News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

In these challenging times for the Jewish people, come together with your friends and neighbors for a day of Jewish unity and Miami Marlins baseball fun on Sunday, August 25 at loanDepot park.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation is helping prepare communities in northern Israel for an uncertain future as tension rises along the border. Neighborhoods in the northern periphery are bombarded by Hezbollah almost daily and the threat of a significant escalation remains constant.

Do you or someone you know need help paying for college? JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund), a Federation partner agency, provides zero-percent-interest loans for Jewish undergrad, graduate and vocational students who demonstrate need.

Federation is addressing the national mental health crisis in Israel through a first-of-its-kind program to protect Israel Defense Force soldiers against PTSD. Through Shields of Resilience, a major mental health initiative created by the organization Thank Israeli Soldiers, IDF members are learning grounding tools and coping mechanisms to help them transition on and off the battlefield.

Jewish Miami is one of the first communities to launch ElevatEd, a groundbreaking program addressing the urgent teacher shortage in early childhood Jewish education. Through Federation funding and our partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), ElevatEd recruits, trains, mentors and credentials early childhood educators, creating bold solutions to increase the recruitment and retention of educators within the Jewish community.

August is National Make-a-Will Month and a great time to make plans to create a Jewish legacy through The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “As Jews, we reflect on our past deeds and plan to live a better life every year between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” said estate planning attorney Eric S. Kane, who serves on the Board of Trustees of The Foundation and its Professional Advisory Committee.

With the dramatic rise in worldwide antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric, it is more important than ever that students understand the complexities of our Jewish homeland — both its miracles and its challenges — before they arrive on college campuses.

As conflict continues to escalate in the north of Israel, Federation partners Magen David Adom and the Israel Midwives Organization have created a new initiative to prepare healthcare professionals to deliver babies, in case pregnant women are unable to reach a hospital in time due to rocket fire.

Horrified by last weekend’s brutal Hezbollah rocket attack that killed 12 beautiful, innocent Druze teens and children in Israel while they were simply playing soccer, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and its Israel & Overseas Department and Jewish Community Relations Council leadership sent a heartfelt letter of support to the mayor of Majdal Shams.

Imagine surviving the Holocaust, living in Israel but being chronically ill and then suddenly uprooted from your home after the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7. How do you cope with your new reality?

For the past 26 years, the Solomonika JCC in Dnipro, Ukraine has hosted a family summer camp designed to foster familial bonding, socialization with other families and the sharing of Jewish traditions.

Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Its JCRC and RAGM Horrified and Saddened by the Rocket Attack on Majdal Shams.

In this challenging time, engaging young Jews in a pluralistic, hospitable home of Jewish learning, culture and connection is more critical than ever.

“Jewish community is the ultimate team sport,” said Scott Kaufman, the new President and CEO - Interim of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, “and nobody has a better team than Jewish Miami!” Kaufman, who began on July 1, led the Jewish Federation of Detroit for 10 years, galvanizing its younger generations and surpassing fundraising goals.

A $9 million campaign by our Federation and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has transformed the lives of 3,170 Ethiopian olim (immigrants to Israel) over the past two years and has provided essential food and medicine to thousands in Gondar and Addis Ababa.

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Israeli government are coming together in a remarkable $14 million initiative prioritizing mental health care for Israelis facing trauma since October 7.

In this challenging time, engaging young Jews in a pluralistic, hospitable home of Jewish learning, culture and connection is more critical than ever.

Federation is now accepting applications for two 2025 grant opportunities: Jewish Incubator Grants and Women’s Impact Initiative Grants. Each has its own criteria: Jewish Incubator Grants support nonprofits that strengthen Miami’s Jewish community through innovative and impactful programs.