News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

“I’m not exaggerating when I say they saved my life,” said October 7 survivor Omer Rafaeli, who owes his resilience to the Federation-funded Back on Track employment program for traumatized Israelis. Rafaeli, his wife and three young daughters endured the nightmare of the Hamas attacks in their safe room at Kibbutz Gvulot and when they emerged, his life and livelihood were forever changed.

People with disabilities and their caretakers can find valuable resources online through Federation’s Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (MJAA), including tools that help them better advocate for themselves. Because appropriate treatment begins with initial assessments, MJAA’s website provides information and guidance on not only what to expect from psychological and educational testing but also how to navigate these processes.

Do you know a remarkable 10th- or 11th-grader looking to step up and lead our Jewish community into the future? Diller Teen Fellows is now accepting applications! Operated by CAJE | The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, a Federation agency, Diller Teen Fellows is a pluralistic and immersive program that fosters students’ personal growth, enables collaboration with others from diverse backgrounds and develops strong leadership skills.

August is Make-A-Will Month and if you are one of the nearly 70 percent of adults who do not yet have a will, now is a great time to make plans to protect the people and values you care about. This month, The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation reminds us that creating a will isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s for everyone. A will guarantees that your wishes are honored and your legacy lives on.

For more than three and a half years, homecare workers in Ukraine have been providing lifesaving support for tens of thousands of the country’s vulnerable Jews — the elderly, children, newly impoverished, internally displaced and more.

Applications are now being accepted by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation for three 2025 grant opportunities: Women’s Impact Initiative Grants, Jewish Incubator Grants and the new Israel Engagement & Education Grants.

Jewish students can now apply for need-based, interest-free loans tailored for higher education, covering college, graduate school and vocational programs through JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund), a Federation partner agency.

What was originally intended to be a transformative summer journey to Israel became something entirely different, but still very meaningful, for CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows when they traveled to Chicago instead.

With the start of a new academic year, Federation is helping Israeli teens who have been traumatized and displaced since October 7 find solace and support in a safe, supervised school environment.

Attorneys, judges and other legal professionals from the Miami area are invited to join the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Attorneys’ Division for a unique and memorable mission to Israel designed especially for them.

Israel is experiencing a national mental health crisis as a result of the events of October 7, and Federation is responding with Community-Based Mental Health Centers. Through the Israel Emergency Campaign, our Federation and Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), in collaboration with Israel's Ministry of Health, have already opened 18 centers throughout the country, with two more coming in September.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach (HMMB) is seeking audio and video recordings of Holocaust Survivors singing songs from their childhood. The Memorial’s Education Center, currently under construction, will incorporate these into an audioscape — a sound composition — that reflects the vibrant cultural and spiritual life of European Jewish communities before the Holocaust.

Federation-funded Beit Issie Shapiro is marking another milestone in disability inclusion with the opening of its Beit Raz campus, welcoming Israeli children from infants to age 3 with and without disabilities.

Last week, Federation welcomed a delegation from the award-winning Yerucham Science Center who came to share fun with science and technology at the three Miami-Dade JCCs. The four teens and two adult instructors led two week-long science camps through the Miami-Yerucham Partnership.

Federation-funded Base Miami is inviting multifaith couples to join Embark, a program where they can explore Judaism together and with others. While navigating religious differences in a relationship has its challenges, Embark provides a warm and inclusive environment where couples can learn with and from each other as they navigate new ideas.

Federation is helping bridge the gap of Ethiopian Israelis employed in Israel’s tech sector by funding Tech-Career, a comprehensive training program established in 2002 by and for Ethiopian Israelis. So far, Tech-Career has enabled more than 1,300 young adults to attain and advance in promising careers in more than 62 sought-after specialties, including communications, network security, programming and automation.

Just one day after the recent ceasefire with Iran, 110 olim (new immigrants) from France arrived in Israel, and with the help of Federation partner The Jewish Agency for Israel, they continue to come, eager to start a new life. “In other countries, when there is war, people flee,” said Israel Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, “but in our country, people come to join us.”

Incoming college freshmen can register now to join Hillel International for a free virtual session on Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET. New students will hear from current Jewish college students about their experiences on campus, learn about ways to get connected to North American Jewish campus communities this fall and hear tips and tricks to prepare for the first week of school.