News from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Two young Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers came to visit the Greater Miami Jewish Federation earlier this month. They spoke about the army experience and their time spent on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip.

Those between the ages of 22 and 39 can get connected with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Under 40 division, The Network. The Network offers social, educational, volunteer, philanthropic and leadership opportunities in Miami’s Jewish community.

As residents of Oklahoma try to deal with the effects of recent tornadoes, which have killed dozens and wreaked havoc on their communities, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is joining a national effort to provide immediate, nonsectarian aid where it is needed most.

As part of the Jewish community’s response to the deadly tornadoes that hit the Southeastern part of the United States, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation has established an emergency relief fund to respond to the devastation and address the needs of affected communities.

Members of Miami’s Jewish community will come together on Thursday, May 26th for the 73^rd Annual Meeting of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation to elect new officers and Board members and honor five special individuals for their dedication to the Jewish people. Chaired by Isaac K. Fisher, the buffet luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Miami Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation received a wonderful gift recently, when volunteers associated with Royal Caribbean Cruises lent a helping hand by painting and landscaping the Miami Beach landmark.

Today, more and more nonprofits are turning to the Internet as a resource to raise funds. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has created an online application where people can easily raise money via their own personal fundraising page.

There’s still time to register for the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, taking place Thursday, May 26 at the Hilton Miami Downtown Miami. Federation will elect new officers and Board members and honor five special individuals for their dedication to the Jewish people.

Every year as Jewish families sit down to their Passover seder and the promise is made: “Next year in Jerusalem…” The Greater Miami Jewish Federation can help Miami residents to make this dream a reality. Join Federation, community synagogues and Jewish agencies on Mega Mission to Israel in 2012.

Members of the community are invited to gather at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation on Sunday, May 1 to remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and to show solidarity with the people of Israel during a Yom HaShoah Observance and Israel Solidarity Service.

The Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) of The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will host its 2011 Spring Seminar on Thursday, April 28, at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The topic is “Planning for Life After Death: Laws of Succession vs. the New Biology.”

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will hold an Intergenerational Advocacy Seder and discussion — featuring two national Jewish agencies’ perspectives on hunger and policy issues — on Thursday, April 14, beginning at noon.

It has been a decade and a half since the Greater Miami Jewish Federation organized a Mega Mission to Israel, but ask any participant from one of those overseas journeys how he or she enjoyed it, and you will get a glowing smile and an answer brimming with enthusiasm.

A yellow bus is internationally recognized as a vehicle used specifically to transport school children. Yet, on April 7, it became the intentional target of terrorists who fired a barrage of missiles and rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, including anti-tank missiles aimed directly at the bus.

Anti-Israel activists have declared March 30 as the global day of action for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. Boycotters have been energetically lobbying stores across North America to stop selling Israeli products.

Recent events in Israel – including the massacre of the Fogel family, the bombing in central Jerusalem and ongoing rocket attacks – have renewed long-standing concerns about providing assistance to the victims of these and other tragedies.

The Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI), a partner agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, has just a few spots remaining for Miami-Dade high school sophomores, juniors and seniors looking to study in Israel this summer.

A series of coordinated terrorist attacks striking Israel's southern region on Thursday, August 18 killed seven people, including 22-year-old Staff Sergeant Moshe Naftali and six civilians, and wounded some 40 people.