It's Happening In Miami

This year, we’ve transformed our annual Good Deeds Day into a week-long celebration of service! Choose from eight different virtual programs to help your community through hands-on, COVID-safe service projects.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation thanks the Ted Arison Family Foundation for inspiring us and making Good Deeds Day possible in Miami and around the world.

Hosted By: The Jewish Community Project of Lower Manhattan (JCP)

Time: 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST

Cost: Free

The Talmud teaches: “one must become intoxicated with wine on Purim until one does not know how to distinguish between Haman (the story’s villain) and Mordechai (the hero).” While we’ll likely not fulfill this particular commandment, we hope you’ll join the JCP community, NYC wine producer Bruce Schneider, and Yarden brand manager Cody Stephenson to learn about and sample some delicious wines!

Sign up now!

by Rabbi Moishe Kievman

Chabad Chayil

As the community begins to rebound from the pandemic, Purim—a holiday that includes a custom of dressing up and wearing masks—will be celebrated locally with covid-safe versions of the traditional observances.

Billed as the most joyous date on the Jewish calendar, the daylong holiday commemorates the nullification in 356 B.C.E. of a Persian decree calling for the extermination of the Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire as told in the biblical Book of Esther.

In addition to the mitzvot of the holiday, a traditional custom is dressing up in costumes and masks, to recall that the miracle of Purim was disguised in natural events. While mask-wearing is encouraged annually at the celebration, at this year's Purim celebration it will have extra meaning.

The festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It begins this year after sundown of Thursday, Feb 25th and ends at nightfall on Friday, Feb 26th, going right into Shabbat. The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in Ancient Persia from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day."

I encourage you to contact your local Chabad or synagogue to see what they’re doing to celebrate. You’re of course welcome to join us, free of charge, at our annual Purim Party!

Chabad’s original spins on this age-old holiday has helped bring the spirit of Purim to South Florida year after year. Some of their past Purim themes have included Purim in Outer Space, Purim in Candyland, Purim in the Park & Purim at the Stadium. This year, “Purim Outdoors” is Chabad Chayil's creative twist to the community celebration of Purim. The covid-safe festivities will be held outside Chabad Chayil, at 2601 NE 211 Ter, on Thursday evening, Feb 25, starting at 6:44 pm. It will feature live music with Pardes - a Hollywood based Kosher Rock Band, a lavish BBQ dinner and the whole Megillah! It will also feature a Kangoo Shoes professional trainer so that participants can then dance the night away, in a socially distanced, yet fun way!

The celebration will include opportunities to observe the four mitzvot of Purim, including hearing the Megillah—the Purim story as written in the Book of Esther; exchanging gifts of food; giving charity to the needy; and enjoying a festive holiday meal.

In the spirit of Purim, participants are encouraged to come in costume—and required to wear a mask!

The event is a community-wide program, and all are welcome to join, regardless of affiliation or background. Children will enjoy making their own Mishloach Manot and playing music games, while adults party the night on. There is no charge for anyone to join, though donations always help us bring quality programs to the community.

For party details, Megillah reading times or to learn more about the holiday & the complete Purim story, or to help sponsor food for the poor or this community event call (305) 770-1919 or visit ChabadChayil.org/Purim

About the author:

Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at (305) 770-1919 or [email protected]

Hosted By: The Wandering Chew

From the very start of the pandemic, food trends have taken over our newsfeeds. From sourdough starter to shallot pasta to the Tik Tok tortilla hack, we haven’t been able to resist testing out all the quarantine food trends over the past year.

For this workshop, we’re taking inspiration from some of these trends and turned our favorite quarantine recipes into out-of-the-box hamantaschen flavours! Join us as we bake Banana Chocolate Hamantaschen and Dalgona Coffee Hamantaschen. We’ll also share our tips for making the perfect hamantaschen every time!

After we’ve baked our hamantaschen, Jamie Elman and Eli Batalion of YidLife Crisis will join us for a Purim shpiel.

The event is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested amount of $18.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist people affected by the extreme and deadly winter weather conditions in Texas. The historic freeze has left millions of people across the state without power, water and basic supplies.

As always, Federation will absorb all administrative costs so that 100 percent of funds collected will be used to provide emergency grants and loans, food, shelter and essential necessities as people struggle with the current crisis and its aftermath.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

Are you a young professional who is working remotely? Bring your laptop to the beaches of Tel Aviv!

The Onward Israel Career Passport experience offers a unique experience for digital nomads and for those who are now working remotely. Work and live like a local in Israel alongside a community of other professionals from different backgrounds and industries. Come with your job and a suitcase. We’ll take care of the rest. We provide everything you need to embrace your Israel adventure.

Acceptance into the program is rolling, but applications are due March 29.

Tentative Dates: May 20, 2021 – July 1, 2021

Eligible ages: 22-32 years old

Program Cost:$1,000

You MUST be available to participate for the entire length of the program.

Click here to apply

Click here to sign up to learn more at one of our upcoming virtual info sessions.

Are you or is someone you know interested in spending a Gap Year in Israel?

Unsure of what to expect or which program to choose?

Join Phyllis Folb, founder and director of the American Israel Gap Year Association (AIGYA) for a Q&A session to help answer all of your questions about the Israel Gap Year experience.

For your convenience, TWO times are available:

Sunday, February 28 at 7 p.m. EST

or

Monday, March 1 at 8 p.m. EST

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Click here to RSVP

For questions, please call Jenine Simon at 305.271.9000 x251 or email [email protected].

Thursday, February 18 9-11 a.m.

Dave and Mary Alper JCC 11155 SW 112th Avenue, Miami

To ensure the health and safety of volunteers and community members, we must adhere to the COVID-19 CDC guidelines. Masks are required. Please remain in your car and open the trunk when it’s your turn in line. Volunteers will place food in your trunk. (If you are able, please print and place this on your dashboard.)

This Kosher Food Distribution Event has been generously underwritten by the Katz/Squires Family-Valerie, Michael, Danielle and Scott.

Farm Share, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider.

On Sunday, March 21 at 4 pm, join Nicole Berkin and Melissa Goldfarb, Program Chairs and the Miami Children's Museum for our JKids Radio Musical Passover Seder with an unbelievable line up of the very top artists in Jewish kids music including Nefesh Mountain, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, Eliana Light, Shira Kline, Ellen Allard, Rick Recht, Joanie Leeds, and Elana Jagoda! FREE WITH RSVP HERE