News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

“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.

Thanks to a grant from Federation's Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (JAA), the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center (MARJCC) has been able to provide Jewish programming for a group of teens and young adults with special needs.

“Being here is monumental for me as an educator and an African American male,” affirmed Harvey Stribling, one of 50 Miami-Dade County public school teachers who attended a workshop at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach on June 14 as part of a week-long Holocaust studies program.

Rafting on the Jordan River, hiking in the Upper Galilee, visiting with the Ethiopian-Israeli community in Pardes Channa/Karkur… these are some of the highlights of Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) Birthright Israel trip.

June 1 marked the start of hurricane season and Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) is here to help in case a storm threatens.

“I was lucky enough to be part of this operation, leading and coordinating all the processes for the integration of new immigrants living in the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv hotel,” said Vera Doroshenko of The Jewish Agency for Israel.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers South condominium, three young volunteers from EZS Events — Efraim Stefansky, Zushie Litkowski and Svia Bension — were recognized last week by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman at a County Commission meeting for raising $1.5 million for victims and families of the tragedy.