News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is exploring how to most effectively combat antisemitism and hate through the legal system via a virtual conversation with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser on Tuesday, December 14, 7-8 p.m.

This past Wednesday, 25 leaders from Miami-Dade's Black and Jewish communities convened at Base Miami for the kickoff to the Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) #ShineaLight on Antisemitism and Racism Campaign, part of a nationwide initiative.

Federation is helping Israelis exercise choice and self-determination around their Jewish identities and practice as a member of iRep, the Israel Religious Expression Platform comprised of 25 Jewish federations and foundations.

As we ring in 2022, we need your help to meet the challenges we face as a people. Our community has grappled with so much this year including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, violence and upheaval in Israel and the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) mourn the death of Congresswoman Carrie Meek. The daughter of a sharecropper and granddaughter of slaves, she fought passionately against discrimination and inequality for all communities and was a staunch advocate for refugees and immigrants, in particular Miami’s Haitian community. She also spoke out against the unequal treatment of Afro-Cubans by Cuba’s communist government and marched in Freedom Sunday on Dec. 6, 1987, when 200,000 people protested in Washington, DC in support of Soviet Jewry.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) are appalled and outraged by this weekend’s vandalism of the Homestead Jewish Center, where an alleged right-wing extremist scaled the synagogue fence and hung a makeshift banner that read, “The goyim know 88.” The incident occurred early Saturday morning during Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) and one day before the beginning of Hanukkah.

Thanks to the generous legacy of Saul Schottenstein, individuals and families facing food insufficiency will have something special to include in their Chanukah celebration.

The miracle of Chanukah is celebrated in Jewish communities around the world and now you can be a part of the traditions.

Caregivers of children with special needs can enjoy an important virtual program on selfcare on Thursday, December 2 from 7-8:30 p.m.

With the help of hundreds of passionate volunteers, Everything But the Turkey’s B’nai Mitzvah year was a resounding success!

Thank you, Miami! Because of your overwhelming generosity, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation raised more than $1.2 million on Give Miami Day.

Do you know an outstanding Jewish teen leader who is a true changemaker? Each year, the Helen Diller Family Foundation awards 15 Jewish teens with $36,000 in recognition of their exceptional leadership and engagement in service projects that embody the value of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

As 2021 comes to an end, it is a perfect time to review your philanthropic goals. You can make an impact today by donating to the Annual Campaign or by perpetuating your giving through legacy planning.

Applications for overnight Jewish summer camp scholarships are now available!

Mazal Tov to the Miami-Yerucham partnership as it celebrates its Bar Mitzvah year. To mark the partnership between Federation’s Miami Jewish community and Yerucham in Israel, residents from both communities have created a B'nai Mitzvah booklet highlighting stories from the partnership.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach received overwhelming approval to build a new Learning Center. The local referendum was approved by nearly 80 percent of participating voters.

The bots are back! After pausing programming due to COVID-19, the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) Miami Jewish Day School Robotics Program is now operating in a safe and educational way.

Giving back makes the holiday season more meaningful. Join Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) for the 13th Annual Everything but the Turkey on Sunday, November 21 in North Dade at Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, 20400 NE 30 Avenue, Aventura or in South Dade at Temple Bet Shira at 7500 SW 120 Street.