Apr 7, 2014

Greater Miami Jewish Federation Human Trafficking Seder Decries Modern-Day Slavery

More than 50 representatives from non-profit and law enforcement organizations gathered at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation on Thursday, April 3 to take part in an Advocacy Seder convened by the Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking, a joint task force of the Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Women’s Philanthropy. The program aimed to spread awareness of the societal problem of human trafficking.

The U.S. Department of State and the International Labor Organization estimate that revenues in worldwide trafficking exceed $32 billion annually. Federal statistics also suggest that tens of thousands of youth born in America are at risk of sexual endangerment or exploitation. The average age of entry for children who are commercially, sexually exploited in this country is 12-13 years. Florida is ranked number three in the U.S. in terms of reported calls to the national hotline. Miami-Dade County ranks as number one in the state of Florida for calls.

Joining the Task Force members at the Advocacy Seder were participants representing the Freedom from Violence Coalition, a countywide group of major non-profit organizations that shares concerns about the issue of human trafficking. Other prominent local residents, including the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Director of Human Trafficking, attended and shed light on modern-day slavery.

The program included a reading of the Haggadah (Passover guide), which was written by the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami. This unique Haggadah focused on a different tale, as the prologue describes:

“Today, we read from this Freedom Haggadah, which is structured around that ancient Haggadah, but it is telling a different tale of a different time and a different people. We will be telling the story of modern slavery, human trafficking, and the poverty that surrounds this scourge on our society.”

“As the Passover season approaches, Jews are reminded about the gift of freedom,” said Nancy Zaretsky, Chair of Federation's Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking. “The goal of our Advocacy Seder was to share this appreciation of freedom with our friends and neighbors, and inspire them to oppose human trafficking in our own community and beyond.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council was established in 1973 as the public affairs and advocacy arm of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. It is composed of members-at-large selected from the community, as well as representatives from constituent Jewish community-relations organizations, Federation partner agencies and various entities within Federation. For further information about JCRC, click here or call 786.866.8486.

Women’s Philanthropy (WP) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation understands and promotes the opportunity for women to express themselves philanthropically and live their passion. WP encourages women to express and perpetuate Jewish ideals and values and to act as guardians of the Jewish future by accepting responsibility of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and by maintaining the tradition of tzedakah. The Women’s Campaign of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation represents almost one third of the Annual Campaign in terms of dollars raised. To learn more about Women’s Philanthropy, click here or call 786.866.7440.