Feb 16, 2015
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres Addresses 1,300 at Federation’s Main Event
Just months after retiring from a public service career that spanned 70 years, Shimon Peres – the only Israeli leader to have served as both Prime Minister and President – was honored by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation at the 2015 Main Event, with a sold-out crowd of more than 1,300 people in attendance at the Hilton Miami Downtown.
This was the first time the distinguished statesman, political leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate has addressed such a large assembly of Jewish community members in Miami. In an on-stage interview with Emmy Award-winning journalist Jerry Levine, the 91-year-old Peres spoke about topics ranging from the U.S.-Israel relationship and rising worldwide anti-Semitism to his secrets to longevity and his hopes for the future. His advice to the event attendees: “Count your achievements and then count your dreams. If your dreams exceed your achievements, you are young. So keep dreaming.”
The Main Event is the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s largest yearly community gathering, raising funds for the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign to assist people in need in Miami, in Israel and in more than 70 other countries around the world. Tammy and Jorge Woldenberg chaired the 2015 Main Event.
Click here to see photos from The Main Event.
Federation Chair of the Board Robert G. Berrin stressed the deep connection that exists within Miami’s diverse population of more than 123,000 Jews. “Our community is home to Jews of all ages, denominations and countries of origin, yet we are all linked together by shared values, a sense of responsibility to helping others in need, and an abiding love for the people and State of Israel,” he said.
In fact, the recently released 2014 Greater Miami Jewish Federation Population Study showed that 62% of respondents feel “very” or “extremely” emotionally attached to Israel – the highest rate of any American Jewish community. Nearly three quarters (71%) of Miami’s Jewish households include someone who has visited Israel – also more than any other American Jewish community. Federation brings hundreds of Jews to Israel each year through organized peer trips and Federation missions.
In addition, Federation-funded programs work 365 days a year in Israel to welcome new immigrants, provide assistance to vulnerable people, and empower marginalized populations to improve their lives and Israeli society as a whole. With an infrastructure of social services in place year-round, Federation partners are able to respond to emergencies of all kinds at a moment’s notice.
For more than 75 years, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation has been a unifying force for Jewish community-building and philanthropy in Miami, raising $22.5 million annually to fund local organizations – including Jewish day schools, synagogue religious schools and Jewish community centers, as well as numerous social-service programs that care for those in need in Miami. Federation-funded agencies work to advocate on important social issues and provide a strong foundation for Jewish life and identity-building on college campuses and in communities across the United States.
Federation also supports programs in more than 70 other countries, aiming to combat anti-Semitism, provide a lifeline of vital services to the frail and vulnerable, rebuild Jewish communities, and help rescue and resettle those in peril.
During The Main Event program, Robert Berrin and Federation President and CEO Jacob Solomon presented Shimon Peres with the gift of a silver Chanukah menorah bearing the Talmudic quote “One person’s candle is a light for many.”
In his presentation remarks, Solomon said to Peres, “Time and time again, you have remained true to your vision that Israel must find a way to exist in safety and security while still pursuing a just and lasting peace with her neighbors. You have worked to ensure that democracy flourishes in our spiritual homeland, that the desert continues to bloom, that Israel remains a light unto the nations, that her doors remain open to any Jew seeking freedom and the desire to lead their lives without fear of persecution or anti-Semitism, and that one day soon – please, G-d – that Israel shall have an enduring and viable peace.”
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation works in partnership with The Jewish Federations of North America (formerly UJC and UJA), communities across the continent, and long-time global partners that include The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and other non-governmental organizations.
