News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Federation and Jewish Miami are sending blessings of refuah shlemah (get-well wishes) to Col. (res.) Golan Vach, who led rescue efforts in Surfside and was recently injured in Gaza. Following the tragic 2021 collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers South, Vach and his unit joined local first responders to help locate individuals who perished beneath the rubble. A father of seven, Vach has been on continuous reserve duty since October 7.

As the newly appointed Chair of The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), Mark Kravitz is eager to bring his passion for education front and center. In a post-10/7 world, Kravitz knows now is the time to reevaluate, reenergize and redefine Jewish education, and Miami is the place to do it.

Through unique and inclusive programming, Miami’s three Federation-supported JCCs are making sure that every camper has a chance for summer fun. A variety of special needs programming and inclusive day camp experiences are spread throughout Miami-Dade County, from Alper JCC Miami in south Miami and the Miami Beach JCC to the Michael-Ann Russell JCC in North Miami Beach.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation is helping institute a two-stage emergency preparedness plan to aid 150,000 vulnerable residents of Israel’s evacuated northern communities.

This summer, hundreds of Israeli teens from Gaza border communities attended summer camp in the US, thanks to Campers2Gether, a program of Federation overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel.

Federation’s BeWell Miami initiative in partnership with Florida Hillels ensures Jewish college students are prioritizing their mental health with access to safe and supportive communities during this tumultuous time.

Online registration for the High Holiday Welcome Program, providing unaffiliated individuals in Miami-Dade County with free holiday seats, begins Wednesday, September 11 on JewishMiami.org.

Our High Holiday Welcome Program offers unaffiliated individuals and families in Miami-Dade County free seats to holiday services. If you have not yet made plans to attend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, we encourage you to join a synagogue and connect with your Jewish community.

Applications for Miami's Leo Martin March of the Living 2025 are now open. Jewish high school in Miami-Dade County are encouraged to apply for this meaningful and immersive educational experience from April 21 to May 2, 2025.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami and the Consulate General of Israel in Miami, in partnership with Miami synagogues, day schools and agencies, present a communitywide commemoration on the one-year anniversary of October 7, 2023.

A specialized E-bike, donated by Federation to United Hatzalah, is saving lives throughout Israel, as demonstrated on October 7 by one “angel in orange,” medic Itamar Chazzan. That fateful morning, Chazzan’s neighborhood in the south was attacked by Hamas rockets. As soon as he could, Chazzan responded to a call for help.

Federation’s Israeli Division recently gathered to celebrate its vibrant and increased presence in Jewish Miami and welcome Menachem Kalmanzon, recipient of the 2024 Israel Prize for Civil Heroism.

With the High Holidays approaching, now is the best time to join a synagogue. The Jewish New Year offers the opportunity to come together in solidarity and hope with your community. To help you find a place where you can enjoy a spiritual connection among your friends and neighbors, Federation and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami have created a directory of synagogues, including affiliations, addresses, websites and more, available here

Are you looking for a fulfilling way to help seniors in our Jewish community? Join Federation and Jewish Community Services of South Florida for Milk & Honey. This annual event, taking place this year on Sunday, September 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, brings together more than 500 volunteers of all ages at two locations — Scheck Hillel Community School and Temple Beth Am — to assemble High Holiday baskets of food and personal hygiene products.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation recently helped provide a day of fun for more than 1,200 Israeli children and families experiencing terror and trauma from the ongoing war.

A true collaboration within Jewish Miami, the Young Lion of Judah program creates intergenerational relationships and encourages the storytelling of Holocaust Survivors’ lived experiences.

In the wake of the recent rocket attack that killed 12 children in Majdal Shams, Israel, Federation-funded programs are helping the youngest generation. Through Ashalim, a program that has worked for years with at-risk children and youth in Israel, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s overseas partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has launched a tailor-made training initiative for the local early childhood center.

Federation leadership, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and our community partners are continuing to address the alarming rise in Jew hatred, particularly since 10/7.