nationally recognized central agency at the cutting edge of educational practice, providing professional growth, organizational support, and avenues for Jewish learning. As the educational arm of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the JEC administers the multi-million-dollar Fund for the Jewish Future – the endowment that supports education in day schools, congregational schools, camps, Israel programming, adult education, and more. Since 2005, the Foundation has provided annual support to the Fund for the Jewish Future and other important JEC initiatives.

Since 2019, the Mandel Foundation provided support for its Onward Hebrew program. Onward Hebrew puts learning Hebrew into religious and non-religious contexts so that learners of all ages can derive fuller meaning and practical application from the practice of learning the language. The program is based on a sound-to-print approach to literacy instruction for students of multiple grade levels and has begun to influence Jewish education on a broader scale, creating a Hebrew-rich environment for educational programs to adopt/adapt to fit the unique culture of their host institutions. This investment aligns with the Mandel Foundation's longtime commitment to to strengthening Jewish identity and fostering a resilient Jewish community in Greater Cleveland.