News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

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.

As we remain vigilant in our support of our brothers and sisters in Israel during the ongoing war with Hamas, our Jewish family in Miami is also deeply concerned about how anti-Israel sentiment and skyrocketing antisemitism are affecting our local community.

“If we learned anything from our few days in Israel, it is that the Israelis will prevail. They have the heart, the spirit, the resilience and the capability,” said Women’s Philanthropy Chair Elise Udelson, who took chaired the Miami Solidarity Mission to Israel earlier this month,

As the war continues, so, too, does life in Israel, including simchahs like weddings, even when the brides are called to serve in the IDF. The bridal boutique at Women’s Spirit is ensuring wartime brides have everything they need to celebrate their special day, even if that means only a brief respite from the front lines.

Miami’s Jewish women are highly dedicated to fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah, even beyond their own lifetimes — and it shows. As of this week, 250 women have signed commitments to perpetuate their Lion of Judah-level contributions to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, making them Forever Lions.