A hearty yasher koach and thank you to who all who have participated so far in Create a Jewish Legacy (CJL). Because of their commitments to support the Jewish community, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s LIFE & LEGACY initiative has provided nearly $300,000 in incentive grants to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s partnering organizations. CJL is a collaborative program sponsored by The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in association with 14 Jewish organizations, day schools and synagogues. To date, CJL has received more than $40 million in estimated expected gifts from more than 600 donors and their families. Read more.

Real estate professionals, don’t miss the 19th Annual Sunset Over Miami, the highly popular networking event presented by Federation’s Real Estate Division. Taking place on Thursday, September 29 at Sabadell Financial Center in downtown Miami, this year’s program is chaired by Joseph Furst and Arden Karson. Nicole Shiman and Scott Wadler are Vice Chairs. Architects, brokers, builders, developers, realtors, contractors and other professionals in commercial or residential real estate and their related trades are invited to attend. To RSVP, click here or call 786.866.8432.

Looking for a meaningful volunteer experience? Federation’s Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support and Jewish Volunteer Center are seeking participants for the Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program, a life-changing opportunity to bring comfort, spiritual solace and joy to people in need. The program offers volunteers age 18 and older practical training on the mitzvot of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness) led by rabbis, doctors and social workers. The application deadline is October 9. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 786.866.8486. Read more.

Do you know an outstanding teen committed to serving the community? Federation-funded Diller Teen Fellows, an international, immersive leadership program operated by the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), a Federation subsidiary agency, is seeking Jewish 9th- and 10th-graders from Miami-Dade County to participate in its 15-month pluralistic, informal Jewish educational program. Through Sunday workshops, weekend retreats, a three-week seminar in Israel and a 10-day peer exchange program, participants will become active, effective leaders with a strong Jewish identity. Applications (available here) are due November 1. Contact Shoshana Brownstein at [email protected] or 305.576.4030, ext. 119.

Not too long ago, parents were stocking up on school supplies for the new school year. But for many, it isn’t that easy, and back-to-school season presents financial challenges for families around the globe. Federation, through our overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and other Jewish organizations, recently made sure that two dozen Ukrainian families received backpacks full of school supplies for their children. Following a recent joyful Shabbat celebration, the Hesed social welfare center in Kharkov distributed the bags. Annual Federation/UJA Campaign support enables Hesed to provide an array of social services for thousands of isolated, needy Jews across Ukraine. Read more.