News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund (IEF), which raised more than $30 million, is directing critical medical and trauma relief resources to strengthen the resilience of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists impacted by the war.

A dozen leaders from Yerucham, Israel, visited Miami last week to meet with their counterparts and develop future programming to strengthen the people-to-people connection between the two communities.

Expectant mothers in Israel are facing an unprecedented level of stress and anxiety since the terrorist attacks of October 7. Many have been internally displaced — pulled from their daily routines and their comfort zones, far away from family and their support system — while others have lost their partners in the ongoing war, either called to reserve duty or killed in battle.

Thank you, Jewish Miami! Because of your overwhelming generosity, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation raised more than $1.75 million during Give Miami Day. Every Federation-designated donation also resulted in a bonus gift from The Miami Foundation.

“We are stronger because we stand together,” said Dr. Rebecca Karsenti in her welcoming remarks as the Event Chair of this week’s Women’s Philanthropy (WP) Lion of Judah luncheon.

Join Federation and our Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) for Season for Giving 2024, offering hands-on opportunities to help meet needs throughout Miami and ensure that vulnerable individuals and families have a happy holiday season.

With the end of 2024 just a few weeks away, now is the time to consider some tax-wise charitable giving strategies. It’s not too late to make an impactful donation that benefits our Jewish community now and for years to come.

When local donors, including Federation leadership, heard that our partner city of Yerucham was in dire need of a new ambulance, they happily expedited its purchase and sent it on its way to Israel. This past summer, Tzachi Ben Yishai, a member of the Miami-Yerucham Partnership Committee and Eastern Negev Regional Director for Federation partner Magen David Adom, brought Yerucham’s ambulance shortage to the attention of Roi Vaknin, Yerucham Partnership Director.

Federation is proud to welcome The Nova Music Festival Exhibition to Miami, opening on Wednesday, December 18. The in-depth remembrance of the brutal massacre at The Nova Music Festival in Re’im, Israel, on October 7, sets out to recreate a festival dedicated to peace and love that was savagely cut short by Hamas’ barbaric attack.

Early Giving for Give Miami Day begins this Sunday, November 17! Donate to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation on Give Miami Day, one of the largest annual fundraising events in the country, so your generosity goes even further.

Join Miami’s Jewish community this Sunday, November 10 at Temple Israel of Greater Miami to commemorate Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass.

Established more than a decade ago, the Negev Now Network (NNN), a coalition of four Jewish federations, including Miami, Philadelphia, Metrowest NJ and Montreal, is working to improve the region by leveraging community resources and relationships.

Amigour, a longtime Federation partner that provides affordable housing and social services to older Israelis, has extended extra care and services to its residents due to the war. Of the approximately 7,500 clients, many of whom are Holocaust Survivors, 5,000 live in housing developments in the south and other war-impacted regions.

When you contribute to the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation Campaign on Give Miami Day, your generosity goes even further. That’s because every donation between $25 and $10,000, including a new pledge or payment on an existing pledge, is eligible for an additional donation from The Miami Foundation.

Federation’s Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support is seeking compassionate individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of others. The Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program is a unique group of volunteers who will be trained in the mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and learn the art of spiritual care.

Holocaust Education Week, presented by Federation’s Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, begins November 4, and culminates with a community commemoration of Kristallnacht on November 10.

The general election is fast approaching and JCRC’s Election Toolkit aims to educate, engage and inform voters in Miami-Dade County. The document includes guidelines for mail-in voting and early voting. Tomorrow, October 24, is the last day to request a mail-in ballot.

For the past year, Beit Issie Shapiro has been expanding its work to help Israelis with disabilities cope with ongoing trauma as a result of the horrors of October 7. Through Federation's Israel Emergency Fund, Beit Issie has been welcoming families from Israel’s north and south into their Ra’anana facility for therapy services free of charge, including private and group therapy and access to the sensory room, sports center and indoor heated pool.