News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

The Annual Israel Mini Mission this past Wednesday was a whirlwind day tour of Federation-funded organizations, acquainting Israeli Miamians who return home for the summer with some of our vital work in the Jewish homeland.

Federation is now accepting applications for three 2023 grant opportunities: Jewish Incubator Grants, Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance Inclusion Grants and Women’s Impact Initiative Grants.

When you make a donation to Federation's Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund, your contribution makes it possible for a network of global humanitarian aid and international development organizations to provide assistance to thousands of refugees in dire need of help.

Through Operation Zur Israel, thousands of Ethiopian Jews are making aliyah this year and reuniting with loved ones already in Israel. Many have waited decades, enduring hardships and struggling to hold on to hope, for the day they would get to go to Israel.

Federation is seeking warm and supportive host families for two 18-year-old Israeli emissaries dedicated to making a difference in Miami's Jewish community. In our ongoing commitment to connect Miami’s Jewish community with the people of Israel, we are proud to be bringing back the Shinshinim program to Miami.

Yerucham, Miami’s partnership city in Israel's Negev, is a can't-miss destination, and has been busy this summer hosting many groups from our community! With numerous programs funded by the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign and a wide variety of up-and-coming business ventures, there is plenty to see and do.

“I didn’t always live a Jewish life,” says Yelena Sorokina, a resident of Odesa, Ukraine. “My father’s family died during the Second World War, and my parents had to evacuate. I didn’t really have a Jewish upbringing.

More than 650 people have already registered for the Israel 75 Miami Mega Mission, April 20-27, 2023! Is your name on the list? Spend five nights in Jerusalem, two nights in Tel Aviv and mark Israel’s milestone 75th anniversary with hundreds of your friends from our Miami Jewish community.

Since the war in Ukraine began in February, roughly 25,200 refugees from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have made aliyah — more than eight times the amount that immigrated in 2021 — according to The Jewish Agency for Israel, Federation's overseas partner.

For the Miami cohort of Onward Israel, last week’s visit to Federation’s partner city of Yerucham was a day of discovery and diversion as students from Florida International University and University of Miami immersed themselves in a multifaceted sampling of Israeli innovation, recreation and culture.

Your generosity helped the Greater Miami Jewish Federation distribute more than $148,000 in Jewish overnight camp scholarships to 221 youth attending summer camps across the US that span different denominations of Judaism.

During a recent City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting, Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee (BAAC) were honored by Commissioner Steven Meiner with a public proclamation in appreciation of their joint effort to strengthen ties between the two communities in South Florida, naming June 22 "Shine A Light On Antisemitism and Racism Day."

During a recent City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting, Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee (BAAC) were honored by Commissioner Steven Meiner with a public proclamation in appreciation of their joint effort to strengthen ties between the two communities in South Florida, naming June 22 "Shine A Light On Antisemitism and Racism Day."

Honeymoon Israel (HMI) is now accepting applications for its January 5-15, 2023 trip, open to young couples with at least one Jewish partner who together wish to explore Israel and their connection to Judaism for nine “exhilarating, romantic and memorable” days.

“We want to make FIU a place where Jewish students are proud to be Jewish, where they feel connected and where they feel safe and included,” says Jon Warech, Executive Director of Hillel at Florida International University (FIU), one of the seven Federation-supported Florida Hillels.

During a recent City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting, Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee (BAAC) were honored by Commissioner Steven Meiner with a public proclamation in appreciation of their joint effort to strengthen ties between the two communities in South Florida, naming June 22 "Shine A Light On Antisemitism and Racism Day."

All year long, and especially during Pride Month in June, Federation is proud to support Keshet, a Jewish nonprofit working for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.

Today marks one year since the devastating collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers South, which fell early on the morning of June 24, 2021, claiming 98 precious souls and leaving an entire community devastated.