News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Last week, 35 Miami college students who are spending the summer interning in Israel through Onward Israel visited Miami’s partnership city of Yerucham. During their trip to the Negev community, the participants explored the city’s history, toured Federation’s grantee Kulna’s art exhibit and heard how virtual reality technology can help people learn at MindCET’s EdTech Innovation Center.

While South Florida slows down during the summer months, the work of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) does not stop. Last week, the JVC led a team of 50 campers from Camp J, the summer camp at Alper JCC Miami, on a service field trip to En Familia.

Federation’s Women Amutot Initiative grantees are offering a series of “signing events” in and around Jerusalem to help eliminate the stigma surrounding prenuptial and postnuptial agreements in Israel. The project, spearheaded by two Israeli nonprofits that offer legal services to women, Mavoi Satum and the Center for Women’s Justice (CWJ), and is being supported by the Women's Amutot Initiative.

“Visiting different communities in Israel opened up an entirely new world for me regarding the struggles and practices of Jewish people in other parts of the world,” said Taglit-Birthright Israel participant Sam Rynor.

Teens Advocating Together, an ongoing partnership between Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the NAACP, was recognized for its impact by the Miami-Dade County School Board earlier this month.

As the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, Federation’s overseas partners are providing vital services to those who cannot leave the country, and that includes educational support for school-aged children in Ukraine.

“Thanks to Leket Israel, many families who don’t have the ability to put food in their refrigerators can prepare meals or peel a fruit or send their child to school with dignity,” said Netanela, a single mom and client of Israel’s national food bank.

Diller Teen Fellows, a pluralistic and immersive leadership program that invites a select group of Jewish teens to step up, lead their communities and repair the world, is now accepting applications for their next cohort that will take place during the academic year 2023-2024.

June 1 marked the beginning of hurricane season and Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) is here to help in case a storm threatens. You can join the 2023 JVC Emergency Response Team (JVERT) to support our community if a disaster strikes.

More than 1,500 young Israeli shlichim (emissaries) are working in Jewish overnight camps across North America this summer as part of the Summer Shlichut Project, a program of Federation overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel.

IsraelNow, an immersive travel experience acquainting eighth graders with Israel, is accepting applications through September 28 for its third cohort, March 25-April 2, 2024, for travel during Miami-Dade County Spring Break.

Following the June 6 bombing of Ukraine’s Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam, the city of Kherson experienced extensive flooding, and Federation overseas partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) immediately jumped into action to help local residents.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) recently launched a new podcast, “The Glue With Eric Fingerhut.” In these complicated times, when we are challenged by polarization, partisanship, rapid technological change and social transition, strengthening our social bonds is more important than ever.

In celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month, the Miami Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) and Michael-Ann Russell JCC present a special showing of MJFF 2023 Critics Prize Winner America.

“My wife, Nadine, and I have so much to be thankful for, and we feel a responsibility to give back to our community. And, it begins with Jews helping Jews,” said Steve Foldes, immediate Past Chair of The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is offering a special webinar today, Friday, June 2, at 1 p.m. to learn about the White House’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.

In recognition of national Holocaust Survivor Day and the critical work of the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, the City of Miami Beach proclaimed Tuesday, June 5 as Holocaust Survivor Recognition Day at a special ceremony coordinated by the Holocaust Memorial and Seed the Dream Foundation.

Not only during Mental Health Awareness Month, but all year long, Federation overseas partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges through its “Returning Home” program.