The Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association has long made a difference in Northeast Ohio’s Jewish community by forging meaningful, enduring connections between its adult Bigs and younger Littles. This year, the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary, and to mark that milestone, Jstyle invited men, women, boys and girls involved in the program to model and take over our spring fashion shoot.
In doing so, we visited the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland, the site of many enjoyable and educational outings for Bigs and Littles over the years, as well as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (formerly Quicken Loans Arena), where we were given a behind-the-scenes look at the set-up for a rock ‘n’ roll concert.
In this issue, not only will you get a look at the latest spring fashion trends, you’ll get a glimpse at what’s made the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association so special for an entire century.
Fashion: Jessica Simon
Hair and makeup: Galvin Mason, Dino Palmieri Salon & Spa
Photography: Casey Rearick, Casey Rearick Photo; and Janet Macoska, Janet Macoska Photography Inc.
Doug Breitenbach and Nathan Lurie
Nathan Lurie
Age: 14
City: Beachwood
Synagogue: Solon Chabad
School: Eighth-grader at Beachwood Middle School
Doug Breitenbach
Age: 32
City: Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood
Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
Work: Financial adviser at Merrill Lynch in Pepper Pike
Doug Breitenbach
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
It’s an organization that’s been a part of my life since I was younger than Nathan. I was a Little, now I’m a Big, and it’s played an unbelievable part in my life. It keeps you grounded. In a crazy world of work and everything else going on in life, it’s a reminder of simple things and what’s really important in life.
What do you like best about being matched with Nathan?
His ability to make people laugh and really make you forget about any kind of issues.
Is there anything you’ve pulled from being a “little” yourself that, as a Big, you’re able to share with Nathan?
I have the good fortune to still be in touch with my Big, so I get advice from him from time to time. If there’s a situation or conversation we’re having, I’m able to pull from him. He’s a great resource to have.
Nathan Lurie
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
Hanging out with Doug because we do fun things together.
What do you like best about being matched with Doug?
Me and him have the same interests, like sports.
Erica Henkin and Lilly Skory
Erica Henkin
Age: 30
City: University Heights
Synagogue: The Shul in Pepper Pike
Work: Workforce development executive for the Boy Scouts of America in Cleveland
Lilly Skory
Age: 14
City: Parma
Synagogue: Beth Israel-The West Temple
School: Eighth-grader at Normandy High School
Erica Henkin
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
I love everything. We’ve been matched for seven years, and I feel like I get so much more out of this than I’m able to give, being able to mentor and have a connection with somebody for so long.
What do you like best about being matched with Lilly?
At this point, we’re really like sisters. She’s sweet and kind and smart and very mature for her age – and she’s always been that way. She’s very thoughtful and always cares about other people. She’s just great.
Lilly Skory
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
That I can be matched with Erica.
What do you like best about being matched with Erica?
She’s easy to talk to, we’re pretty close and she’s a nice person to have around.
Alina Litwack and Lexi Jaffe
Alina Litwack
Age: 27
City: Beachwood
Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and Jewish Family Experience
Work: National industrial engineer for Nestle in Solon
Lexi Jaffe
Age: 12
City: Beachwood
Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
School: Sixth-grader at Beachwood Middle School
Alina Litwack
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
I love the opportunity to get involved in the community and meet someone amazing, just like Lexi. It’s just so fun to hang out, and she’s just an amazing person. So, it’s really fun to go out and explore Cleveland since I’m new. Coming into Cleveland, she’s showing me around to all the fun things we can do.
What do you like best about being matched with Lexi?
Lexi is an amazing person as a whole. She’s so caring and amazing at what she does, and so generous. She’s able to have a lot of fun in what she does and is her own individual person – and I love that.
Lexi Jaffe
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
That I get to be matched with Alina.
What do you like best about being matched with Alina?
She’s nice, she’s fun, she’s caring.
Barry Gabel and Harry Morgenstern
Barry Gabel
Age: 67
City: Pepper Pike
Work: Senior vice president of marketing and sponsorship for Live Nation in Chagrin Falls
Harry Morgenstern
Age: 26
City: New York City
Synagogue: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
Work: Software implementation manager for Yext in New York City
Barry Gabel
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
For me, the best part is learning about myself as well as being a mentor for the kids I’ve been matched with. People say there’s never enough time in the day to volunteer, and I combat that by saying “that’s all you have is time.” Everybody can give financially, but there’s something that’s incredibly rewarding about giving your time, especially having a friendship from a young age to where now kids are older and we still maintain a friendship.
What do you like best about being matched with Harry?
We’re a lot alike. Being able to impart some of my hobbies and things that I like, and I can see that sharing music and sharing sports – things that I like, as well as work – it’s very interesting to see him become more involved and interested in some of those things. And just, quite honestly, spending time and getting to know somebody is really the most rewarding thing I like about Harry.
You mentioned you had another Little.
I was matched years ago, in 1985, with my first “little brother.” His name is David Roth. He’s now 38, has two kids and lives in Houston. We speak to one another once a month. Interestingly enough, Jessica (Jstyle fashion coordinator Jessica Simon), it’s her grandfather – Dan Innenberg – who matched me with David. So, it’s been great, not only being involved with these two kids, but seeing the entire organization and how the Bigs and Littles progress through the years.
Harry Morgenstern
What do you like best about JBBBSA?
Definitely the relationship Barry and I have developed. He’s served as a very positive male influence in my life and exposed me to so many cool things, but really, it’s just the relationship we’ve built over the last 16 years.
What do you like best about being matched with Barry?
Barry is just an awesome guy. He’s super-kind, super-friendly, inviting and he’s always encouraging me to try new things.
Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association
Cleveland’s Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association is one of the 13 founding Big Brothers Big Sisters associations in the country. Only seven of those charter 13 remain today, and of those, only three are Jewish: Cleveland, Boston and Los Angeles.
It all started at the Euclid Avenue Temple in Cleveland, where congregants concerned over juvenile delinquency in the wake of World War I formed the Jewish Big Brother Association of Cleveland as an organization independent of the temple. In 1928, the group joined the Jewish Family Service Association, maintaining its independent status in the process, and in 1948, both it and NCJW/Cleveland’s Jewish Big Sister Association became affiliated with the Jewish Children’s Bureau. In 2010, JBBBSA officially merged with Bellefaire JCB.
JBBBSA Director Jill Sadowsky estimates “thousands” of Littles, young men and women who are matched with adult Bigs who serve as consistent and caring role models, have been mentored over the years. According to JBBBSA, research shows any child – whether from a single-parent home, two-parent home, an immigrant family or native-to-Northeast-Ohio family – can benefit from having an additional supportive role model in their life.
“Our program for 100 years has offered a unique, special match to Jewish families across the area,” Sadowsky says. “We have current Bigs going to the weddings of their Littles, (and) on our 100 Year Committee of 20 involved members, we have people who have been involved since the ’40s. Our program gives Jewish families support in raising their children and provides our volunteers an opportunity to live the value of tikkun olam (repair the world).”
Currently, JBBBSA has 55 active matches – but countless bonds remain active between Bigs and Littles well after their formal involvement in the program ends.
It’s expected those longterm relationships will be on full display during the JBBBSA 100th Anniversary Family Reunion from 1 to 4 p.m. May 5 at Bellefaire JCB in Shaker Heights.
In addition to marking the program’s milestone anniversary, the event will feature the presentation of the Oscar Steiner Award, named after JBBBSA’s first president and presented to individuals whose vision and commitment to children have enabled the organization to enrich the lives of both children and volunteers; the annual celebration of Bigs of the Year; the acknowledgment of special volunteer anniversaries; music and entertainment from Rock the House; and a barbecue picnic from Café 56.
To register or for more information, visit bit.ly/2VBHOyx. To learn more about becoming a Big or Little, visit bit.ly/2WRHPhN or contact Sadowsky at 216-320-8483 or sadowskyj@bellefairejcb.org.
Great Lakes Science Center
For more than 20 years, the Great Lake Science Center has inspired and educated Northeast Ohio’s young minds – including those enrolled with the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Association – at its window-lined, lab-like building along the Lake Erie shore in downtown Cleveland.
In addition to its permanent exhibit, the center hosts high-profile traveling and temporary exhibitions, including “Vroom! A Car Adventure,” which explores the science, technology, engineering and math involved with automobiles and remains on view through Sept. 2.
The science center is also home to the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, a six-story state-of-the-art theater, and the NASA Glenn Visitor Center, which among other things includes the 1973 Skylab 3 Apollo Command Module.
There’s also Camp Curiosity, the center’s summer day camp program that engages participants in mind-sharpening, STEM-based activities at any of its three locations: downtown, Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills and Lee Burneson Middle School in Westlake.