It's Happening In Miami
Posts by Lauren G
Event Opening: The Golden Age of the Jews of Al-Andalus
Posted by Lauren Gold on 02/10/2025 @ 11:07 AM
Tuesday, February 18 | 2:30 PM
The George Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies and The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies at the University of Miami invite you to the Opening Event and Reception of The Gold Age of the Jews of Al-Andalus, highlighting the period of prosperity, tolerance and integration in Spain preceding the Inquisition. Using mixed reality, visitors can "visit" a medieval synagogue and with a Maimonides AI avatar.
Otto G. Richter Library, 1300 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables
Federation Statement Welcoming Home the Hostages Released February 8
Posted by Lauren Gold on 02/08/2025 @ 06:16 PM
In yet another moment of gratitude, Jewish Federations welcome Or Levy, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami home after a horrifying 491 days in Hamas captivity. At the same time, we are appalled and saddened by their medical condition and the serious abuse and malnutrition they have suffered at the hands of their cruel captors.
Or Levy, 34, and his wife, Eynav, had just arrived at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. Terrorists killed Eynav and kidnapped Or. Upon his release, Or is expected to be reunited with his son, Almog, age 3.
Eli Sharabi, 52, was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, 2023. Eli’s wife and daughters were murdered, and his brother Yossi was abducted and killed.
Ohad Ben Ami, 56, spent two birthdays in Hamas captivity. A dual Israel-German citizen, he was shot in the shoulder and abducted from Beeri. His wife, Raz Ben Ami, was also kidnapped, and released in November 2023. She then became a fierce advocate for the release of the remaining hostages.
Each hostage release from Gaza brings a great sense of comfort and anticipation of the release of the remaining 76 hostages. We continue to pray that will happen in the coming weeks so that our community can begin the healing process.
BeWell Webinar: Raising Resilient Kids
Posted by Lauren Gold on 02/06/2025 @ 04:09 PM
Tuesday, February 18 | 8-9:30 PM
LIVE ON ZOOM
What can you as a parent do to ensure your child will thrive despite life’s challenges? Fortunately, there are evidence-based strategies you can implement to foster strength and resilience in your child. BeWell has partnered with The Wellness Institute to bring you training with Karen Reivich, PhD, a leading authority on this subject. Dr. Reivich, an internationally recognized expert, has identified key skills that contribute to resilience. This training will focus on six actionable thinking skills designed to cultivate resilience and an optimistic mindset in your child.
This webinar with Dr. Reivich will be an interactive workshop where she will provide practical steps to integrate each of the resilience skills in your day-to-day parenting. These skills will help your child build an optimistic mindset, overcome challenges, and thrive.
Stand Up Comedy Show with Ariel Elias
Posted by Lauren Gold on 02/05/2025 @ 02:46 PM
Thursday, February 13 | 7:30-9 PM
Laugh your tuchas off with comedian Ariel Elias from the Jimmy Kimmel Show. Ariel was named a “New Face” at the 2021 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. For more information, contract Daniel Reed at [email protected].
Cost: $36 General Admission/$54 VIP
Miami Beach JCC, 4221 Pinetree Drive, Miami Beach
JFNA Statements on the Hostage Releases This Week
Posted by Lauren Gold on 02/01/2025 @ 02:23 PM
A Statement on the Hostage Release From the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) | February 1
With a sense of deep relief, Jewish Federations welcome home Keith Siegel, Ofer Calderon and Yarden Bibas after a horrifying 484 days in Hamas captivity.
Keith Siegel is a native of North Carolina who moved to Israel 40 years ago, and is the first American citizen to be released as part of the current ceasefire agreement. He and wife Aviva were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023. Aviva was freed during a previous deal in November 2023. Ofer Calderon is a French-Israeli citizen who was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his children, Erez and Sahar. The two children were released under the terms of the previous ceasefire arrangement. Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri, and their children, Ariel and Kfir, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. At the time, Kfir was just 9 months old and Ariel was 4 years old. Yarden was wounded during his kidnapping and was seen being abducted to Gaza separately from his family. A video of Shiri clinging to her children as they were kidnapped has become an enduring image of the Hamas attacks on Israel. It is unknown whether Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel are still alive, and our community prays for their safe return home.
With every individual released from Gaza and reunited with their loved ones, we are overwhelmed with emotion and hope. Yet our community cannot fully begin to heal from the horrors of October 7 until every last one of the remaining 79 hostages is released. We pray that in the coming weeks, they all will be.
A Statement on the Hostage Release From the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) | January 30
JFNA is overjoyed to welcome home Arbel Yehud, Gadi Mozes and Agam Berger, as well as five Thai nationals, after a horrific 482 days held in Hamas captivity. Arbel Yehud’s family has lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz for three generations. She lost her brother Dolev Yehoud on October 7, and her partner Ariel Cunio and his brother David Cunio remain in Hamas captivity. Eighty-year-old Gadi Mozes is an agronomist from Kibbutz Nir Oz. His partner Efrat was murdered the day he was taken hostage. Agam Berger was taken from Nahal Oz, where she was an observer, and was taken alongside observers Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, who were released in previous rounds. The five Thai nationals were in Israel working in agriculture: Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak. Few details have been released about them individually.
With every soul released from captivity in Gaza and reunited with their families, we are filled with emotion and hope. Yet our community cannot fully begin to heal until every last one of the remaining 82 hostages is released. We pray that in the coming weeks, they all will be.
Federation Statement Welcoming Home the Hostages Released January 25
Posted by Lauren Gold on 01/25/2025 @ 09:15 PM
Our hearts are full today as we welcome home Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev and Daniella Gilboa after an unimaginable 477 days held in Hamas captivity. The four soldiers were taken hostage from a base near Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where they were serving as lookouts, and provided some of the earliest warnings of the October 7 attacks as they began.
This second release of hostages gives us hope that in the coming weeks, we will see continued hostage releases until every last one of the remaining 90 hostages are returned home to their families.
The Beatles Shabbat B'Yachad
Posted by Lauren Gold on 01/23/2025 @ 01:17 PM
Friday, February 14 | 7 PM
The Annual Beatles Shabbat B'Yachad features Friday night services to the tunes of Beatles songs! Open to the community
Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, 20350 NE 26th Avenue, Miami
And Now What? Bamachol Dance Performance
Posted by Lauren Gold on 01/21/2025 @ 04:45 PM
Monday, January 27, 29, 30 | 7 PM
The Michael-Ann Russell JCC's Bamachol Dance Program presents a powerful dance performance by Israeli choreographer Shlomi Elimelech, honoring lives lost, resilience and hope after October 7. Through raw storytelling, it’s a tribute to grief, survival and Israel’s unyielding spirit.
Michael-Ann Russell JCC, 18900 NE 25th Avenue, North Miami Beach
Federation Statement Welcoming Home the First Hostages Released
Posted by Lauren Gold on 01/19/2025 @ 11:58 AM
The Jewish community today is overwhelmed with emotion as we welcome Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher back home after 471 days in captivity.
Romi Gonen was shot and kidnapped from the Nova music festival. Emily Damari, the last remaining British hostage in Gaza, was also shot when she was abducted. Doron Steinbrecher was taken from her home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
Every day for over 15 months, we have been thinking about them, praying for them and advocating for their release. They have lived through an unimaginable nightmare and our community will do whatever we can to help them on the long journey of healing and reintegration that lies ahead of them. We are hopeful that over the coming weeks, we will see continued hostage releases until every last one of the remaining 95 hostages are returned home.
Statement About News of a Hostage Release and Ceasefire Agreement
Posted by Lauren Gold on 01/17/2025 @ 09:54 AM
On Wednesday, January 15, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) released a statement regarding the news of a hostage release and ceasefire agreement.
The Greater Miami Jewish Federation believes that this JFNA statement represents the overwhelming consensus of our community as well. It reads, “Jewish Federations welcome news of a deal to release dozens of hostages, create a framework for releasing all the hostages, and allow Israel a path forward to protect the safety and security of its citizens. Every day for over 15 months, our community has held the hostages in our hearts, wept for their plight, prayed for their safe return, and mourned for those who we lost. We've held close our Israeli brothers and sisters who have suffered, been displaced, fought in reserves, struggled to keep their businesses afloat, and worked to keep their families and communities alive.”