The Jewish Federation Of Sarasota-Manatee Inc

Programs: Israel, overseas, advocacy and community relations: the jewish federation of sarasota-manatee (jfsm) works to address human and educational needs in israel, the former soviet union, poland and over 70 countries around the world. Examples of specific programs funded include: the heller israel advocacy initiative advocates for peace and security in israel through education, information and community awareness; raising consciousness of, and actively confronting anti-semitism on a global level; and, directly addressing anti-israel activities in sarasota-manatee. March of the living brings thousands of jewish teens from around the world to share an once-in-a-lifetime experience when they march three kilometers from auschwitz to birkenau, the largest concentration complex built by the nazis. The march commemorates yom hashoah, holocaust remembrance day, by retracing the steps of the march of death - the actual route which countless numbers were forced to take on their way to the gas chambers. Participants will experience a memorial service in birkenau, which will conclude with the singing of the hatikvah. From poland, they will fly to israel to celebrate yom ha'atzmaut, israel's independence day. Shonim b'yachad/different together is inspired by the local successes of embracing our differences. The jewish federation of sarasota-manatee developed a similar exhibit in israel. After a year of research, in 2014, the jewish federation of sarasota-manatee engaged a partner in the daniel centers for progressive judaism in israel and created a program named shonim b'yachad/different together. The municipality of tel aviv/jaffa joined this initiative with support from its mayor, the deputy mayor overseeing education, and other municipality department heads. As a result, more than 20 schools and community centers throughout tel aviv-jaffa, holon, and tel mond participated in this inaugural project. Students from every facet of israeli society, including muslims, christians, and jews, submitted hundreds of artwork pieces. A panel of 3 leading israeli artists selected 35 of the most meaningful submissions. Artwork was enlarged to billboard size and presented at the shonim b'yachad/different together exhibit, which will open at the port of jaffa on march 19, 2015. Each year, the federation selects local high school students to participate in the prestigious bob malkin young ambassadors teen leadership program (bmya) and two week mission to israel. This educational and spiritual journey allows teens to develop leadership skills, explore who they are as individuals and as a team, and learn first-hand the importance of israel to jews around the world. In addition to the highly subsidized trip, the program includes regular pre- and post- mission meetings, social events, and leadership training, during which the young ambassadors will develop their relationships with one another and with israel, and become ambassadors in our community. The israel tennis center is the largest tennis program for children in the world. It operates 14 centers, located primarily in underprivileged communities, using tennis to promote the social, physical and psychological well-being of their students. The sarasota-manatee jewish federation, in partnership with the marci lynn bernstein philanthropic fund of the united jewish federation foundation of greater pittsburgh, supports the center's couples coexistence program, where arab and jewish children work together to learn the values of tolerance and cooperation through sports and fitness training. The jewish federation of sarasota-manatee raised enough funds to donate an ambulance to magen david adom to save lives in and around beit shemesh, israel. One way the federation has demonstrated its commitment to its mission of 'saving jewish lives' is by supporting projects like operation lifeshield. This program provides israel's threatened communities with protected air raid shelters they so desperately need. Through an overseas grant in 2014 for the project "concrete protection for ashkelon children," the jewish federation invested in a large, double-portal, 70 ton lifeshield shelter, capable of safely protecting over 60 students and staff during rocket attacks from gaza. Hand in hand: center for jewish-arab education in israel works to establish and grow a network of integrated public schools, serving arab and jewish citizens of israel.

jewish education and programming:the federation, in cooperation with area synagogues and organizations, offers a range of inspiring opportunities that enable teenagers, adults and families to become confident and comfortable lifelong jewish learners. The federation provides a wide range of jewish programs throughout the two-county area. This category includes programs celebrating jewish holidays, outreach efforts to the unaffiliated and adult programs for all ages and interests. Locally, the federation conducts outreach within the jewish and general communities, fostering israel education and awareness and provides a forum for dealing with anti-semitism. Examples of specific programs funded include:jewish summer camp incentive grants: studies have proven, overwhelmingly, that jewish camping experiences serve as a critical tool in jewish continuity efforts. In an effort to encourage area families to send their children to jewish camps, the jewish federation of sarasota-manatee - with the financial assistance generous area donors - awarded $61,675 in incentive grants in 2014. With the financial assistance of the federation, 83 children from sarasota-manatee attended jewish overnight camps such as camp ramah darom, camp barney medintz, camp gan israel, camp coleman, emma kaufmann and camp avoda. Federation-sponsored community-wide educational programs ensure a strong jewish identity and to help build a dynamic and engaged jewish community for generations to come. Programs feature speakers on a wide variety of topics. The federation's pj library program has enabled over 300 families with children ages 6 months to 8 years to receive a monthly mailing of jewish children's books, cds, or the occasional parent book, for one year. Each book and cd came with guides to help families use the selection in their homes. Book and music lists were chosen by the foremost early-childhood experts. The list includes themes such as jewish holidays, folktales and jewish family life. The jewish film festival provides events for the entire community on topics that appeal to a broad range of interests, ages and points of view. The federation honors its commitment to holocaust education through the speakers bureau, which addresses issues pertaining to holocaust education in local public and private schools; the annual holocaust survivors luncheon; federation-sponsored holocaust education programs throughout the community, including an annual event in partnership with the university of south florida; and the annual yom hashoah holocaust remembrance day program. The federation provides funding and professional support for hillel programs on local college campuses.

sarasota-manatee jewish safety net programs:the federation works to ensure that basic needs such as food and shelter are met, as we work for the social, emotional and financial well-being of jews in sarasota-manatee. Examples of specific programs funded include:jewish healing program: the federation provides a significant portion of the funding for the jewish healing program, which is implemented by jfcs. In 2012, 350 volunteers each month provided direct community services to the jewish community, including bikkor cholim (visit the sick), bereavement services, community religious outreach (to seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities), prison ministry and doula (end-of-life) services. More than 4,990 contacts were made with the jewish community, helping the most at-risk and isolated to receive spiritual guidance and much-needed human contact. Community emergency assistance fund: the federation provides emergency funding for local jewish families in need for rent, utilities and food. The program is administered through jewish family and children's service. Caring for the jewish elderly: the federation provides basic human needs such as food, medicines and home care for thousands of elderly jews in the former soviet union receive through the jewish joint distribution committee.

collaborative partnerships: the federation works with a wide range of community partners to support jewish-themed programming for the entire community. Examples of specific programs funded include:embracing our differences: the federation partners with coexistence, inc. Each year to present this international outdoor art exhibit. The exhibit promotes the value of diversity, the benefit of inclusion and the significance of the active rejection of hatred and prejudice. Public school children, grades k-12, are transported to the exhibit for free each year - since 2004, more than 1,900,000 have benefitted from this free educational program. Marie selby botanical gardens: the federation partnered with marie selby botanical gardens to build the ein gedi pool at the children's rainforest garden. The pool provides outstanding opportunities to educate visitors about the water cycle and to explore the relationships between water, plants and ecosystems, as well as providing sarasota residents and visitors with a touch of israel.