Dear Friend,

This is a painful and emotionally challenging time for our nation. The world around us feels incredibly broken right now. We are upset and outraged by the events of the past week, beginning with the horrific murder of George Floyd, which have shone a light on the racism, prejudice and hatred that continues to infect our country. This death is yet another in a disturbingly long list of similar incidents and inexcusable injustices that have been perpetrated against African Americans across the United States. Please click here to read the full Greater Miami Jewish Federation statement released this past Sunday.

As a country and as a society, we must do better than this and we must be better than this. We must pledge to eradicate hatred everywhere. Our children and grandchildren are watching. Each of us has a responsibility to cry out against injustice and to become activists in support of a constructive and peaceful path forward, united as a nation in pursuit of a more perfect union.

Against this backdrop, we continue to closely monitor and address the ongoing impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on so many individuals and families struggling with job and income loss, food insecurity and the mounting emotional and physical impact of months of home isolation.

We remain on the frontline of meeting human needs in the community, providing critically needed services, programs and financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and emergency cash grants to those in need. Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, there has been an eight-fold increase in financial assistance provided by Federation, both through emergency grants and through the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Miami (HFLA). Please take one minute to watch this message from Michelle Ben-Aviv, HFLA Chair, on how this important program is supporting people through life’s ups and downs – especially now.

As always, we want to remind you that if you or someone you know is facing difficulties, please call our confidential helpline at 305.576.6550 for guidance and help. Operated by Federation’s partner agency, JCS, calls are answered 24/7 every day of the year. And, as summer approaches, we remind you this is still a time for caution, continued adherence to CDC guidelines and social distancing. Please remember to stay safe, healthy and six feet apart.

We wish a refu’ah sh’lemah to all those people affected by COVID-19 and other illnesses and comfort for those who have lost loved ones.

Shabbat Shalom,

Jeffrey Scheck, Chair of the Board	Jacob Solomon, President & Chief Executive Officer