News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

More than a year and a half after October 7, as tens of thousands of evacuees return to their communities in northern Israel, Federation is assisting local governments in meeting the needs of their residents.

This week, Jewish Miami welcomed Ariel Pollack Star and Betty Ben Shimon, two entrepreneurs and educators from our partnership city of Yerucham, Israel. Pollack Star is the founder of Lehem Zeh, a nonprofit bakery and Federation partner that uses the power of food and bread to connect cultures and communities through culinary activities, economic empowerment and social tourism.

Be part of Jewish Miami’s Yom HaShoah Community Observance on Sunday, April 27 at 6 p.m. Join your Jewish community at Temple Emanu-El, 1701 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach to commemorate Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day — and revisit the lessons of history through the testimony of Survivors.

Federation is helping elderly olim (immigrants to Israel) impacted by the war in Ukraine find support in their new home through Choosing Tomorrow, an innovative program that pairs them with local college students. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, approximately 5,000 elderly immigrants made aliyah, many of them completely alone as they began the long road to resettlement.

Spirits were high in Ofakim, Israel, during a Purim celebration presented as part of a Federation-funded initiative to further recovery in the Southern District city. IDF reserve-duty families and security forces celebrated the holiday at the local youth center, with festively costumed children preparing mishloach manot (gift packages) as parents enjoyed coffee, pastries and a much-appreciated break.

The Women’s Event, held last week by Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, was an opportunity to gather for a taste of community and cuisine. Israeli chef Yaniv Cohen, a.k.a. The Spice Detective both at his Jaffa Miami restaurant and as author of the cookbook My Spiced Kitchen, shared his personal journey and the health benefits of cooking with spices.

How many people live in Jewish Miami? How do we do Jewish? What issues do we most care about? Learn the answers on April 7 and 8 when the Greater Miami Jewish Federation presents the findings of Jewish Miami: A 2024 Community Study at four regional gatherings.

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Federation-funded Taglit-Birthright Israel are joining together to send at least 10,000 Jewish volunteers to help in Israel in 2025. Such assistance from the Diaspora is critically important to Israel at this time, as tens of thousands of Israelis continue to report for military reserve duty and fewer foreign workers are available.

Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council, in partnership with the Consul General of Israel in Miami and the Broward, South Palm Beach and Palm Beach federations, hosted Jewish Community Advocacy Day/Israel Day at the Capitol in Tallahassee on March 25-26.

Federation is addressing the urgent rehabilitation of IDF veterans and private Israeli citizens with a $150,000 allocation from our Israel Emergency Fund (IEF). Close to 10,000 individuals have been injured since the attacks of October 7 and the ensuing war.

During their recent ninth-grade trip to Israel, students from Scheck Hillel Community School enjoyed a day of sports education, play and interaction in Yerucham. Students from Jewish Miami, teens from Kibbutz HaNer and Sha’ar HaShaveyon soccer players from teams in Miami’s Partnership2Gether community of Yerucham enjoyed their time playing soccer and benefiting from professional coaching and training.

The loss of a family member or friend is grief that no one should bear alone. Come together on Thursday, April 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus for an encouraging and compelling program that will help you find hope and healing after loss.

Last weekend, a diverse group of parents, educators and professionals gathered at Federation for the Second Annual BeWell Youth Mental Health Summit. In her keynote, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Lisa Miller explored the connections between spirituality, resilience and mental well-being.

Are you Jewish Miami Proud? You can have an impact on our community forever by making a legacy gift through The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Join hundreds of visionary philanthropists in ensuring that our cherished traditions, inspiring educational programs and vital community services continue to thrive for generations to come.

Nearly a year and a half after October 7, as thousands of Israelis remain jobless and struggling with trauma, Federation continues to provide vital employment assistance. In the initial aftermath of the terrorist attacks, Federation-funded mobile employment centers, staffed by professionals trained in trauma response, were deployed to more than 100 hotels and other temporary residences to make job searching and career training accessible for 2,500 evacuated Israelis.

Nineteen top executives from organizations that educate and empower Israeli youth recently visited Miami to learn about Federation’s work with children and teens, tour local sites and explore meaningful future partnerships.

Attention, college and graduate students! The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation wants to help fund your continuing education through the Sylvia Tuman Scholarship Program. A limited number of scholarships are available to Jewish undergraduate and graduate students in need of financial assistance.

Mazal tov to two Miami-Dade County universities — Florida International University and University of Miami — which are among the select group of eight colleges to have received top marks in ADL’s recently released Campus Climate Report.