City of Beachwood / Ryan Kennedy
Beachwood real estate market remains a great investment
MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org
Good schools, a park with walking trails and proximity to synagogues, shopping, restaurants and hospitals are drawing rst-time buyers and returning homebuyers to Beachwood, according to Debbie Garson, a 32year broker/Realtor with Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan.
“It’s a strong and vibrant community,” she said. “It’s one of the easiest east side communities to sell.”
Marilyn Kahn, a 22-year realtor with Howard Hanna, said that “Cleveland has been in demand for many reasons, and Beachwood continues to have high buyer demand and is very desirable.”
Sharon Friedman, 40-year real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty, said that she has watched the area become more desirable as the schools improved.
“ ere’s great city services, a new aquatic center, rec center, senior center, playground, a juried art show – there’s a lot going on,” she said. “Something for everyone.”
She credited the vision of former Mayor Harvey Friedman, who is not related to her, for the city’s successes.
All these amenities, however, have led to a lack of housing inventory.
“We have buyers competing for fewer listings,” Friedman said.
Many of those buyers are coming back to be closer to family after living in other parts of the country, according to Kahn.
“Physician clients like the proximity and easy access to the hospitals,” she said.
In addition to its amenities, Garson said Beachwood’s strong commercial tax base supports city services and schools and keeps property taxes comparatively low.
“Only about 6% of a typical residential property tax bill goes to the city of Beachwood itself,” she said. “ e majority goes to schools and county services.”
Garson said that whether upsizing or downsizing, people often look in Beachwood before looking at nearby communities.
“Many in Pepper Pike, Shaker, Orange, Moreland Hills or Solon are settling in Beachwood,” she said.
Beachwood is popular despite most of its housing stock consisting of older homes.
Most of what some consider to be Beachwood’s “new build” condos and townhomes – Point East, Wedgewood Crossing, Fairmount Courts – are not really “new,” Friedman said.
“ e Village dates to the ‘80s, and it was a planned-unit development designed to enable long-term Beachwood residents to age here,” she said.
Most of the city’s “new builds” are found in older neighborhoods where builders tear down and replace a smaller home with a new one, Garson said.
Most of these “new builds” start at $750,000 with some $2 million and up, Friedman said.
Because the Beachwood demand for condos remains strong, all three real estate professionals said they look forward to the development of the former Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple property. e city purchased the 17 acres for $8 million in 2024.
“It will be a much-needed and wonderful addition for empty-nesters looking at their options.” Kahn said.
Friedman said that “there have been all kinds of proposals, whether there should be age limitations – over 50 – or under 50 to attract families, but nothing has been cemented yet.”
Houses sell quickly when they hit the market, with many being sold without ever being listed.
“ ere are currently 16 homes on the market, 17 homes under contract and 36 have sold this year to date,” Kahn said. “ ere are seven condos on the market, seven under contract and 18 have sold in 2026 to date.”
Homebuyers pay premium prices in Beachwood, especially for homes that are updated, well-maintained and priced appropriately, she said.
“So far this year, homes sold for an average of 99% list price-to-sales price,” Kahn said. “Some paid 117%, or 17% over asking.”
Of 135 homes sold in Beachwood last year, the average price was $504,620 compared to $567,041 so far this year, Kahn said.
Friedman said she has watched Beachwood home prices increase over the last three to ve years.
“ ere’s nothing under $350,000,” she said.
“A bungalow that would have sold for under $200,000 10 years ago is now $450,000.”
Kahn’s statistics showed that the average Beachwood home is on the market one day less in 2026 than last year’s average of 54 days.
But most sell within 30 to 45 days of listing, according to Garson.
“As of July 2026, if priced right, homes are selling within seven days,” she said.
But as Friedman said, there is always an exception,
“Some have sat longer than 30 days, even if they’re priced right and in good shape,” she said.
Because of the lack of inventory, the Beachwood real estate market is a sellers’ market, Garson said.
“But sometimes it’s a ‘Catch 22,” where I have sellers ready to sell, but ask, ‘Where will I go?’ due to lack of inventory. I often say, ‘Trust the process and be patient.’ It will happen,’” she said. All three agreed that steady interest rates –about 6.25% to 6.5% on a 30-year xed mortgage – indicate a strong and stable real estate market. Should interest rates drop, home values may rise, Kahn, whose husband, Shep, joined her in the business 13 years ago, said.
“So now is the time to get into the housing market to build equity,” she said.
Friedman
Garson
Kahn
Shoykhet carries forward historic leadership in Beachwood
CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org
The rst female Beachwood City Council president, Alice Jacobs, served her term in the 1990s. Nearly three decades later, Beachwood City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 5 to elect its second female president – Danielle Shoykhet –a move that she said hopes will inspire the next-generation to keep pushing for progress.
“I hope young people in our community can see what’s possible through public service and feel encouraged to get involved, lead and make a di erence in their own way,” Shoykhet told the Cleveland Jewish News, just six months into her term as city council president.
Raised in Solon, Shoykhet graduated from Miami University in Oxford and previously worked in logistics at Central Transport for two years, at UPS for seven years, and then at American Express for 12 years, where she is presently employed.
In 2022, Shoykhet decided to pursue a seat on city council following the city’s request to the public to ll Mayor Justin Berns’ council seat following his election as mayor.
“When I rst applied for the appointment to city council, I felt there was an opportunity to bring a younger perspective, additional female representation, and the experience I’ve gained in the corporate world,” Shoykhet, 44, said. “I thought those perspectives could add value to the conversation and help re ect the diverse voices within our community.”
But she couldn’t have predicted just how far that journey would take her.
“I put my name forward without any expectations and was
honored to be selected,” she said. “It was certainly a surprise, but serving on council has become something I truly enjoy. At its core, it’s about giving back to the community I love and setting a positive example for my children about the importance of service, leadership and civic engagement.”
e experience prompted her to run for reelection in 2023 and then as vice president in 2024. Her move to council president was solidi ed at the start of her term on Jan. 5, making her only the second female city council president in Beachwood’s history.
“We’re fortunate to live in a time when more women are stepping into leadership roles,” Shoykhet said. “I hope that by serving in public o ce, I can help others see that leadership comes in many forms. You don’t have to t a particular mold to make a meaningful impact.”
Since beginning her term as president, Shoykhet said that a core issue to many residents has been, and continues to be, safety, particularly among her Jewish constituents. To Shoykhet, this is something that the city does well to address.
“Safety is always a priority, particularly in the world we live in today,” Shoykhet, a congregant of Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, said. “We’re fortunate to have a strong partnership between our police department, Chief (Daniel) Grispino, and the Jewish community’s security partners. at ongoing communication and collaboration helps us provide the highest level of safety and security for our residents.”
With safety concerns in mind, Shoykhet said that the city’s diversity is one of the things that “makes Beachwood so special.”
Danielle Shoykhet, Beachwood’s second female City Council president, poses in councils chambers in front of her updated nameplate after assuming office in January.
| Scott T. Morrison / Discovery Photo
“We have residents from many di erent backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and that is one of our community’s greatest strengths,” Shoykhet, who has resided in Beachwood since 2010, said.
Taking the job one day at a time, Shoykhet said she hopes to continue to inspire her children and the next generation to be good stewards of their city – a task she hopes to bring to the job each day.
‘Single greatest honor of my 28-year career’ Rabbi
Caruso to lead Congregation Mishkan Or starting July 1
CASEY COUCH ccouch@cjn.org
Following the retirement of Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk at Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, Rabbi Joshua Caruso will assume the role of senior rabbi on July 1 – a role that he called the “single greatest honor of my 28-year career.”
“I am encouraged by the strong and positive reactions I have heard from our members throughout the congregation,” Caruso told the Cleveland Jewish News. “I am humbled to hold the trust of those I serve and seek to deliver on that confidence as I embark on this new role.”
Previously serving as assistant and associate rabbi of Temple Beth El in Spring Valley, N.Y., from 1998 to 2002, Caruso served at the former Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple from 2002 to 2024, and was a part of the founding clergy at Congregation Mishkan Or during its inception and merger with The TempleTifereth Israel in 2024.
“Congregation Mishkan Or is poised to build on a solid foundation established by visionary leaders who made the bold and daring choice to merge two legacy congregations,” Caruso said. “Our community is filled with hope and optimism in taking further steps forward.”
Bringing more than two decades of experience to the pulpit, Caruso’s leadership has touched the community outside of his congregation’s walls. In 2011, his efforts
to bring congregation-based community organizing to Cleveland led to the formation of Greater Cleveland Congregations, a coalition of more than 30 diverse faith communities from across Northeast Ohio committed to social and racial justice.
In addition to serving on the strategy team of GCC, Caruso sits on the Cuyahoga County citizens’ advisory council on equity, is a member of the commission on social action for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and serves on the core team of RAC-Ohio, a state-based justice project representing Reform Jews throughout the state of Ohio, according to the congregation’s website.
Looking ahead toward his new role, Caruso shared his vision for the congregation’s future.
“Congregation Mishkan Or is poised to be recognized as a hub of civic activity and a force for good in greater Cleveland,” he said. “We will be leaders in building relationships with the wider community, and forge inroads to understanding and allyship. In a world moment of increased antisemitism, such relationships are key to our ability to thrive and beat back hate coming from many corners.”
Adding that the congregation is “blessed with an uncommonly talented clergy team,” Caruso said he hopes to continue to inspire and strengthen the bonds of Jewish living in prayer, protest and song alongside his team.
“I’m eager to build on the collective histories of our legacy congregations to create a new and compelling culture that conveys pride in being Jewish, stresses radical inclusivity for Jews of all identities and backgrounds, and stresses an unabashed love for the people and standing of the State of Israel, our Eternal Homeland,” he said.
Rabbi Joshua Caruso Congregation
Caruso
Community asked to weigh in on Bais Avroham proposal July 13
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
During a June 15 meeting, Beachwood City Council unanimously voted to hold a public hearing on Bais Avrohom congregation’s proposal to rezone two Edgewood Road homes and a vacant lot into a synagogue with a parking lot.
Per the city’s code, the town hall must be held and the public must be allowed to voice its opinion at a session in order for council to act on it. e public hearing will be held during city council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. on July 13 at Beachwood City Hall at 25325 Fairmount Blvd.
e proposal seeks to rezone 2547, 2555 and 2561 Edgewood Road from a U-1 single-family residential district to a U-5 public and institutional district, which permits places of worship. e properties at 2555 and 2561 Edgewood Road contain residential homes while 2547 is an empty lot.
Council had twice previously voted down attempts by Bais Avrohom to turn the lots into a synagogue due to variances that went against the city’s zoning code.
e congregation rst proposed rezoning the site on Aug. 20, 2024, to allow for additional parking. e proposal was discussed at a council meeting on June 16, 2025, where some neighbors said increased tra c to the shul created unsafe conditions and questioned whether a parking lot would ease the narrow street’s parking issues.
After the original application did not advance, Bais Avrohom revised its plan, reducing its variance requests –exceptions to zoning rules – from seven to one.
e sole remaining variance involved lot size. A U-5 district, which includes public and private schools, libraries, parks and community centers, requires a minimum lot area of 18,000 square feet. Bais Avrohom fell short at 4,800 square feet, meaning a stipulation would have been needed to allow construction despite the requirement.
Due to that variance, council unanimously rejected the proposal during a Feb. 2 meeting.
In the months between that rejection and the third proposal, which was referred to the Beachwood planning and zoning commission by city council on April 20, Bais Avrohom purchased a vacant lot located at 2547 Edgewood Road.
According to Cuyahoga County property records, Marina Kaplan sold the lot to the shul on March 18.
Kaplan, a University Heights resident, said at a Jan. 20 council meeting that she opposed the rezoning because she bought the property at 2547 Edgewood Road near the proposed site as an “investment” and that this decision will impact “my life and the life of my children.” She said that she heard through a friend that the congregation is preparing to make her an o er for the land but hadn’t received an o cial one. e lot was the site of a re in 2012.
Aaron Evenchik, an attorney with Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland who represents some of the city’s home synagogues and was helping Bais Avrohom through this process, said during the May 28 planning and zoning meeting that “thanks to the help of the city” that sale was able to happen.
Because of the additional land, Bais Avrohom was able to up the amount of parking spaces on the property from 10 to 24, which meets the 14-spot minimum that a U-5 needs in Beachwood, and will up the size of the lot from
13,200-square-feet to 20,400-square-feet, exceeding the 18,000-square-foot requirement.
“ is rezoning had a concept development plan that requires no variances,” George Smerigan, Beachwood city planner, said at the June 15 meeting. “ is is a clean rezoning at this point that would meet all the requirements of our U-5 district.”
During his presentation on the matter to the planning and zoning commission on May 28, Evenchik said that neighbors’ only issue with the rezoning was concern over increased parking on the narrow street, which the added parking spaces solve, and that the synagogue will have a residential design on the outside to match the homes it is located amongst.
Bais Avrohom has operated its shul out of 2555 Edgewood Road for over six years.
e plan would expand the house at 2561 Edgewood Road into a 2,250-square-foot synagogue and demolish 2555 Edgewood Road and use that along with the property at 2547 Edgewood Road for parking spots.
Akiva Shawel, a congregant of Bais Avrohom representing the shul at the May 28 planning and zoning meeting, called Bais Avrohom a “unique, small, young and vibrant congregation.”
“Our services are daily, both morning and evening,” he said. “Morning services are scheduled at 6:45 a.m., have a duration of approximately 40 minutes and are attended by 10 to 20 individuals. Evening services are set at the sunset hour, have a duration of 25 minutes and are
Bais Avrohom’s conceptual development plan for its proposed synagogue on Edgewood Road in Beachwood. | Submitted rendering
attended by 10 to 20 individuals as well. On the Sabbath, prayers are approximately 2 hours in duration and are attended by around 50 adults and 10 children.”
He also noted that because of Sabbath observance, most congregants walk to services.
“We have learned through this process, and pride ourselves on municipal and community stewardship,” Shawel said.
Publisher’s Note: Aaron Evenchik is a member of the Cleveland Jewish News Foundation board of directors.
Building on success, focused on the future
MAYOR JUSTIN BERNS
Special to the CJN
In my second term as mayor, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the residents and businesses that make Beachwood such a special community. Together, we have strengthened our financial position, invested in public safety, advanced economic development and enhanced quality of life throughout the city. These accomplishments were made possible through the collaborative efforts of City Council, our dedicated staff, community partners and engaged residents. While I am proud of what we have achieved, I recognize there is still important work ahead. As our community continues to evolve, my administration remains committed to Beachwood’s continued success in the years to come.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety remains the top priority of my administration, and I am proud of the exceptional work of Beachwood’s police and re departments in keeping our community safe. e Beachwood Police Department’s proactive, communityfocused policing strategy continues to deliver results, with arrests decreasing by nearly 60% while tra c safety enforcement increased by more than 48% – re ecting our emphasis on prevention, visibility and responsiveness. e Beachwood Fire Department also continues to enhance resident safety through programs such as its partnership with the American Red Cross to provide free smoke detector installations for qualifying households. Together, these initiatives re ect our commitment to providing exceptional public safety services to every resident.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Beachwood’s commitment to responsible nancial stewardship continues to bene t residents. anks to the city’s strong nancial position and decades of prudent scal management, Beachwood partnered with the Beachwood City School District to construct two new elementary schools. ese state-of-the-art facilities will serve students for generations, strengthen neighborhoods and enhance property values – all without increasing the tax rate for residents and businesses. To support the project, the city temporarily reduced the millage it collected for three years, thereby directing additional revenue to the schools. at agreement is now ending, and
Beachwood is returning to its historic 4.0mill levy, the same rate in place since 1994, reinforcing the city’s continued commitment to sound nancial management and longterm community investment.
LOOKING AHEAD
One of the most exciting projects on the horizon is the development of a new Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library system. e city is working with the Beachwood City School District and the Cuyahoga County Public Library system to advance this $30 million investment in our community. e new library will expand services for residents of all ages and include a dedicated auditorium for community events, meetings and cultural programs. e former Fairmount Temple property is also moving closer to redevelopment as a senior-targeted residential community. While the process has taken longer than anticipated, I am con dent a formal development agreement will be nalized in the near future. e city is also advancing the connector road project between Harvard and Mercantile roads. Currently in the design phase, the project will provide access to the city’s recently acquired Chagrin Highlands property and create new economic development opportunities. e connector road will also help strengthen Commerce Park and support future job creation and business investment.
DISCLAIMER
The
Justin Berns is mayor of the city of Beachwood.
Academic success fuels growth in Beachwood schools
ROBERT P. HARDIS Special to the CJN
The conclusion of the 2025-26 school year provides a chance to celebrate an incredible year of success for Beachwood schools. This year was defined by achievement and growth in many areas. Together, our students, staff, families and community demonstrated what is possible through hard work, collaboration and a commitment to ensuring that all students receive an exceptional educational experience
One of the most signi cant milestones this year was the opening of two new elementary schools. ese new learning environments are a major investment in the future of our students and community. It took teamwork and collaboration with many di erent groups to construct these state-of-the-art buildings. e new schools demonstrate what can be accomplished when we work together to create meaningful opportunities for students. We are also excited about the new tness facility at Beachwood High School, which is slated
to open this fall and will provide all our student-athletes with an exceptional space to train.
e board of education adopted updated district goals this year, focused on academic achievement, growth and development, fostering positive relationships and supportive networks, communication and evaluation. ese goals will serve as a foundation for our work in the coming years. ank you to all members of the school community who took part in this process that will shape our work moving forward. Academically, our students continued to excel at a high-level as the district earned the highest rating possible – ve-stars –on the Ohio State Report Card. We also celebrated a record 24 seniors who received National Merit recognition, including 11
nalists. Outside of the classroom, students excelled locally, regionally and nationally in the many clubs and activities that are o ered for students to showcase their talents and interests. From elementary Destination Imagination, high school robotics and Science Olympiad teams, to our musical ensembles and student newspaper, Beachwood schools’ students were recognized with top accolades, awards and rankings
Our athletic teams also enjoyed another outstanding year. e girls’ track and eld team won the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV State Championship, while one of our wrestlers captured an individual state title for the second consecutive year. Several other studentathletes represented Beachwood in various state championship competitions. ese accomplishments re ect the dedication and sportsmanship that de ne our programs. is year, we conducted a school climate survey to help us better understand the perspectives of students, sta , families and the community. e feedback we received will provide valuable insights and opportunities for growth throughout the district. We appreciate everyone who took
time to participate in the survey to help us strengthen Beachwood schools. Finally, we celebrate the members of the class of 2026 as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Members of this graduating class will continue their education at universities such as Harvard, Penn, MIT, U.S. Naval Academy, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Cal Berkeley or Stanford. Others are joining job training programs or entering the workforce. No matter what they pursue next, we are con dent they are ready and will make a positive impact.
ank you for your continued support of Beachwood schools.
Robert P. Hardis is superintendent of the Beachwood City School District.
DISCLAIMER
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
NAVIGATIN G TH E WORL D OF PR OBATE AN D ESTATES
Hardis
At Preston’s H.O.P.E every child has a place to play
Preston’s H.O.P.E., a playground for children with all levels of abilities and disabilities, provides children with the opportunities to explore, play and learn. This extensive accessible playground park includes Imagination Village, with make-believe houses that are connected by a raised walkway, play theater, a sand area and traditional playground area with swings, tunnels and slides that are appropriate for children from preschool through school age, according to its website.
Located on the Mandel Jewish Community Center campus in Beachwood, Preston’s H.O.P.E., was inspired by Preston Fisher, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy and died in 2008 at age 12..
Beachwood embraces the pickleball boom
Lily Stitt, 3, of Richfield plays at Preston’s H.O.P.E. on the campus of the Mandel JCC in Beachwood. | CJN Photos / Shawna Polster
Teddy Lamprose, 6, and Amelia Pizone, 6, both of Highland Heights, play in the sand.
Nora Smahi, 2, plays at Preston’s H.O.P.E playground in Beachwood. | CJN Photo / Lindsey Brown
Mike Tysh of Mayfield plays defense as Richard Lefkowitz of Beachwood serves and his partner, Mark Bergman, watches. | CJN Photos / Lindsey Brown
Richard Lefkowitz of Beachwood serves to Stuart Mendel of Shaker Heights as his partner, Mark Bergman of Lyndhurst, anticipates the return.
Beachwood playground provides outdoor fun for entire community
Margaret Thompson, 1, enjoys her time at the Beachwood playground. | CJN Photos / Lindsey Brown
Courtney Dennison pushes her son, Colt Dennison, on a swing at Beachwood playground on Fairmount Boulevard.
Eyanna Brown, 6, from Maple Heights plays on the seesaw with her brother, Genesis, 3, at the Beachwood playground. | CJN Photo / Shawna Polster
Mandel JCC J-Day Camps kicks off summer season
Mandel JCC’s J-Day Camps welcomed campers for the rst day of the summer season last week.
From morning drop-o to afternoon pick-up, campers reconnected with friends and met counselors, including sta from Israel. ey participated in camp activities, including sports, swimming, arts and performing arts programming. roughout the day, campers explored new experiences, built connections and made memories.
rough Anis eld Day Camp and the Pillo Family Performing Arts Camp, J-Day Camps o ers opportunities for campers to explore the outdoors, express creativity, build con dence and connect with the community.
Photos / Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland in Beachwood
Maltz Museum to offer summer of exhibits, films and more
KATERYNA KOPYLCHAK vsintern@cjn.org
The Maltz Museum in Beachwood will offer a series of programs this summer connected to its exhibition, Icons in Ink: The Jewish Comics Experience, which runs through Aug. 23.
The season began June 24 with “A Closer Look: The Icons in Ink” featuring Samantha Baskind, co-curator of the exhibition, professor at Cleveland State University and correspondent for Smithsonian Magazine. The program will explore the artists, characters and cultural influences that helped shape the comic book industry.
The New York Times bestselling author and comic book writer Mariko Tamaki will visit the museum June 28 for a live discussion about her work. The event will include a conversation moderated by Vera Camden and Valentino Zullo, a book signing and a complimentary “Supergirl” poster for attendees.
The museum’s comics-focused programming will continue with Icons Fest on July 11 and July 12. Inspired by Icons in Ink, the festival will bring together creators, artists, scholars and fans for panel discussions, workshops, family activities and special events celebrating Cleveland’s comic book legacy. Featured guests include Brian Michael Bendis, Terri Libenson, Danny Fingeroth and Peter Kuper.
Additional summer programs include “Tuesday
Treasures” on July 14, in which curator Katya Oicherman will share rarely displayed artifacts from the museum’s collection, and a July 15 outdoor screening of “Superman” (2025) as part of the museum’s free summer movie series.
On July 22, longtime Plain Dealer reporter Mike Sangiacomo will present “Comic Missteps,” a look at some of the comic book industry’s most memorable failures and unusual creative decisions.
The museum will also host Kaleidoscope on July 30, an evening event featuring live music, art and interactive experiences. Guests will enjoy a performance by Apostle Jones, a DJ set by Cleveland producer Teddy Eisenberg and admission to Icons in Ink.
Superhero Sunday Part 2 is scheduled for Aug. 9. Families will have the opportunity to create original superhero characters, participate in interactive activities and make their own comic books with guidance from local writers and illustrators.
The museum’s summer movie series concludes Aug. 17 with a free outdoor screening of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
Following the close of Icons in Ink, the museum will present Boris Lurie: Nothing To Do But To Try from Oct. 18 through Jan. 27, 2027, followed by Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See from Feb. 28 through May 30, 2027.
The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage was founded in
2005 by Milton and Tamar Maltz. The museum, located at 2929 Richmond Road, was renamed the Maltz Museum in 2022.
For more information or to register for programs, visit maltzmuseum.org.
Kateryna Kopylckak is the Violet Spevack Editorial Intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.
Some upcoming events in Beachwood
• Beachwood Bingo Nights – July 9 and Sept. 17
• National Night Out – Aug. 4
• Back to School Celebration and Movie Night – Aug. 23
• Senior Picnic and 50-year Resident Recognition – Aug. 31
• Beachwood Family Aquatic Center Dog Paddle – Sept. 10
• Ninth Annual Fall Festival - Oct. 10 and Oct. 11
For more information, visit beachwoodohio.com
Beachwood commercial market still rebounding from COVID-19
MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org
Like communities across America, the city of Beachwood’s commercial real estate market is feeling the effects of COVID-19.
“COVID has affected a lot of it,” Kevin Moss, senior vice president in the Cleveland office of CBRE, said. “It affected a lot of the commercial real estate market, restaurants, office space.”
Brick-and-mortar retail in general has gotten smaller and “shifted,” and demand for office space has declined as more people work from home, according to Moss. This has led to vacancies everywhere, including Beachwood’s primary office spaces along Commerce Park and Science Park.
“It’s not a ‘Beachwood’ thing,” Moss said.
Beachwood is a desirable commercial market, highly sought-after because of its demographics, density and disposable income, he said.
“That’s what retailers look for,” he said. “They want an area that’s stable so they can be confident it will be around in 15 years.”
Grant Fitzgerald, managing director of investments with Marcus and Millichap, said that all commercial real estate has been challenged over the last few years.
In addition to COVID-19, a spike in interest rates in the fourth quarter of 2022, going into the first quarter of 2023, affected the post-COVID rebound, he said. Interest rates
doubled from the low 3% range into the mid-6% range.
“It definitely rattled the market,” Fitzgerald said.
Now, three years later, the rates have remained at 6%, but the market has adjusted.
“For the most part, it’s good,” he said. “Not amazing, but not as stressful, but it depends on the size and quality of the investment. I think people are used to it.”
Moss described the city of Beachwood as being easy to work with when it comes to commercial investment, though zoning restrictions create challenges.
“Some things are out of our control, such as no drivethru restaurants, no thrift stores,” he said. “Some thrift stores would love to be there.”
In addition to zoning restrictions, some shopping centers have restrictions as to the types and numbers of stores, such as grocery stores, to reduce competition, according to Moss.
He specifically discussed the 40,000 square-foot Stein Mart space in the Pavilion Shopping Center on Chagrin Boulevard.
“There’s a ton of interest,” he said, including from some who would like to split the space, seeking 10,000 square feet.
“But it’s just not feasible to take 10,000 and leave 30,000 square feet,” Moss said.
He also said that Beachwood City Council’s decision not to rezone the commercial space at Chagrin Boulevard and Mercantile Road to allow Sheetz to move in was perhaps “overblown.”
“It’s great property, well-located on Chagrin,” he said. “Gas stations in general tend to have a negative connotations, but everyone has to fill the tank somewhere. People who work in the area want to get something to eat and drink. Some gas stations do attract higher crime, but class A gas stations don’t. But they’ll find someone. I think it’ll be better off as a retailer or restaurant. It’s a nice location for a drive-thru.”
Fitzgerald said that council’s decision may not be sending a good message to investors and developers.
“It doesn’t say anything positive,” he said. “Sheetz is popular, and has done well.”
A Beachwood native living in Mentor, Moss said that retail overall has changed. Spaces today are more likely to house pet grooming shops, fitness, day care, kids’ entertainment and restaurants.
“The way people shop and live has changed,” he said. That is why retail space is on the market longer than it used to be, according to Moss.
“But Beachwood is still a highly sought-after market,” he said. “There’s a lot of interest. It and the surrounding suburbs are typically first or second choice.”
Fitzgerald said it is important to look at the big picture when it comes to commercial investment.
“Historically, over the last 50 years, the interest rates always go up and down,” he said. “Rates were low in the ‘80s. This is normal now.”
He also said that what is happening currently in terms of vacant commercial spaces in Beachwood is “pretty typical.”
In the commercial real estate market for 14 years, Fitzgerald also said that what is considered a “good investment” is relative.
“There is always a risk,” he said. “You can pay too much for a property and get little return, or you may pay for a substandard property that brings a good yield. Beachwood could and should be a good place to invest.”
Then there is artificial intelligence, which is creating considerable uncertainty, according to Moss.
“Working from home and consolidations – there’s less need for office space, and with AI,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. That’s a lot of different levels, but AI can replace a lot of that.”
Historic Hangar sells to recreational club’s members for $2.4M
JIMMY OSWALD
joswald@cjn.org
The 1930s art deco/art moderne Hangar at 24400 Cedar Road in Beachwood sold for $2.4 million on May 15, according to Howard Hanna.
Realtor Adam Kaufman sold the 4.15acre property, which went on the market in January, to a group of the center’s members who will keep the property as a club. The names of the members are not yet known.
Abraham Garfield, son of President James Garfield, built the Hangar as a private indoor swimming and tennis recreation center for businessman and philanthropist Dudley S. Blossom, whose family influenced Cleveland’s cultural landscape, according to previous Cleveland Jewish News reporting. The Hangar was Adam Garfield’s only art deco-influenced building created.
Part of one of Northeast Ohio’s earliest planned unit developments, the Elizabeth Blossom-designed recreation center, which was dedicated in 1936, is one of only two dozen surviving “gymkhana” buildings from the 1930s, according to a news release.
As a recreation center, it served generations of Cleveland families, including Hathaway Brown School students.
In the mid-1980s, industrialist and business leader Charles Bolton, descendant of the Blossom family, restored the Hangar, preserving its original interior art and design.
Continuing to host private gatherings, weddings and events, the Hangar offers attendees the chance to step into a different world or an older Cleveland.
The Hangar exterior consists of two glass-pitched roofs above the indoor clay tennis court and one above the swimming pool, monel metal interior and exterior railings, crank-operated steel casement windows and chevronpattern tile banding encircling the structure.
The site stayed open as a recreational club throughout the selling process and now will remain so into the future.
Fitzgerald
Moss
Kaufman
Photo / Kim Ponsky Photography
The Hangar in Beachwood will continue to operate as a recreational club after being sold for $2.4 million. | Submitted photo
Boosters club $110K donation to go toward new fitness facility
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
As the athletic director of Beachwood High School, Ryan Peters gets an up-close look at the work that the Beachwood Athletic Boosters Association puts in.
Peters didn’t need to be told of the impact it has, but the group showed what it is capable of as the Beachwood Athletic Boosters presented Beachwood Schools with a $110,000 donation during the spring sports celebration on June 2 to go toward the new tness facility under construction at the high school.
“ ey have been unbelievable to work with,” Peters told the Cleveland Jewish News. “ ey are a group of volunteers with, for the most part, kids involved in sports, and they are some of the most dedicated and special people I get to work with. ey make my job very easy because they’re very committed and care about our kids.”
A new tness facility has been due for quite some time and the boosters helped propel the project forward, Peters said.
“We renovated our weight room because the weight room we had was kind of a dark and dingy room,” he continued. “It was an old storage room that we converted into a weight room, and we did that about 20 years ago. e boosters at that time helped us get donations for that. But it was time for a fresh feel.”
e reworked space includes weight-lifting equipment, treadmills, exercise bikes and other training gear for the Bison athletes. Peters said some of the equipment was part of the old tness facility while other pieces are new.
“We needed a new look, and we needed to take our training to a di erent level,” Peters, a congregant of Jewish Family Experience in University Heights, said. “ e room we had was very con ned. You could really only put one team in at a time, and sometimes you had to put the
team outside the room, so half the room was in the hallway. ( e boosters) wanted to make sure we had a great, safe training facility that looked to the future of our athletes.”
Not only does the new room allow at least two to three teams to use it at one time because of the increased space, but it allows Beachwood High School to expand the availability to the middle and elementary levels.
“One of the things that I would love to be able to see happen is speed and strength training for our younger kids, and this project really opens up that for those age groups,” he said. “Training for strength and conditioning has changed over the years. It used to be that you had Nautilus machines and dumbbells and barbells. We’ve really taken a hard look at the future of what tness and strength and conditioning look like and are trying to take it to that level.”
e new space has a big wall that allows the athletes to do exercises like med ball slams, and there are straightaway for cardio training.
e total cost of the new equipment is $257,000.
In addition to the new weight room, Beachwood High School is also renovating the high school’s gymnasium. e projects, which started in March, as soon as the winter sports season ended, will be completed in early September.
“We’re changing the functionality of our gym,” Peters said. “We have a very large gym that gives us a lot of exibility, however, there was a lot of space that wasn’t utilized properly. We had space behind the bleachers that became a sort of storage area for us to put chairs and scorer’s tables, so it wasn’t a usable space. With this renovation, we put a lot of the space into use. We’ve added areas where our indoor track team can train.”
When people walk into the gym, it will look very similar with the same bleachers and scoreboards but the changes will have a big impact on the athletes, Peters said.
“We also converted our current weight room into a concession area as well as a classroom, so a lot of our teams are going to use it for lm study,” he said. “It gives us a more functional
space that we did not have.”
Peters, who has been at Beachwood High School for 18 years, says the community has continued to show up every time the district wishes to undergo a project, whether it be renovating the high school, building a new football stadium and softball eld or this current work with the tness room.
“ is is just another telltale sign of us looking
to the future and making sure that our students and student athletes mentally and physically are at the top level,” he said. “I appreciate everything that our school boards have allowed us to do over the years, as well as my administrative team. ey have really allowed us to grow and get better and put out top-notch facilities.”
Peters
A rendering of what the new fitness facility being constructed at Beachwood High School, which is a bigger space that will allow more athletes to use it at one time, could look like. | Submitted renderings
The new fitness facility being built at Beachwood High School will feature both new and previously-used equipment.
University Hospitals purchases Synthomer building for $9.1M
KATERYNA KOPYLCHAK vsintern@cjn.org
University Hospitals is expanding its footprint in Beachwood after purchasing the former U.S. headquarters of Synthomer for $9.1 million in late May, according to the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s Office website.
The health system plans to convert the office building at 25435 Harvard Road into clinical space to increase access to high-demand medical services in the eastern suburbs, according to Crain’s Cleveland. The new facilities are expected to open to patients by 2028.
Synthomer, a London-based specialty chemicals company, had recently downsized its local operations, consolidating employees onto one floor of the building. The move allowed University Hospitals to acquire the property.
Synthomer employees have not been forced out as a result of the sale. The company reached a short-term agreement with University Hospitals that allows employees to continue working from the Beachwood office while Synthomer searches for a new permanent U.S. headquarters, the newspaper reported.
Synthomer established its presence in Northeast Ohio through its 2020 acquisition of Fairlawn-based OMNOVA Solutions, which had its U.S. headquarters in Beachwood. Founded in 1863, Synthomer operates manufacturing sites across Europe, the Americas and Asia and serves more than 6,000 customers worldwide.
Kateryna Kopylckak is the Violet Spevack Editorial Intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.
Where to eat when in Beachwood
Looking for a great place to eat while shopping, visiting or enjoying your time in Beachwood? Here’s a sampling of some local dining spots.
Cedar Creek Grille
2101 Richmond Road
216-342-5177
cedarcreekgrille.com
Ho Wah 2101 Richmond Road 216-831-2327 howahrestaurant.com
Nordstrom Grill
26200 Cedar Road 216-378-2121 nordstrom.com
Antica Italian of Beachwood 3355 Richmond Road 216-831-1004 anticaitalian.com
City Barbeque
24325 Chagrin Blvd. 216-503-6777 citybbq.com
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
26300 Chagrin Blvd. 216-464-0688 hydeparkrestaurants.com
P.F. Chang’s 26001 Chagrin Blvd. 216-292-1411 pfchangs.com
Bar Italia Beachwood 2101 Richmond Road 216-342-5030 baritalia.com
Jamerican Kitchen Cafe
3365 Richmond Road 216-342-5300 jamericankitchen.com
Piada Italian Street Food 3870 Richmond Road 216-450-1093 mypiada.com
Benihana
23611 Chagrin Blvd. 216-464-7575 benihana.com
Giovanni’s
25550 Chagrin Blvd. 216-831-8625 giovanniscleveland.com
Mitchell’s Ice Cream 2101 Richmond Road 216-831-2722 mitchellshomemade.com
Shuhei Restaurant 23360 Chagrin Blvd. 216-464-1720 shuheirestaurant.com
Bob Evans
3700 Orange Place 216-591-0157 bobevans.com
Hecks of Beachwood 3355 Richmond Road 216-831-5599 heckscafe.com
Nervous Dog Coffee Bar 2101 Richmond Road 216-508-4154 nervousdog.com
Bruegger’s Bagels 24215 Chagrin Blvd. 216-595-9915 brueggers.com
Hello Bistro 2101 Richmond Road 216-342-4843 hellobistro.com
No Fork Restaurant 3365 Richmond Road 216-342-4133 noforkcle.com
Tres Portrillos Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar 25765 Chagrin Blvd. 216-591-1202 trespotrillosbeachwood.com
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse
3725 Orange Place 216-292-8866 restaurantwasabi.com
Winking Lizard
25800 Central Parkway 216-454-0380 winkinglizard.com
Yours Truly
25300 Chagrin Blvd. 216-464-4848 ytr.com
–Compiled by London DeMarco, Karen and Richard Spector Intern at the Cleveland Jewish Publication News.
University Hospitals’ purchase of the Synthomer building on Harvard Road will be used for clinical space.
| CJN Photo / Lindsey Brown
Fourth annual Juneteenth celebration draws community crowd
KATERYNA KOPYLCHAK vsintern@cjn.org
Beachwood City Schools hosted its fourth annual Juneteenth Community Celebration on June 19 at Beachwood High School stadium, bringing together residents for an evening of culture, entertainment and community connection.
Presented in partnership with the city of Beachwood, the Beachwood Schools African American Affinity Group and Crestmont Automotive, the free event featured activities
and games for families, including local vendors, food trucks, music from a DJ and a screening of the animated film “Piece by Piece” on a giant movie truck.
The celebration honored the historical significance of Juneteenth, which marks June 19, 1865, when more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is traditionally observed through community gatherings, music, storytelling, parades, picnics and educational programs.
Organizers said the event is designed to celebrate diversity, recognize the importance of Juneteenth and foster unity among residents, and has become one of city’s more widely attended events.
Community members of all ages attended the event, which offered opportunities for education, entertainment and reflection while celebrating the cultural traditions associated with Juneteenth.
Kateryna Kopylckak is the
Violet Spevack Editorial Intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.
The fourth annual Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at Beachwood High School stadium offered opportunities for education, entertainment and reflection while celebrating the cultural traditions associated with Juneteenth.
Children play games on the Beachwood High School football field. | CJN Photos / Kateryna Kopylckak
Kamryn Nolden and Jocelyn Owens with Beachwood Athletic Director Ryan Peters gathere for the Juneteenth celebration.
The fourth annual Juneteenth celebration on June 19 at Beachwood High School stadium.
Beachwood girls win track and field state title
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
The Beachwood High School girls’ track and field team won the OHSAA Division IV State Championship held on June 4 and June 5 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at The Ohio State University in Columbus for the squad’s third state title in program history.
The Bison boys’ track and field team scored 10 points to place in a tie for 25th in the Division III meet.
The girls team, which also won titles in 2017 and 2018, earned 53 points from four athletes – Meena Abdul Basser, Kyrsten Ginn,
K’Dyn Harris-Tate and Marley Readance. The quartet was strong from the start and secured its first-place title before competiting in its final event of the weekend, the 4x800-meter relay.
Abdul-Basser was a state champion in a pair of events as she ran a time of 54.77 seconds in the 400-meter race and crossed the finish line in 25.16 seconds in the 200, where Harris-Tate was second in 25.24. Harris-Tate placed first in the 100 meters in 12.56 with Readance finishing fifth in 13.00.
The foursome took second in the 4x200-meter relay in 1:39.86 and was eighth in the 4x400 in 4:08.56.
“I am just thankful to be blessed with these magnificent young women and my outstanding coaching staff,” head coach
Willie Smith said in a news release. “We work together and these girls work hard every day. They are a special group of young women. We don’t talk a lot about moments like this, we just focus on preparing each day and let that carry us.”
Luke Warner took fourth in the 200 meters with a schoolrecord time of 22.00 seconds.
Peter Adobamen finished his prep career with a schoolrecord time of 1:53.55 in the 800 meters in finishing fifth, while the 4x400 meters squad of Adobamen, Highley Devine, Tristian Brown and Braylon Moultrie was eighth in 3:24.45.
The Beachwood High School girls’ track and field team after winning the OHSAA Division IV State Championship. | Submitted photo
Chagrin Highlands connector road expected to drive business growth
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
The city of Beachwood is in the engineering and design phase of a road project that has been planned for over 15 years and will help link together di erent areas of the community.
Beachwood hopes to start construction soon on a 3,100-foot connector road that will be built between Commerce Park and Harvard Road. e project will improve tra c ow around the city and help create better accessibility to features in Beachwood, according to Cathy Bieterman, Beachwood’s economic development director.
e road would connect Harvard Road
down to an access point at 23456 Mercantile Road, which was once a Hexagram manufacturing and assembly facility that the city purchased in 2011 for the project and intends to demolish.
e road would connect Harvard Road, with an access point between University Hospitals Rehabilitation Hospital and Windsor Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care, to Commerce Park, with an access point at 23456 Mercantile Road, and the Hexagram facility.
“One of the biggest positives from this project is that it provides easier access to the I-271 corridor,” Bieterman told the Cleveland Jewish News. “We always exemplify the fact that we have three access areas from I-271, which makes those trail and commercial
Dedicated lane change ahead for Richmond Road at Chagrin Boulevard
JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
Atra c pattern change is coming to one of the busiest intersections in Northeast Ohio at Chagrin Boulevard and Richmond Road in Beachwood starting the week of June 29, the city of Beachwood announced on Facebook.
e lane heading southbound on Richmond Road that allows drivers to either turn left onto Chagrin Boulevard or continue
centers very attractive in terms of ease of access into those sites. is is only going to enhance that access, reduce the congestion o of the boulevard and provide a more direct route.”
In addition to enhancements with the roadways and lighting in the Chagrin Boulevard area, Bieterman said that the project can help spur economic development throughout the city.
“ e Commerce Park area has already been one of the prime sites of commerce and business within Beachwood,” she said.
“Having that roadway connection and added accessibility to that area is only going to enhance new development opportunities and reinvestment opportunities within buildings that are there today.”
e project moved a step closer to reality in March 2025 when the city of Beachwood purchased 42.94 acres of vacant property o Harvard Road in the Chagrin Highlands area for $3 million. Five of those acres will be used for the connector road.
“We’re projecting that the engineering and design elements will be completed by the end of this year,” Bieterman said. “ e goal is to be able to secure some additional
nancing that will help trigger the project to move forward right after this phase going into 2027. We’ll have to take a look at what our budget looks like to be able to carry those infrastructure improvements forward.”
Bieterman said the Chagrin Highlands is “one of the most sought-after opportunities for new development and business within the Northeast Ohio region.”
“ ere’s opportunity for a little over 55 acres of development within that area, so opening it up provides us a chance to be able to diversify some of the industry we have within the community,” she said. “We are heavily reliant on o ce spaces, but this provides us an opportunity to continue some of those key emerging industries that have been coming into Commerce Park like medical technologies, life sciences, cybersecurity, aerospace, defense and nance. It o ers us an opportunity to be able to go after companies that are from out of state or region and have them expand here within this property.”
e city will have a better idea of the cost once the engineering and design phase is completed, Bieterman said.
straight on Richmond will become a left turn only lane.
Once that change is implemented, each lane at the intersection will be dedicated to one single direction of travel, which will help reduce con icts between vehicles, improve tra c ow and improve safety at the busy intersection, the city said in the post.
“Please pay close attention to new lane markings and signage as you approach the intersection,” the city said.
Locations open now, with more on the way.
The only health system in Northeast Ohio with 100% kid-focused care is in Beachwood and Mayfield Heights, with new locations at Boys & Girls Club, Broadway, coming soon.
A map outlining the connector street that will link Commerce Park and Harvard Road in Beachwood. | Submitted photo.
Eaton Corp. to spin off Mobility Group to Dana Inc. for $5.1B
LONDON DEMARCO spector@cjn,org
Dana Inc. announced plans to combine with Eaton Corp.’s Mobility Group in a transaction valued at about $5.1 billion.
The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, would create a global supplier of powertrain, thermal, sealing and electrification technologies for commercial and light vehicles. The combined company will continue operating as Dana Inc. and remain listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The transaction is structured as a Reverse Morris Trust, with Eaton shareholders expected to own at least 50.1% of the combined company and Dana shareholders owning about 49.9%. Eaton is expected to receive a cash distribution of about $1.1 billion, subject to adjustments, according to a news release.
The companies said the combination would generate approximately $11 billion in estimated 2026 sales and $250 million in annual cost savings within 24 months of closing. Savings are expected through reduced structural costs, purchasing scale, manufacturing optimization and engineering
efficiencies, according to the release.
“This transaction marks an important milestone in our transformation,” Bryan Foster, Dana incoming CEO, said in the release. “By expanding our presence in core markets with new products and complementary technologies, we are enhancing our ability to deliver greater value to customers.”
Eaton CEO Paulo Ruiz said in the release that the agreement “delivers significant value to Eaton and its shareholders” while strengthening the company’s focus on longterm growth.
Dana Chairman R. Bruce McDonald will serve as executive chairman, while Foster will become CEO on July 1. Timothy Kraus will remain as chief financial officer.
The agreement was unanimously approved by both companies’ boards and remains subject to Dana shareholder approval, regulatory clearance and customary closing conditions.
Dana is located in Maumee, near Toledo. Eaton is located in Beachwood.
London DeMarco is the Karen and Richard Spector intern at the Cleveland Jewish News.
Yavne High School students win top prizes at national engineering competition
Ninth graders from Beatrice Stone Yavne High School in Beachwood won top prizes in the National Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education STEAM Innovation Day competition on May 28 at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey. Competing against 1,000 other students from 40 national schools who submitted over 400 projects into the competition, Yavne students scored two top prizes – Rikki Tenenbaum, Chani Schwartz and Chayala Greenberger with a second place recognition in the engineering for children category for “Safely Snuggled,” and Liora Brummer, Shana Schur, Ora Traube and Devorah Kane with a first place recognition in best engineering for their presentation on the “Thermo Rav.” Competitors were tasked with conceptualizing, creating, and engineering their own inventions. Yavne students demonstrated confidence, knowledge, positivity and clarity, as they presented their projects and engaged with judges, peers, and visitors, according to a news release from the school. | Submitted photos
Hilltop Elementary School – the old and the new
The new Hilltop Elementary School in Beachwood can be seen on the right. Demolition of the old school is taking place to the left. To read more about the school, visit
CJN Photo / Bob Jacob
Chabad regional conference attracts 100 rabbis to city
About 100 Chabad rabbis from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin gathered at the Waxman Chabad Center in Beachwood the week of June 9 for a regional conference held in tribute to Rabbi Yehuda Leib (Leibel) Alevsky, who led Chabad of Ohio for more than ve decades. Alevsky died on April 20. e gathering is one of a series of regional conferences instituted by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, in which Chabad rabbis from neighboring states meet to share ideas, resources and encouragement in their communal work, according to a news release. is year’s Midwest conference was held in Beachwood – at the center Rabbi Alevsky built – in honor of his legacy.
Day-long sessions covered Torah study, Jewish education and the practical work of running community centers. Cleveland’s Rabbi Yossi Marozov, director of Friendship Circle of Cleveland, led a workshop on the study of the Rebbe’s talks. Rabbi Shmotkin, dean of the Chabad Yeshivah in Detroit, and Rabbi Shalom Ber Chaikin a Cleveland rabbinic authority, both spoke at the conference as well.
Attendees also enjoyed a behind-thescenes look at “A Chassidisher Derher,” a popular magazine chronicling the Rebbe’s leadership and institutions – whose principal editors are based in Cleveland.
Attendees also heard from architect Phil Atkin, who designed the Waxman Chabad Center’s sanctuary. e building itself is modeled after 770 Eastern Parkway, Chabad’s Brooklyn headquarters.
An evening banquet was emceed by Rabbi Mendy Alevsky of Chabad at Case Western Reserve University and featured a keynote by Solon Chabad’s Rabbi Zushe Greenberg and an address by Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302 at Chabad World Headquarters in New York, who attended with conference coordinator Schneur Najar.
Chabad rabbis and community leaders from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin gathered June 9 for a Regional Kinus Hashluchim at Waxman Chabad Center in Beachwood. | Submitted photo
Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky, director of Mitzvah Workshops, presented a multimedia tribute to his father’s life – from his early years working closely with the Rebbe in New York, to his invitation to Cleveland by Irving Stone and Mel Waxman, to the institutions he built across Northeast Ohio. e evening continued late into the night with traditional Chassidic song and storytelling.
