Nearly 60 people of different faiths gathered together on Wednesday to decry the evils of modern-day slavery at the Third Annual Advocacy Seder presented by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Human Trafficking Task Force. Held just days before Passover, the seder points out important parallels between the Israelites’ bondage in Egypt and the suffering of those enslaved today by the heinous crime of human trafficking. Chaired by Nancy Zaretsky, the Task Force is an initiative of Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Women’s Philanthropy. Click here to read coverage by The Miami Herald and here to download a copy of the Freedom Hagaddah.

Following the secret rescue and immigration of 19 Yemenite Jews, who arrived in Israel on March 20, Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, President of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and an associate member of The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors, has written a Passover message worth reading. In the article, which appears in this week’s Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), he writes about the importance of Jewish unity: “No single community, no single donor, not even the State of Israel, on its own could have rescued the Jews of Yemen. It took a global Jewish community to do it.” Click here to read the full JTA story.

PJ Library celebrated a major milestone last week when Federation General Campaign Chair Amy N. Dean and PJ Library Co-Chair Jena Saul surprised a Pinecrest Elementary School student in her kindergarten class with a special delivery of the 200,000th PJ Library book in Miami! Emily Albert, the recipient, is one of more than 3,000 Miami children who receive free Jewish books home-delivered monthly by PJ Library, a gift of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Blank Family Foundation. Click here to read more.

Join our community for a very special Yom HaShoah Observance: From Holocaust to Homeland on Sunday, May 1 at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach. In these challenging times, the program will honor those who survived the Holocaust, remember the six million who perished, stand with the people of Israel, and recognize the Israel Defense Forces and U.S. military who serve and protect our Jewish homeland and our country every day. By remembering the lessons of the Holocaust, we are all guardians of “Never Again.” Click here for details.

As Jews in Israel prepare to celebrate Passover, Federation overseas partner Beit Issie Shapiro is ensuring that children with severe disabilities can participate in family seders. Assistive technology – including iPads that teach about Passover symbols and customs – is unlocking a world of potential for children with disabilities, opening up communication through tap-to-talk-type apps and fostering abilities through adapted games. Beit Issie Shapiro is also collaborating with Google, Apple and SAP Israel Labs to widen its impact. Everyone can join in the fun and learn about apps and ideas for Passover by clicking here.