Miami and Yerucham Diller Fellows Come Together for Mifgash

Miami’s Diller Teen Fellows and their families recently hosted Diller Teens from Federation's partnership city of Yerucham, Israel, in their homes, as part of the program’s Jewish Communities' Mifgash (encounter). The teens participated in various volunteer experiences — both in the Jewish and general communities — that explored different values of the Diller program, most notably, tikkun olam, or repairing the world. They planned art projects and sang with residents at Miami Jewish Health; volunteered at Jewish Community Services' Kosher Food Bank; served lunch to residents at Chapman Partnership, and much more.

The Yerucham teens also spent time exploring Jewish life in Miami, meeting with local rabbis and other leaders to learn about Conservative and Reform Judaism. In addition, they brought Israel and Yerucham to the classroom at both Lehrman Community Day School and Scheck Hillel Community School during interactive learning sessions. And of course, the Yerucham cohort enjoyed discovering all Miami has to offer, from Gator Park in the Everglades to a graffiti tour in Wynwood, while bonding with their Miami partners and their host families.

During a transformational nine days, the group improved their leadership skills, learned about different Jewish practices in Miami and Israel and solidified their bonds. Now, the Yerucham teens excitedly await the arrival of the Miami Diller Teens in Israel this summer.

Diller Teen Fellows is an international, immersive leadership program. Participants attend a variety of meaningful and educational events, including Sunday workshops, thought-provoking weekend retreats and an inspiring three-week seminar in Israel. Applications are now available for the 2018-2019 cohort and are due no later than April 30. For more information, click here. Diller is operated in Miami by Federation’s subsidiary agency, the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE).