For our Pesach program, we met the people who harvest our food: farmworkers from Central America and Mexico who are underserved, underpaid and underappreciated. Most importantly, they are people with families just like us. We honored their humanity by meeting them on their own turf in Homestead -- to know them in person and by name, under the auspices of the Farmworkers Association of Florida (FAF). That visit by Rabbi Morrison, Judy Stopek, and Julia Zaias was memorialized in the poignant video put together by Mark Nedlin. 
We thank FAF General Coordinator Neza Xiuhtecutli, Homestead Organizer Claudia Gonzalez, Maria Barragan, and Lesvia Figueroa for joining us on Zoom so that you could meet them in person, too -- and for an important conversation around how our farmworkers live/work and what they need to improve their quality of life. We aim to continue the relationship with our new friends and for more members of our Temple Family to be involved. Meanwhile, here is how you can help right now:
 
1. Food Security is a terrible problem everywhere! Our Food Drive currently benefits the farmworkers in Homestead that we just met. You can go to the Temple's website under Social Justice for a list of items that are needed and a link to Instacart for easy ordering. The Temple office is open M-F/9-5 for drop-offs. 
Temple Israel of Greater Miami
137 NE 19th St.
Miami FL, 33132
2. Rabbi has designated $500 from her Discretionary Fund toward the purchase of sewing machines/supplies to support a critical women's training program for farmworkers who can no longer work in the fields due to lack of child care. You can add to Rabbi's gift by writing a check, or donating online to Temple Israel with Social Justice/Homestead on the memo line. 
Our farmworkers truly deserve attention and support. Our immediate goal is to make a presentation on April 24th, when FAF breaks ground for a new building. Please be generous!
The Anti-Racism and Intersectional Justice Fund (ARIJ Fund) was established in 2020 by a coalition of 40 Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations to address the alarming spike in anti-Asian violence and hate crimes spurred by race-based targeting of China and Chinese people as scapegoats for the COVID-19 pandemic -- with much deeper roots in the race-based targeting that has been going on for centuries, particularly against African Americans. To show solidarity against anti-Asian hate crimes and to stand up for Racial Justice, please click here to learn more and donate to this important fund.
Along with congregations from around the southeast, Temple Israel is a proud supporter of Camp Jenny. For over 30 years, Camp Jenny has supported children from Inner City Atlanta with fun, meaningful programming, the love of "big brothers and sisters," and encouragement for the future. Every aspect of Camp Jenny is planned and run by Jewish teens from around the southeast, in partnership with NFTY-SAR, NFTY-STR, and URJ Camp Coleman. We are proud that Justin Sharmat one of our TIFTY teens is volunteering with Camp Jenny 2021. Please help contribute on this year’s Day of Giving on Sunday April 11. Camp Jenny hopes to raise at least $1,800 to allow us to finish the year strong with 2 more months of great programming!
April 5-9
$165 billion dollars' worth of food is thrown out
by Americans annually! 
Stay current with the RAC (Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism)
mobilizing now for Racial Justice nationwide. Let's do our part!