News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

As missiles and rockets continue to fall across Israel, displacing and traumatizing thousands, Federation is providing critical emotional support and counseling not only to Israeli citizens, but also to the professionals caring for them.

“Give me a staff filled with Ike Hellers and we’ll change the world,” said Federation President & CEO Emeritus Jacob Solomon at the recent dedication of the Ike Heller Educational Building at Landow Jewish Academy in Fort Lauderdale.

Join Jewish Miami’s largest day of service, Good Deeds Day, on Sunday April 12! The community-wide celebration of kindness, service and impact is celebrating its 20^th anniversary.

“Our preparedness in safeguarding the Jewish community isn’t predicated on a single event or conflict,” said James Somohano, Director of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Office of Community Security (OCS).

As the war with Iran heads into its second week, Federation is committed to helping Israelis with critical and immediate aid. One of our principal vehicles for that is The Jewish Agency for Israel's Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT).

Answer the call this Sunday! You may get a call from a number you don't recognize. That's a volunteer from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation with an opportunity to do the mitzvah of tzedakah.

You are invited to the grand opening of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach Education Center on Sunday, March 22, 2-6 p.m. Dedicated to preserving Holocaust memory through survivor testimony, this state-of-the-art facility allows guests to bear witness to history and reflect on the dangers of intolerance, hatred and antisemitism.

In the past week, 110,000 IDF reservists have been called to duty and the newly established National Headquarters for Families of Reserve Service Members is already operating to meet the urgent needs of reservists and their families.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, our Jewish Community Relations Council and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami are horrified and outraged by the wave of antisemitic violence targeting Jewish communities in West Bloomfield, MI, and across North America in recent days.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami (RAGM) are horrified and outraged by the wave of antisemitic violence targeting Jewish communities across North America in recent days.

Republican leadership in Miami-Dade moved quickly to engage with Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) following local news reports that the secretary of the Miami-Dade County Republican Party engaged in viscerally antisemitic and racist rhetoric in a group chat.

“The effectiveness of Federation support in the current war in Israel is actually a product of October 7,” noted Federation’s Representative in Israel Ofer Lichtig.

As a result of Federation funding, our partner city of Yerucham, Israel, is already reaping the benefits of its recently renovated Emergency Operations Center (EOC). According to Yerucham Mayor Nili Aharon, Federation’s support significantly enhanced the scope of the project.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation is helping Israelis affected by the current conflict with Iran with an emergency grant to the Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT).

In the immediate aftermath of Iran’s attack, Federation’s partners on the ground began deploying emergency response services and mental health resources to impacted Israelis. More than 1,700 pounds of essentials, including clothing, toiletries, and even mishloach manot (goodie bags) and costumes for Purim, were delivered to evacuees from hard-hit Beit Shemesh who are currently staying in Jerusalem hotels.

Greater Miami Jewish Federation and its JCRC support the joint United States and Israeli military actions in Iran and stands firmly behind the brave members of the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces carrying them out. We pray for the safety of the Iranian people who have suffered under a murderous regime for 47 years, and for the Israeli people who are now under attack by the same regime. We are tracking the war in real time and remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting our extended family in Israel in every way we can.

Federation continues to address the urgent mental health needs of young IDF veterans of October 7 through the Metiv Peace of Mind (POM) program. Nearly 3,000 conscripts, ages 18-21, were among the first to respond to the Hamas invasion, engaging in close combat and witnessing horrific scenes of civilian slaughter.

Federation offers $1,000 scholarships to campers attending Jewish overnight summer camps for the first time. In partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp and Jewish overnight camps across North America, Federation provides need-blind grants of up to $1,000 to families with first-time campers attending nonprofit, mission-driven Jewish overnight summer camps.