Cleveland Ohio Jewish Community

Cleveland, Ohio's Jewish community has been growing steadily in recent years. Currently the population of Jews living in the Cleveland area is estimated at 100,0000. Cleveland accounts for more than 50% of all Jews living in Ohio and is the 23rd largest Jewish community in the USA. Greater Clevelands' Eruv now covers the majority of its Orthodox neighborhoods, including Beachwood, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, South Euclid, and University Heights.

There are several synagogues in the Cleveland area, including the Young Israel of Cleveland, Chabad of Downtown, Chabad of Cleveland, Tzemach Tzedek (the oldest continuously running Nussach Ari Minyan in America), Chabad at CWRU, Khal Yereim, Oheb Zedek, The Sephardic Cong of Cleveland BKCS, Congregation Shomre Shabbos, Congregation Shomre Shabbos, the Heights Jewish Center, Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai Synagogue (modern orthodox), Green Road Synagogue (Zionist religious synagogue), and a number of smaller sheteibels and shuls. There are also several mikvahs located throughout the Jewish community, even one at the Conservative Park Synagogue.

As far as schools go there's Hebrew Acadamy of Cleveland (K-High School) with over 1,000 students. If you're more of a "Yeshiva" family there's Yeshiva Derech Hatorah (K-High School) and the Yeshiva of Cleveland for boys. For girls, there's the Chaviva High School. If you're looking for a co-ed school there's the Gross Schechter School (K-8).

If kosher food is a concern, there's dairy at Issie's Place, Kantina located at the Hillel, Kinneret Kosher Pizza, and opening soon Capas Craft Burgers. Following the sale of Jade Chinese, the new owners will soon be announcing their plans for the format and menu. Going to the ball game? There's Mendel's KC BBQ at Progressive Field. Want to grab a Jewish book and coffee, try Grand Coffee at Grand Judaica, and if takeout is more your thing Nubeigel is just for you.

Kosher meats, bakery items, and food are readily available from KC Kosher Coop, Unger's Kosher Bakery and Market, Boris Kosher Meats, Tibor's Kosher Meats featrues a smoke house for smoked meats, and the Grove Kosher Supermarket. There are also kosher candies, chocolates, and more at Candy A Plenty, Creative Chocolates, and Blum's Paper Goods and Party Center.

Cleveland being a major US city has the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Metroparks Zoo, the Botanical Garden, Progressive Field home of the Cleveland Guardians (formally Indians), Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Aquarium, and Playhouse Square. The closest airport is Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, approximately 9 miles out of downtown.

Cleveland is located on Lake Erie which borders Canada, so you're going to want to bring a winter coat. To the South of Cleveland, and nearly four hours by car, sits the larger city of Cincinnati (smaller Jewish community), and halfway between the two is Ohio's third largest Jewish community, Columbus. Cleveland is close to other Jewish communities as well, including Buffalo, NY (3 hrs.), Detroit, MI (2 hrs. 30 min.), and Pittsburgh, PA (2 hrs.). If you plan on driving to New York City, plan on more than 7 hours and 30 minutes. Highways serving Cleveland are I90 going east and west, and I77 going South (Lake Erie is to the North.