Home / See, Read & Share / Federation News

Mar 24, 2021

Advocating for Holocaust Survivors

Holocaust Senior

An estimated one-third of the 85,000 Holocaust Survivors in the United States are living in poverty and you can help them. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) are circulating a bipartisan letter that calls for $10 million in funding for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program (HSAP), an increase of $5 million over last year. This program responds to the challenges Holocaust Survivors face by expanding services and providing personal case management support to help them live independently. Please reach out to local officials Representatives  Frederica Wilson (D) and Carlos Gimenez (R) to request that they sign onto the letter by Wednesday, April 7.

Holocaust Survivors are an extremely vulnerable population, whose traumatic experiences during their childhood complicate their ability to seek, receive and benefit from the critical supportive services they need as older adults. HSAP offers a person-centered, trauma informed (PCTI) approach that empowers Survivors to make decisions about their health and lives and reduces the potential for re-traumatization. The funds will ensure this important work continues to improve the lives of Survivors and other vulnerable populations. Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Federation’s primary human service agency, is providing this care to the nearly 2,000 Survivors who live in Miami.

Please call or email our Miami-Dade Congressional Representatives to urge their support of the Wasserman Schultz/Gonzalez letter.

Find your Representative here.

Representative Frederica Wilson (D)
Miami Gardens Office: 305.690.5905
Washington, D.C. Office: 202.225.4506
Email Page

Representative Carlos Gimenez (R)
Miami Office: 305.222.0160
Washington, D.C. Office: 202.225.2778
Email Page

We also encourage you to thank Representative Salazar for signing on to the letter and Representative Wasserman Schultz for co-authoring the letter in support of the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program.

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R)
Miami Office: 305.668.2285
Washington, D.C. Office: 202.225.3931
Email Page

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)
Aventura Office: 305.936.5724
Washington, D.C. Office: 202.225.7931
Email Page

Statement on Iranian Attacks on Israel

Statement on Iranian Attacks on Israel

Jewish Federations condemn Iran's attacks against Israel—the first by a sovereign nation since Saddam Hussein launched scud missiles at Israel in 1991—in the strongest possible terms.

Read More

The 86th Annual Meeting

The 86th Annual Meeting

Join your Jewish community on Thursday, May 30 for the 86th Annual Meeting of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation at 5:30 p.m. to recognize Federation Chair of the Board Ariel Bentata for his leadership, dedication and concern for the welfare of the Jewish people.

Read More

Ministering to the Elderly Conference

Ministering to the Elderly Conference

What is trauma? Is it environmental? Is it genetic? Or is it both? These questions — and more — will be explored at the 28th Annual Ministering to the Elderly Conference, “Transforming Intergenerational Trauma Into Healing,” on Thursday, May 9.

Read More

JVC Launches Shabbat Friends

JVC Launches Shabbat Friends

Spread the joy of Shabbat by joining Shabbat Friends, a new initiative created by Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC).

Read More

Stay in Touch

Receive news about Greater Miami Jewish Federation events and more.