Community Shaliach (Emissary) Brings Israel to Cincinnati and Cincinnati to Israel

Four months ago I arrived in Cincinnati from Israel with my wife Shani and our two-year-old daughter, Maayan, to serve as the Jewish Community Shaliach to Greater Cincinnati.

What is a Community Shaliach? While the official translation of shaliach is “emissary,” the literal translation from Hebrew is "someone who is sent.” The institution of a shaliach is rooted in the Jewish tradition, as well as in other faiths. One of the most famous shlichim (the plural of shaliach), perhaps the first, is Moses – who was sent by God to Pharaoh to release the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Similarly, in Islam, Muhammad was sent as the Messenger of God, while the Apostles were sent as the messengers of Jesus in Christianity.

As the Community Shaliach, my work is a little simpler: I am here to bring Israel to Cincinnati and Cincinnati to Israel. I seek to help promote existing Israel-related programs and create new initiatives, strengthening the connection between the Cincinnati community and Israel. I'm here to serve the entire community of Greater Cincinnati – Jewish and non-Jewish.

I am here to be a human connection to Israel, to build bridges, to think, to help, to counsel, to interpret. As a representative of Israel, I am here to provide information in many forms. I am available to give presentations about all aspects of Israel – from the social to the cultural to the political. I can help develop Israel-related programs, educational and advocacy courses and events. I can help establish contacts between American individuals and organizations and those in Israel. I can mentor those interested in making Aliyah. I can assist young people with their travel opportunities supported by the Jewish Foundation travel grants. Finally I can be your resource for anything Israel!

Not every Jewish community around the world has a shaliach. It is up to the local Jewish community to bring a shaliach from Israel and provide the funding and support to make this possible. Cincinnati was the fourth community to establish a shaliach program. This was during the 1970s. Cincinnati’s commitment to this valuable program demonstrates the central role Israel plays in our Jewish community, and how much we as a community value this relationship. I am privileged to be only one of a chain of successful shlichim in Cincinnati.

I am here thanks to the cooperation of The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, and with the generous support of The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. The collaboration between these three organizations represents the value of a unified and strong Jewish community.

Since my arrival in Cincinnati, I have engaged in projects with the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Mayerson Foundation’s ACCESS program, the Mayerson JCC, Rockwern Academy, Cincinnati Hebrew Day School, University of Cincinnati Hillel, Partnership 2G and the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

In my short time here, I have discovered a warm, welcoming and supportive community that is passionate about Israel and committed to strong and lasting community values. It has been a fascinating and wonderful beginning and I already know that the next 2-3 years that I will spend in Cincinnati will be a time my family and I will never forget.

I look forward to hearing from you and welcome your ideas, questions and requests. You can reach me at ycohen@jfedcin.org and 513-985-1535.

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