News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

“Jewish community is the ultimate team sport,” said Scott Kaufman, the new President and CEO - Interim of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, “and nobody has a better team than Jewish Miami!” Kaufman, who began on July 1, led the Jewish Federation of Detroit for 10 years, galvanizing its younger generations and surpassing fundraising goals.

A $9 million campaign by our Federation and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) has transformed the lives of 3,170 Ethiopian olim (immigrants to Israel) over the past two years and has provided essential food and medicine to thousands in Gondar and Addis Ababa.

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and the Israeli government are coming together in a remarkable $14 million initiative prioritizing mental health care for Israelis facing trauma since October 7.

In this challenging time, engaging young Jews in a pluralistic, hospitable home of Jewish learning, culture and connection is more critical than ever.

Federation is now accepting applications for two 2025 grant opportunities: Jewish Incubator Grants and Women’s Impact Initiative Grants. Each has its own criteria: Jewish Incubator Grants support nonprofits that strengthen Miami’s Jewish community through innovative and impactful programs.

Join Miami Lions and others from around the world at the International Lion of Judah Conference, January 12-14, in Atlanta, Georgia. As a Jewish woman, a Lion, a leader and an advocate for change, you won't want to miss this out on this opportunity to come together with other like-minded philanthropists.

Learn what motivates people to create a Jewish legacy through The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and find inspiration to establish your own by reading the personal stories of donors in the Book of Life.

According to Federation’s longtime overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a mental health crisis is impacting 55 percent of Israel’s population, or 5 million Israelis, with 2 million having developed post-traumatic stress disorder since October 7.

“Every moment in Israel was a lesson to bring back and share," for Mojdeh Khaghan Danial, Greater Miami Jewish Federation General Campaign Chair, who traveled to Berlin and Israel on a recent Jewish Federations of North America Mission.

Commemorate the 30th anniversary of the AMIA Jewish Community Center bombing in Argentina with your Jewish community on Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m. at Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center (ATJC).

In the aftermath of October 7, through the Israel Emergency Fund (IEF) our Federation and partners across North America and Israel have provided an immediate lifeline of relief services to address the acute needs of Israeli evacuees, victims of terror and their families, and soldiers.

Last month, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Broward County, and Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County hosted in the first-ever South Florida Legislators Mission to Israel.

The first Israeli Moishe House in the US opened its doors in Wynwood earlier this year and has already begun connecting Miami's Jewish community with Israel and the Israeli people.

In what was the first visit by a North American Jewish organization to Kyiv since the start of the war, leaders from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm the Jewish community’s continued support of the people of the besieged country.

“What can today’s high school students do to reduce antisemitism and all forms of prejudice in our society?” That was the writing prompt for 3GMiami’s Rita Rubinoff Goldberg Essay Contest, whose winners were announced on Holocaust Survivor Day at a luncheon presented by the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach.

As it does every year, Federation’s Young Leadership Division (YLD) led a Community Birthright Israel Trip this summer, taking 22 Miamians to our Jewish homeland for 10 days. But this year’s journey was unlike any previous one, coming just eight months after the horrors of October 7.

Now in its fifth year, Mitzvah Monday, run by Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC), is teaching children at Alper JCC Miami’s summer camp to give back through hands-on activities involving tikkun olam (repairing the world).

With more to be disbursed in the future, about $449 million has been allocated thus far to provide help in four areas: lifeline services, medical and trauma relief, economic relief and recovery, and community resilience and rebuilding.