Young Jewish Clevelander Honored For Leadership

BEACHWOOD, OH — The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced the 2020 recipient of the Bennet and Donna Yanowitz Leadership Award this week.

Justin Kadis, 37, claimed the award during a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday. The distinction recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment, involvement and leadership within Cleveland's Jewish community.

“Thank you to the Yanowitz family for this very meaningful honor,” Kadis said. “The Jewish Federation of Cleveland has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and my volunteer work gives me a sense of duty and purpose that I hope to pass onto my children one day like my parents have passed onto me. I value the mentorship, friendship, and growth that I’ve gained working alongside so many exceptional people.”

In 2015, Kadis was named the Roslyn Z. Wolf-JDC International Fellow and spent 18 months volunteering at the Jewish Community Center of Krakow in Poland. He is now the co-founder and current board member of Friends of JCC Krakow. He returns annually for Ride for the Living, a fundraiser he co-founded, in which individuals bicycle from Auschwitz to JCC Krakow to honor victims of the Holocaust and celebrate Jewish renewal in Poland.

Kadis is also a member of the National Young Leadership Cabinet for the Jewish Federations of North America. He serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Cleveland Hillel Foundation.

“Justin is quite accomplished, and he epitomizes the person my parents had in mind when they established this award 25 years ago,” said Alan Yanowitz during the Board of Trustees meeting. “Justin has distinguished himself through his participation and leadership in the Cleveland community, nationally, and internationally.”