Hundreds of Miamians were in Israel when the recent escalation between Iran and Israel unexpectedly left them stranded in the country. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation knows how to create community, even in times of crises.

As missiles rained down and everyone took shelter, Federation did what we do best: expertly organized a swift response, located critical resources and brought people together. The near immediate coordination and formation of a South Florida group chat, which eventually included nearly 500 individuals, was thanks to Dahlia Bendavid, Federation’s Israel and Overseas Director, who was in Israel at the time. Leslie Gelrubin Benitah, Federation Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair, arrived in Israel the same evening the sirens began. “I didn’t just hear about what our community does. I lived it,” said Benitah. “In the middle of a crisis, in the middle of a war, I saw how fast we mobilize and how deeply we care and how far we are willing to go for another.

Click here to watch a short video of how Federation jumped into action to care for our people in a time of crisis.