News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

The idea of living in a hotel may sound like a 24/7 vacation, but that is far from the truth for displaced older adults forced to abandon their homes for hotels in the aftermath of October 7.

Jewish Federations condemn Iran's attacks against Israel—the first by a sovereign nation since Saddam Hussein launched scud missiles at Israel in 1991—in the strongest possible terms.

Immediately following the horrors of October 7, Federation beneficiary agency Beit Issie Shapiro expanded its work to help Israelis with and without disabilities who are struggling to rebuild their lives.

This Passover, Federation beneficiary Yodeah is encouraging everyone to add a test tube to their seder plate to celebrate the scientific advances that help free us from the plagues of our time.

What is trauma? Is it environmental? Is it genetic? Or is it both? These questions, and more, will be explored at the 28th Annual Ministering to the Elderly Conference, “Transforming Intergenerational Trauma Into Healing,” on Thursday, May 9.

Join your Jewish community on Thursday, May 30 at 5:30 p.m. for the 86th Annual Meeting of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation to recognize Federation Chair of the Board Ariel Bentata for his leadership, dedication and concern for the welfare of the Jewish people. Chaired by Debbie and David Mendal at the Jungle Island Ballroom, the program will install the 2024-2025 Board of Directors, Trustees, Leadership Council and Council of Jewish Organizations, including incoming Chair of the Board Lily Serviansky.

Spread the joy of Shabbat by joining Shabbat Friends, a new initiative created by Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC). Last month, 10 volunteers participated in the inaugural program with 20 residents from The Lilac at Silver Palms, a North Dade nursing home.

Federation partner agency the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) is helping early childhood education teachers avoid burnout, a common challenge among today’s educators. Teachers face unique obstacles daily, from managing classroom dynamics to fostering relationships with students and parents.

The winter edition of Szarvas International Jewish Youth Camp recently came to a close, leaving hundreds of campers with big smiles and memories that will last a lifetime. Federation’s longtime overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, created Szarvas, located in rural Hungary, to address the needs of a growing population of Jews seeking to learn about their roots after the fall of Communism.

Participate in the Miami Jewish Community Study. The Miami-Dade Jewish Community Study is a once-a-decade study sponsored by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago.

According to the CDC, one in 36 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the fastest-growing developmental disability in the US. Working to transform awareness of disabilities into action and support, Federation’s Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (MJAA) has partnered with local synagogues and Jewish agencies to offer community events throughout the month of April, Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month.

As Israeli famers begin the planting season this month, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) have provided $12.5 million to help those in the devastated western Negev communities purchase vital agricultural equipment.

Students entering their sophomore and junior years of high school are invited to apply for the Stephen Muss Impact Fellowship, a program that offers individual $15,000 scholarships to Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI).

With tremendous gratitude to the Miami Beach Police Department for its unwavering commitment to protecting the Jewish community — particularly since October 7 — Federation, its Office of Community Security and Jewish Community Relations Council have written a letter of appreciation to Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner and the Miami Beach Commissioners.

While much of the immediate and critical needs of Israelis are being addressed following the terror attacks on October 7, there remains a long road to economic recovery. In every sector, from agriculture to high tech, tens of thousands of businesses have closed, and micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses have been the hardest hit.

As thousands of IDF reservists continue to report for duty, nonprofit HaOgen has deployed thousands of women volunteers to provide hands-on help for families separated by the war.

“Even though we have kept in close contact with our recipient organizations since October 7, nothing is as healing as an in-person hug,” said Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Women’s Amutot Initiative Committee Chair Ilene Kossman, who participated in last week’s Women’s Amutot Initiative Study Trip and Solidarity Mission to Israel, March 17-21.

“It has been my privilege to play a meaningful role in what became my lifetime passion, the strengthening of the Jewish people, the Jewish community and Israel,” said Norman Lipoff, a past Chair of The Foundation and a past Federation President.