News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

The smiles are sure to be bright and the laughter loud this summer as Federation's three Jewish community centers (JCC) prepare to welcome hundreds of campers for much-needed fun and friendship.

February is Jewish Disability Advocacy Month (JDAM) and Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM).

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) mourn the death of Congresswoman Carrie Meek. The daughter of a sharecropper and granddaughter of slaves, she fought passionately against discrimination and inequality for all communities and was a staunch advocate for refugees and immigrants, in particular Miami’s Haitian community. She also spoke out against the unequal treatment of Afro-Cubans by Cuba’s communist government and marched in Freedom Sunday on Dec. 6, 1987, when 200,000 people protested in Washington, DC in support of Soviet Jewry.

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Nachman Shai recently sat down for a wide-ranging interview with The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

Teenagers looking for a meaningful way to give back can participate in J-SERVE 2022 on Monday, February 21.

Exodus 22:24 decrees, “Thou shalt not exact interest from the needy among you.” This Shabbat, Parashat Mishpatim reminds us that giving an interest-free loan is considered an even greater mitzvah than giving charity.

Tikkun olam (repairing the world) is a fundamental Jewish value and Federation-supported Repair the World Miami has an opportunity to bring this ideal to life.

There is only a few days left to apply for summer need-based scholarships to Jewish overnight camps. Recognizing that Jewish overnight camp plays an important role in strengthening Jewish identity, Federation is committed to help make these experiences more affordable.

Federation’s overseas partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) had an impactful 2021 helping to care for Israel’s 1.3 million older adults through its Eshel program.

In 2019, in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, 50 of Miami’s Jewish clergy came together for a day to study disaster spiritual care in partnership with our Greater Miami Jewish Federation chaplaincy program, the Secure Community Network and local law enforcement.

Applications are now being accepted for the Miami community Birthright Israel trip, June 13-24.

For students, the pandemic is particularly challenging as they navigate social isolation, online education and missed milestones.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is committed to educating our community about the horrors of the Shoah, which includes witnessing the powerful stories of Survivors.

The hours-long standoff at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX, was a startling reminder of the importance of securing our Jewish institutions.