Home / About / Our Departments / Israel & Overseas

About the Women’s Amutot Initiative

Mission statement

The Women’s Amutot Initiative allocates funds from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s annual campaign to organizations in Israel that empower women to improve Israeli society through social, economic, religious, and political equality.

History

Our Miami Jewish community organized the Women’s Amutot Initiative in 2003. It was established as part of our Israel Emergency Fund. At the time, we recognized that women and children were experiencing a particularly difficult time in Israel. A group of women leaders in Miami wanted to direct fund specifically to help in this area and as a result the Women’s Amutot Initiative was born. We had the full support of our Chief Executive, our Executive Committee and our Board Directors. This program was made possible because we were given opportunities to fund initiatives outside of the then UJC framework.

Like all of the Israel Emergency Fund Campaign fundraising, these Amutot funds were also completely directed to emergency funding in Israel.

We did our research to find out which organizations would benefit most from our help and were consistent with assisting women and children. Many of the original Amutot addressed issues of economic empowerment of women and domestic abuse.

Our leadership recognized that during ordinary times, these populations in Israel were particularly vulnerable and during the crisis were more at risk.

The long-term goal was to create social change that would be impactful and lasting in contract to providing direct immediate service that was available through our traditional funding of Annual Campaign programs.

Over a period of years, the original Israel Emergency Funds were exhausted and the Federation adopted this initiative as part of its Israel and Overseas agenda on a permanent basis making new sources of funding available.

The focus of funding has expanded to include: advocacy issues for agunot, prevention of violence against women, social empowerment, assisting various populations of marginalized women, including Druze and Bedouin women and immigrants.

We have incorporated the Women’s Amutot initiative as a standing sub-committee of our Israel and Overseas structure.

For a list of current grants, click here.

Statement on the First Hostages’ Release

Statement on the First Hostages’ Release

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami (RAGM) welcome the release today of 13 Israeli hostages, 10 Thai nationals and one Filipino citizen abducted from Israel by Hamas and other terrorists on October 7.

Read More

Congress Approves Supplemental Funding


Congress Approves Supplemental Funding


Governor Ron DeSantis convened the State Legislature for a special session earlier this month, passing $45 million in security funding for Jewish organizations as a result of the horrendous rise in antisemitism occurring since the Israel-Hamas war.

Read More

Supporting Mothers of Children in Israel

Supporting Mothers of Children in Israel

“I knew I couldn’t be the only person in Miami with a child in Israel. It takes a mother in the same situation to understand, said Denise Dunager, M.S.Ed, a Refuat Ha-Nefesh Fellow, who founded and facilitates the Support Group for Women With Children in Israel.

Read More

CAJE Responds to War

CAJE Responds to War

As the educational subsidiary of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) is working diligently to provide members of Miami’s Jewish community with resources to help stand with Israel during the ongoing war, find comfort, talk with children and students, and take action.

Read More

Stay in Touch

Receive news about Greater Miami Jewish Federation events and more.