News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Five local organizations have joined Federation’s family of partner agencies receiving funding from the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign for 2016-2017.

On behalf of the Officers, Board of Directors and Staff of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, we express our collective feelings of anguish and outrage at the horrific and hateful attack which took place in the overnight hours between Saturday night, June 11 and Sunday morning, June 12 in Orlando.

On Wednesday, June 8, Israeli police reported a terrorist attack by at least two individuals using automatic weapons at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv’s Commercial District. Four people were killed and at least six others were wounded before the gunmen were neutralized and arrested. An accomplice was later arrested, as well.

Many of us have the privilege of looking back fondly on our summers at Jewish overnight camp and all they provided: the friendships, the self-discovery, and often, the spark for our Jewish pride.

In the past two weeks, there have been more than 50 bomb threats to Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) around the world, including one in London and two in South Florida.

As we prepare to celebrate Shavuot – commemorating the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people – it’s wonderful to know that your support of the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign is bringing other Jews closer to their heritage.

Attention, employers! Are you looking for qualified candidates to help grow your business? JWorks Miami is a community employment program provided through a partnership of Federation and Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and offered at no cost to local employers and Jewish job-seekers.

Last week, 35 leaders from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation traveled to Cuba to experience the island’s Jewish community firsthand.

Summer is a great time to do something good for others, and Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center has a brand-new website to help you get started!

Despite the hardships of growing up in the war-torn areas of the former Soviet Union, teens in cities across the region are coming together to celebrate their Judaism. Federation’s overseas partner agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), has prioritized supporting Jewish teen life around the world.

Whether you are going through a difficult time or wish to provide comfort to someone who is, Federation’s Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support ensures you are never alone. Mishkan Miami’s caring corps of Jewish chaplains, rabbis and volunteers work year-round with doctors to provide holistic spiritual, mental and physical care to those who are lonely or ill.

There will be lots of happy campers this summer, thanks to $122,000 in need-based Jewish overnight camp scholarships provided by Federation to 200 Miami-Dade children ages 8-17.

Amy N. Dean was elected Board Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Jeffrey Scheck was elected General Campaign Chair this week at Federation’s 78th Annual Meeting. Robert G. Berrin was honored for his long-time service to Miami’s Jewish community as Board Chair and past Campaign Chair. Young Leadership awards were presented to Matthew L. Adler, Sara Bejar, Amir Gold, Arnaud Karsenti and Shoshanna Wagner. The Annual Meeting was chaired by Steven J. Brodie and Isaac K. Fisher. Dean and Scheck will assume their new roles on July 1. Pictured at left: Federation President and CEO Jacob Solomon, Amy N. Dean, Robert G. Berrin and Jeffrey Scheck.

The Diller Teen Fellows, an international, immersive leadership program, is seeking Jewish teens entering 10th and 11th grades from Miami-Dade County to join its 2016-2017 cohort.

Now there’s a great, new, animated way to share Jewish values with children ages 4-7. ¸PJ Library has partnered with BimBam to bring a fun, educational webseries called Shaboom! to life.

Many community-minded companies match their employees’ donations to social-service organizations like the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. While most programs match contributions dollar for dollar, some will even double or triple the amount of the gift!

Hurricane season is here, and Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center is seeking compassionate, helpful people to join the 2016 Jewish Volunteer Emergency Response Team (JVERT) and assist our community in case of a disaster.

In Israel, when the two-minute siren sounds at 11 am on Yom Hazikaron, the Jewish State's Memorial Day, the nation comes to a halt. As we saw just two weeks ago, cars on streets and highways pull over, and drivers and passengers get out of their vehicles to stand and observe a moment of silence. Shoppers halt in the aisles of stores. Workers stand next to their desks. Places of entertainment close for the day.