News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Don’t miss your chance to hear from former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at The Main Event of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation on Sunday, February 18 at the Loews Miami Beach. Plus, join your Jewish community as we honor Federation President and CEO Jacob Solomon with the Friend of Israel Humanitarian Award on the occasion of his retirement after more than 42 years of service.

“We are here today because we are hurting … because we need each other… because we are Jews … because we want to do something … because, together, we CAN do something.” These powerful words from Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair Amanda Adler were the reason more than 500 of Miami’s most generous Jewish women gathered this past Tuesday for the Lion of Judah Event.Chaired by Jill Schwartz, the event marked 109 days since Hamas’ brutal attack and focused on Federation’s vital ongoing response.

“Being in Israel right now is like attending a national shiva,” said Federation General Campaign Chair Lily Serviansky in reference to attending the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s most recent, and fourth, Solidarity Mission since October 7. “For a few days, we were able to join them in their pain and sorrow. You hear that everything changed

“This has been an incredible week of healing and connecting with our Miami Jewish community,” said Brothers for Life (BFL) Co-Founder Rabbi Chaim Levine, affirming that the 12 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans who arrived here Monday benefited from their visit. “It takes a whole community to help an injured soldier.”

A lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts, Ruth Weiss later owned a second home in Key Biscayne, and demonstrated her love and commitment to Israel and the Jewish people through annual donations to the Jewish Federations in both communities.

“This year, we definitely looked at the grant allotments through a different lens,” said Ilene Kossman, Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Women’s Amutot Initiative Committee, regarding the 2024 funding awarded to organizations in Israel that help women thrive and succeed.

Join the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in a momentous celebration of Jewish community and solidarity with Israel at The Main Event on Sunday, February 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Loews Miami Beach.

When Hamas terrorists surrounded his home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, Shlomo Ron, z”l, gave his own life so that his family could live. In baiting the terrorists so they would not search for his wife, their two daughters and a grandson who hid in their safe room, 85-year-old Ron sacrificed himself and enabled his family to survive.

Federation continues to prioritize the needs of women and girls through the ninth cycle of the Women’s Impact Initiative grants.

“Aliyah [immigration to Israel] in these times is another expression of the partnership of world Jewry in building, and now in rebuilding, the State of Israel,” said Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of Federation overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel.

Since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, thousands of Israeli lives have been upended and the country’s economy has been in turmoil. More than 360,000 reservists were called to active duty during the ongoing conflict, away from their jobs and families.

“We have accessible bathrooms, showers, bedrooms. What we didn’t have is all the equipment for the people who came from their houses with nothing,” said Rachel Cohen, Project Manager at Beit Hagalgalim, a center for learning in Herzliya that is offering housing for people with disabilities who had to flee Israel’s south after October 7.

In answer to the unprecedented need for extensive and specialized trauma counseling in Israel due to the war, Federation is funding an initiative of partner agency Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) to train Ethiopian-Israeli therapists in psychosocial care.

At a time when Jews everywhere are troubled by the war in Israel and rampant worldwide antisemitism, the Shabbat of Love — the largest Shabbat dinner celebration in North American history — provides the opportunity to celebrate Jewish light and love on Friday, January 19.

In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attacks in Israel, as her husband was called to defend their country and her children remained terrified, Nurit Nissim’s thoughts turned to the welfare of mentors who work year-round with at-risk children through Youth Futures, and how she could support them.

“Physically, my family is okay. Mentally, it’s a completely different story,” said Ashira Greszes, whose toddler, Yedidya, attends gan (kindergarten) at Federation beneficiary agency Beit Issie Shapiro, an innovator in services for adults and children with disabilities that now provides free emotional therapy and respite visits to hundreds of people impacted by the war in Israel.

Only two more days remain for tax-smart giving in 2023, making this your last chance this year to demonstrate your support of Israel and help confront the rising tide of antisemitism here at home.

At a time when antisemitism rages across universities, 40 students from Hillels in Florida participated last week in a trip to Poland to learn firsthand the lessons of the Holocaust — and came away with a deep sense of self, a strengthened connection to Judaism and the courage to stand up for Jewish students on campus.