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Dear Friend,
In 1938, in the shadow of Kristallnacht and the onset of the darkest era of Jewish history, a group of volunteer leaders who were deeply concerned for the welfare and safety of the Jewish people worldwide came together to found the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. They knew that to confront the challenges of the day and take charge of the community’s destiny, they needed to act collectively, with determination and a vision of strength and hope. These leaders emerged from every sector of Miami’s young Jewish community to assume roles and share the responsibility for caring for one another. Today, Federation is still guided, governed and driven by volunteer leaders in partnership with our professional team to continue to fulfill the vision of our founders and to convey a sense of optimism as we mobilize to respond to today’s crisis.
In the last several weeks, Federation leadership from North Dade to South Dade to Miami Beach and the Downtown/Brickell Corridor have shared a message about community, hope and pride in the Federation’s holy work made possible by generous donors who are enabling us to address the human catastrophe of
COVID-19.
It is our pleasure to share with you three videos from the volunteer leadership of our Federation. Please take a few minutes to watch them, see the faces and feel the warmth and deep commitment of those who hold us up every day and especially now. If you know any of the people who took the time to make these videos, feel free to reach out to them. We are so grateful for the noble work they are doing on behalf of our entire community.
Thanks to the generosity of everyone who contributes to Federation, we are continuing to provide food, financial assistance and material and emotional support for those in our community who must depend on others. In addition, we are also working to offer both generalized and specific resources to help you navigate these uncertain times. Several months ago, Federation created a new position for an Inclusion Specialist and we engaged Nancy Zaretsky, a noted leader and advocate in the field of inclusion. And just a few days ago, we launched Miami.JewishAbilities.org. This user-friendly gateway links individuals with disabilities and their families to services, support groups and other resources to provide advice and guidance. While the focus of this website and our work on building an inclusive community is ongoing, this new effort also features a section about COVID-19. We hope it will serve as a valuable resource now and in the future as we continue to care for our loved ones, particularly during this period when we are all home.
At the end of the day, Federation is all about people – people caring for each other, people volunteering, people taking leadership roles and people helping to build community. While we cannot see each other in person for the time being, we encourage you to stay connected by visiting us online at JewishMiami.org/covid19 to find a myriad of programs to fulfill you spiritually, personally and Jewishly. It is also a place to get help and give help. Please remember, if you are in need of assistance, you can always call our Jewish community’s confidential helpline at 305.576.6550 for guidance. Operated by Federation’s partner agency, JCS, calls are answered 24/7 every day of the year.
We wish a refu’ah sh’lemah to all those people affected by this and other illnesses and we continue to pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones. Please remain diligent and keep following all health and safety guidelines.
Shabbat Shalom, |
© Greater Miami Jewish Federation
