News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Since its launch in 2023, BeWell Miami has championed the mental health and well-being of teens and young adults across Jewish Miami. Part of a national initiative, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation program raises awareness, reduces barriers and helps families, teens and professionals navigate mental health challenges with confidence.

As Jewish children across Ukraine returned to school earlier this month, Federation helped ensure they had the practical and emotional support needed for a successful academic year. At a daylong Jewish community event in Kropyvnytskyi, children enjoyed educational games and ice cream and received items for the start of classes.

Three years after the horrific October 7 terrorist massacre in Israel, Jewish Miami will come together to remember those we lost, honor the courage of the heroes and stand united with Israel and the Jewish people.

September is Suicide Prevention Month — an opportunity to raise awareness, encourage open conversations and remind our community that help is available. Federation’s primary social-service agency, Jewish Community Services of South Florida, operates the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a free, confidential service available 24/7/365 to anyone in Miami-Dade or Monroe County experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis.

“No child should have to choose between their education and their Jewish identity,” asserted Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, which released a Jewish Students’ Bill of Rights last week.

Engaging hundreds of thousands of Jewish college students annually — including thousands on eight Federation-supported Florida campuses — Hillel is also actively inspiring a new generation to become rabbinical leaders.

If you own stocks that have increased significantly in value, donating those shares directly to The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation may be a more tax-efficient way to meet your philanthropic goals than selling the stock and donating the proceeds.

Working with our overseas partners, Federation is ensuring our global Jewish family can welcome 5787 with the resources, support and community they need. In Israel, survivors of the Nova Music Festival and their families participated in programs designed to help navigate the emotional complexities that often accompany the holiday season.

More than $1 billion! According to a new report from the Jewish Federations of North America, that’s the Jewish community’s cost to secure our schools, synagogues, camps and other institutions. Now is the time to tell Congress: Take action to protect the Jewish community!

If you’re a compassionate person who wants to help others while growing personally and Jewishly, the Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program is for you! Presented by Federation’s Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support, Refuat Ha-Nefesh trains volunteers ages 21 and older in the mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and the art of spiritual care.

While many Israelis benefit from greater convenience and faster service, for older adults, the increasingly digital world has become a barrier to accessing health care, managing finances and receiving benefits.

Jewish high school seniors can now apply for Miami’s Leo Martin March of the Living (MOTL) 2027 Program and join peers from around the world to bear witness to the Holocaust. Taking place May 2-14, 2027, the MOTL takes Jewish students on a journey through Poland to explore the history of Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust.

This fall, CAJE | The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education expands its Al Pi Darko initiative to bring increased scholastic success for students with disabilities at six Federation-funded Jewish day schools.

While life in Ukraine continues to be challenging for so many, Jewish families from Kyiv enjoyed a much-needed respite this summer at a Federation-supported camp. Nearly 100 adults and children spent five days at the family-oriented JCC Halom camp in western Ukraine, which combined unique Jewish experiences with classic camp activities.

Register now for free seats to Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur services through Federation’s High Holiday Welcome Program. The annual community initiative provides a limited number of seats at no cost at participating Miami-Dade synagogues and is supported by the Annual Federation Campaign.

Recognizing the importance of engaging young people in Jewish life during their formative years, Federation scholarships made it easier for 323 Miami-area youth to participate this summer in Jewish overnight camps.

Apply now to become a Young Lion of Judah and bear witness to Jewish history by connecting with a local Holocaust survivor. A collaboration between Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center and the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, this unique project pairs B’nai Mitzvah students with survivors in Jewish Miami to build meaningful intergenerational friendships.

Federation is lending a hand to the hundreds of small business owners struggling to make ends meet as Israel's tourism industry recovers nearly three years after the October 7 attack.