News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Last week, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the NAACP brought a diverse group of 15 teenagers to Tallahassee for a special Advocacy Day.

February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month (JDAIM), but Federation's Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (MJAA) works year-round to advocate for people with disabilities and their families.

“Representing Israel at the Olympics has been a 20-year dream in the making that’s now a reality,” said Jared Firestone, a member of our Miami community who is competing in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in the high-speed sliding sport of skeleton.

Help share the joy of Passover with Holocaust Survivors and other homebound older adults in our community by participating in Matzah Mitzvah on Sunday, March 8 at 9 a.m. The much-loved, family-favorite volunteer event will bring together hundreds of community members to pack and deliver Passover food and personal hygiene baskets to more than 500 individuals.

The future of Jewish Miami will be shining bright at the Fourth Annual Masquerade Ball Fundraiser on Saturday, February 28 in Aventura. Chaired by Maty and Avi Jamal, the evening is organized by Federation’s Young Leadership Division and will include entertainment, an open bar and delicious food.

Last week, Jewish Miami was well represented at the Second Annual Israel and Jewish Advocacy Days at the Florida Capitol. More than 50 Miami participants joined the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation to meet with a bipartisan delegation of state legislators about antisemitism, Israel and other issues of importance to the Jewish community.

Before a sold-out crowd of nearly 1,700 guests this past Sunday, Jewish Miami came together for The Main Event: A Night of Friends and Allies. Federation Board Chair Lily Serviansky and General Campaign Chair Moj Khaghan Danial shared how we are Jewish Miami Strong and how the Annual Federation Campaign supports local and global needs.

Federation is building a meaningful connection between Jewish Miami congregational school students and their peers in Israel through Tu B’Shevat Across the Sea: Miami-Yerucham Partner Trees project.

Between 2023 and 2025, emergency room visits by children and teens due to suicidality increased by roughly 60 percent. Federation is funding programs like Gila’s Way to prevent more tragedies amid Israel’s national mental health crisis.

Federation longtime support of Maslan, the Negev’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Support Center, has helped facilitate its vital impact over the past year. Maslan provides emotional support and practical aid to survivors and their families.

Miami loves Israel! Federation’s new Israel Engagement & Education Grants demonstrate we are Jewish Miami Proud by enabling nine local organizations to connect individuals of all ages in our community with our beloved Israel.

Inspired by a visit to our partnership city of Yerucham, Israel, Miami’s three Federation-funded JCCs recently kicked off the inaugural Intra-JCC Flag Football League Tournament. While in Yerucham, our JCC leaders bonded with one another and their Israeli counterparts at the local matnas (community centers), observing innovative team-building activities and competitions.

Israel is a nation of soldiers and veterans and through our work with Brothers for Life (BFL), Federation is committed to ensuring that every hero who sacrificed for our spiritual homeland receives the care, community and lifelong support they deserve.

With the body of Police Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili returned to his family earlier this week, there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza for the first time in 12 years. Ran was one of the first taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 and the last to be recovered.

The late Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you want something done, ask a woman” — and women across Israel’s North and western Negev are building their leadership roles through Federation support.

If you’ve heard about the Miami-Yerucham Partnership and have been eager to get involved, now is your chance to make an impact on residents of both communities. Applications are open for 2026-2027 grants supporting programs that foster people-to-people or organization-to-organization connections between Jewish Miami and our partner city in Israel’s Negev region.

Apply now for the Ella Riley Adler Jewish Overnight Camp Scholarship Program before the deadline of January 31. Federation offers two opportunities to help offset tuition costs for Miami-Dade County families: the Ella Riley Adler Jewish Overnight Camp Scholarship Program and One Happy Camper.

As the crisis in Ukraine continues, the Federation-supported Hesed Menachem Call Center reaches out regularly to isolated or homebound seniors. Ninety-four-year-old Ruziya is one of 300 elderly Ukrainian Jews identified as lacking care, connection and Jewish community simply because she can’t attend in-person activities.