News from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Just 17 days remain until Sunday, April 22, the day the El Al charter plane departs Miami International Airport, taking 400 Miami Mega Mission participants to Israel – and joining more than 300 more in our spiritual homeland for the journey of a lifetime.

If you’re one of the 700 members of Miami Jewish community participating in the Miami Mega Mission to Israel, don’t miss the orientation session on Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Miami Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.

Another 20 compassionate volunteers have graduated from Refuat Ha-Nefesh, the Jewish Spiritual Care Visiting Program of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Jewish Chaplaincy Program and Jewish Volunteer Center.

Hundreds of members of our community will gather at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach on Sunday, April 15 in observance of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). Together, they will honor the memory of the six million Jewish people who perished at the hands of the Nazis and pay tribute to those who survived the horrors of the Holocaust.

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will hold its third annual anti-hunger Intergenerational Advocacy Seder, “Through a Different Lens,” on Tuesday, April 3, around the theme “Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat.”

We are shocked and outraged by the tragic terror attack that took place on the morning of March 19 at a Jewish school in southern France and has left at least four dead, including three young children.

What will the Jewish future look like? That is the question on many minds as people across our community work to ensure that Jewish traditions and values are passed on to the next generations. This video provides a bit of insight into how our children see their own future.

At the beginning of February, a sudden wave of dangerous winter weather gripped Eastern Europe and parts of the former Soviet Union. Thanks in part to yearly allocations from the Annual Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, Federation’s overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) was able to provide a lifeline of heat, food and medicine to those in need.

The Dow Jones Industrial average has surpassed 13,000 for the first time since May of 2008. With this exciting economic news, now is a great time to consider using appreciated securities to fund your philanthropy.

On Sunday, February 12, members of the community gathered to celebrate the topping out of the new Galbut Family Miami Beach Jewish Community Center. The highly anticipated community landmark, which began construction on July 14, 2011, was on display for the first time during the ceremony and hard hat tours.

Join hundreds of volunteers and bring your cell phone to make the call that’s timeless! This year’s Super Sunday phonathon, taking place on March 18, will be a fun-filled day, featuring blast-from-the-past music and entertainment alongside modern communication methods, including social media and texting.

On Wednesday, February 15 from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., the Attorneys’ Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will focus its first Speaker Series program on “How to Make In-House Counsel Happy.”

Members of Miami’s Jewish community who are between the ages of 22 and 26 can now register for a free, 10-day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip to be led by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation during winter 2013. Federation is partnering with Israel Outdoors, the largest provider of Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, to offer these experiences exclusively for residents of Miami-Dade County.

This summer, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will lead a free, 10-day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip for members of Miami’s Jewish community who are between the ages of 22 and 26. Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15.

“April Showers Bring May Flowers: Benefits and Advice from the Rainmakers” is the subject of the next program in the Professional Advisory Committee Speaker Series presented by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Attorneys’ Division and The Attorneys’ Network.

Shabbat is traditionally a time of peace, contemplation and togetherness. On Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25, hundreds of Jewish people will share this holiday together during Shabbat Across Miami, taking place at venues across Miami-Dade County.

On Tuesday, February 14 at 7 p.m., Ambassador Hannah Rosenthal will speak about her unique role in President Obama’s administration as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, as well as the focus of her efforts over the last two years. The program is being presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

On Sunday, September 9, the Social Action Network (ages 22-39) of the Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will participate in a meaningful volunteer opportunity at the Ronald McDonald House, a home for families whose children are patients at Holtz Children’s Hospital.