News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

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.

Federation overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel has deployed 1,600 young Israelis as shlichim (emissaries) to 170 Jewish summer camps — including Camp Sol Taplin at Michael-Ann Russell JCC and and Camp Klurman at Miami Beach JCC.

Looking for an easy, flexible and tax-smart way to support our Jewish community and your favorite charities? Consider opening a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) through The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

For more than a decade, Federation’s Hebrew Free Loan Association of Miami (HFLA) has provided interest-free loans to would-be parents for fertility treatments. Now, Jewish individuals and families will have even more resources available to them through the Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF).

“Even in these dark times, Beit Dan creates a completely different, happy and meaningful life for our kids and for all of us,” said one parent at the Beit Dan JCC in Kharkiv, Ukraine, as preparations were underway for last week’s Shavuot celebration.

Recently, Andrey Kozlov, a participant in the Federation-funded Masa Israel Journey program who was rescued on June 8 after eight months of captivity by Hamas, met with Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The 7th Annual South Florida Jewish Day School Robotics Festival, which took place in May, engaged 215 students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in a dynamic competition advancing innovation and cooperation in education.

Diller Teen Fellows, a pluralistic and immersive leadership program that invites a select group of Jewish teens to step up, lead their communities and repair the world, is now accepting applications for their next cohort that will take place during the academic year 2024-2025.

June 1 marked the beginning of hurricane season and Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) is here to help in case a storm threatens. You can join the 2024 JVC Emergency Response Team (JVERT) to support our community if a disaster strikes. JVERT is seeking volunteers with a “can-do” attitude who can help remove debris, deliver meals, visit the homebound, provide comfort and more in the event of a weather emergency.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the alarming rise in worldwide antisemitism, students around the globe are in need of assistance, not only to process the horrific events but also to clarify the current landscape and how to best defend our Jewish homeland.

According to the ADL, antisemitism has surged 337 percent in the US following the barbaric events of October 7. Online Jew hatred is even worse, with the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reporting a 500 percent increase in antisemitism on fringe social platforms.

“Being in Israel now could not feel more right,” said Alon Labock, one of 26 college students in the Onward Israel summer internship program who participated last weekend in a Shabbaton in Federation’s partner city of Yerucham. “Seeing how the people here balance their day during a time of war has been very inspiring,” he noted. The group, consisting of students from Miami and Los Angeles, spent Shabbat becoming acquainted with the residents of Yerucham, its history and multifaceted culture.

Don’t miss your last chance to participate in the Miami-Dade Jewish Community Study! “Every 10 years, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation invests in a comprehensive study to understand the changing needs of the Miami Jewish community,” explained Bobby Gilbert, Federation Board member and Chair of the Community Study Committee.

Only a few spots remain for this Sunday's special learning opportunity with Mishkan Miami in advance of Shavuot. Commemorating the giving of the Torah to the Jewish People, Shavuot is traditionally observed by exploring Jewish texts and enjoying dairy products to honor Israel as the land of milk and honey.

Is your teen looking to make a difference this summer? Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) is offering high schoolers ages 15 and older the chance to participate in a Volunteer Teen Mission for one week in Israel, July 7-15.

Yerucham Mayor Nili Aharon, who was elected mayor in March, visited Federation, as well as a local synagogue, Jewish day school, Jewish community center and the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, and met with Federation’s Israel and Overseas Committees and Israeli Division.