It's Happening In Miami

A street adjacent to the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach will be renamed Elie Wiesel Way in memory of the late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Holocaust Survivor. The unveiling of the official street sign will take place Thursday, May 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the northeast corner of Pride Park, 1700 Convention Center Drive, with City and County officials in attendance, including Miami Beach Commissioner David Richardson, who led the renaming effort. Wiesel was a Romanian-born Jewish American political activist, professor and author of 57 books, including his memoir, Night, which was based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps. He was a frequent speaker in Miami-Dade County and died in 2016.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami (RAGM) are saddened and outraged by the continuation of terror attacks in Israel. On Thursday, April 7, 2022, three people were murdered and at least 10 others wounded in this most recent attack perpetrated by a gunman who opened fire on a crowded Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv. This tragic incident is one of several attacks that have taken place across Israel in the last few weeks.

The violence appears to have initially been started, at least in part, as an effort to disrupt the budding normalization and cooperation between Israel and many Muslim and Arab countries that was initiated by the Abraham Accords and continued recently at the historic Negev Summit.

We remain steadfast in unequivocally supporting Israel’s right to defend and keep its civilians safe from internal and external threats and to do everything necessary to end the recent escalation of terror attacks.

Federation offers our deepest condolences to the families of those who died. We also extend wishes for a speedy and full recovery to those wounded. Further, we condemn violent extremism unequivocally in all forms and express our respect and admiration for the resilience of the citizens of Israel in the face of such horrific acts of terror.

On behalf of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Board, Officers and Staff, we voice our outrage at the terrifying December 28 stabbings, being classified as an act of domestic terrorism, at Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg’s home in Monsey, New York. This anti-Semitic attack that seriously injured five people, was at least the 10th incident in the New York City area during Chanukah and the latest in a shocking increase in such heinous incidents in the U.S. and abroad. We pray for the recovery of the injured in Monsey and are grateful to law enforcement for their swift action and ongoing protection of our community.

As we confront a resurgence in anti-Semitism in an unprecedented polarized environment, we must remain united and unyielding in our efforts to fight this scourge on all fronts. We must anticipate what is likely ahead, prepare for that reality and remain vigilant in our culture of security. The safety of our institutions is a collective responsibility. We must work closely with law enforcement and our national and local partners to build upon the critical work that is already underway and to ensure that our synagogues, schools and community institutions remain safe and secure.

The Federation Office of Community Security provides on-site risk assessments to enhance physical security and trains and educates community leadership and institutions on crisis preparedness and response. We encourage widespread participation in these ongoing opportunities, including the January 9, 2020 communitywide security workshop, to be held in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

Now more than ever, we call on our elected and civic leaders to join us in remaining unwavering in demanding zero tolerance for insidious bigotry and hate. We know we are not alone in our desire for a more tolerant society and stand with all people of good will in working toward that end.

For more information on security training and what our community is doing to combat anti-Semitism, please contact the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Jewish Community Relations Council at [email protected].

Date: November 2nd, 2019
Location: Temple Israel of Greater Miami
Time: VIP Pre-reception at 6:30 pm, Concert at 7:30 pm
Event Website: Click Here for more information.

OBJECTIVE:

Programs to address the critical needs of Holocaust survivors to keep them from having to move from their homes into institutional care. Grant funds can be used to resolve active crises facing survivors or for preventative services. You are not required to conduct extensive research to make your case; we are seeking your creative thoughts based on your experience with this population.

It is hoped that this funding will help to fill the gap for identified emergency needs – it is not the intention for these funds to pay for daily living costs or for services already provided through Claims Conference or other funding.

DEFINITION OF A SURVIVOR:

For the purpose of this grant, funding is not limited to the German government’s definition of a survivor: however, individuals born after the end of February 1946 are not considered Holocaust survivors under this grant. Based on those qualifications, the definition of survivors for this grant is expanded to include anyone who had to flee from their home due to the Nazi invasion with no requirement to have lived in certain countries or to have been interned in a concentration camp.

REQUIREMENTS:

All of the program work funded under these grants must apply the principles of PCTI (person-centered trauma informed) care. PCTI care is a holistic approach to service provision that supports the dignity, strength, and empowerment of trauma victims by incorporating knowledge about the role of trauma in victims’ lives in agency programs, policies and procedures. (Eisinger and Bedney, 2018)

All sub-grantees must attend a mandatory training on PCTI on August 22, 2019. Details about this training will be shared closer to its date.

RESOURCES:

IF you are not familiar with PCTI, a good primer from the U.S. Administration for Community Living can be found at here

SUBMISSION PROCESS:

All completed proposals must be e-mailed to Fran Katz at [email protected] no later than 4 pm on Thursday, August 8. 2019. Questions regarding your proposals may be e-mailed to Fran during the submission period but they must be sent before Tuesday, August 6 at 10 am in order for you to receive a timely response.

Grant funding will be awarded in late August. Programs can take place from September 1, 2019 through May 1, 2020.

Requests should range from $5,000 - $50,000.

Download the Application

Join The Network for Mitzvahs & Mimosas

GIVE A CHALLAH. GET A CHALLAH. Make a challah for yourself and a second* to share with families in need.

Sunday, May 19 | 11 a.m. CIC Miami 1951 NW 7th Avenue, Suite 600, Miami $18 per person (Couvert is not tax-deductible) Includes brunch and mimosas plus ingredients and cooking utensils for making challah.

For more information, please contact Johana Wiznitzer at [email protected] or 786.866.8653.

Click here to RSVP.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach Presents Names, Not Numbers ©

Sunday, June 2, 2019 28 Iyar 5779 Program: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Hebrew Academy (RASG) Auditorium 2400 Pine Tree Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140

Valet parking available

Hear Survivor testimony from: Bessie Bedzow Alex Gross Joe Sachs

Names, Not Numbers INC © an interactive, multi-media Holocaust oral history film documentary project created by educator, Tova Rosenberg. www.namesnotnumbers.org

This year’s conference will be led by Dr. Jessica N. Zitter, a noted physician, palliative care expert and medical ethicist. Dr. Zitter calls us to rethink the role that each one of us has in deciding the best course of action when someone is near the end of life and to revisit what we mean by being a hero in such a situation.

Click here for more information and here to register.