‘It was a lifeboat.’ How Jewish Federation provided a lifeline during pandemic, Surfside
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Moshe Cohen and his family gave to many charities. In April 2020, they suddenly found themselves on the receiving end.
Cohen works in sales within the hospitality industry. Almost overnight, his income came to a halt. Then his wife lost her job.
“We lost 95% of our income,” Cohen said. “We went from doing quite well to struggling.”
But he found help, thanks to a friend who referred him to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, an organization with a mission to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need and bring Jewish people together to build and sustain a community.
Lifeline during the pandemic
Founded in 1938, immediately after Kristallnacht (also known as the Night of Broken Glass), a series of violent attacks against Jews in Nazi Germany on the night of Nov. 9-10, 1938, the federation has provided nearly $1.5 million in direct financial assistance to nearly 800 individuals impacted by the pandemic, including Cohen, who received a grant for $1,500 and an interest-free loan for $3,000.
“We are so grateful to the federation,” said Cohen. “It was a lifeboat at a moment when we had nothing.”
In total, the federation has allocated approximately $10 million and counting in emergency COVID-19 relief, providing grants to pay critical bills, interest-free loans, food assistance and more.
The federation also increased its support to 10 local Jewish day schools and three Jewish community centers. In addition, it keeps the Kosher Food Bank stocked and has served about 32,000 individuals through its free monthly Kosher food distribution events during the pandemic, which are open to the entire community and held at the federation’s headquarters at 4200 Biscayne Blvd.
“This is exactly why federation exists,” said Jacob Solomon, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “Our capacity to respond and mobilize at a time like this is really in our DNA.”
Stepping up after Surfside collapse
For decades, the federation has established working relationships and provided a steady stream of support to more than 70 local agencies and programs, including one of its most long-standing partners, the Jewish Community Services of South Florida, which provides essential human services to the Jewish community.
It also offers interest-free loans to Jewish individuals for personal, small business, and fertility and adoption loans through its Hebrew Free Loan Association of Miami.
The pandemic, and recent catastrophic events, have created a greater demand throughout South Florida and prompted the organization to step up its game.
“After the pandemic, we became a more client-facing organization because the need was so great,” Solomon said.
In June, when the Champlain Towers South collapsed in Surfside, the federation sprang into action, raising over $3 million to provide direct financial assistance to families of victims or those displaced by the tragedy. It also coordinated with partners to provide crisis counseling, trauma and spiritual support.
Erick de Moura survived the Surfside collapse, but he lost everything. Jewish Community Services paid his rent for three months, but more importantly, they continue providing emotional support. He knows his case manager is only a phone call away.
“It didn’t matter to them if I was Jewish or not,” de Moura said. “The Jewish community was the only one that went above and beyond to help us. No other religious organization did a fraction of what they did.”
Mission trips to Israel
Next, the federation is hoping to resume educational and religious trips to Israel once it’s safer to travel, including a mega-mission in celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary in April 2023.
For now, it will continue looking for ways to strengthen the Jewish community here.
“Miami’s Jewish community is so interesting and the most diverse in North America with more than 32% being born outside Miami,” Cohen said. “We look forward to continuing to welcome and assist immigrants from all over the world.”
How to help
Greater Miami Jewish Federation
305-576-4000
