(Miami, March 10, 2019)—On February 21, 2019, approximately eighty philanthropists, trustees, and foundation professionals gathered in Miami to attend a summit titled “The Philanthropists’ Summit on Miami’s Jewish Millennials: Strengthening Connections to Judaism and Israel” organized by The Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy (CEJP) in partnership with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
Objectives
The impetus for the summit was to address the decreasing level of Jewish giving by inspiring Jewish philanthropists to increase Jewish giving and/or shift their non-Jewish giving to Jewish causes. In addition, the summit sought to help connect young Jewish adults to their Jewish identity by increasing giving to non-profit organizations that serve millennials.
“This was the first time an event of this type has been held in Miami, and it was significant in many ways,” says Aryeh Rubin, director of Targum Shlishi. “This type of innovative program anticipates the future needs of the Jewish community in Miami and throughout the Jewish world by exploring cutting-edge initiatives that strengthen the connection that Jewish millennials feel with Judaism and with Israel. It also adapts the model favored by younger donors to direct their giving to the organization of their choice.”
Organizations and Speakers Represented
The summit, which was a philanthropic forum modelled on venture capital summits, was by invitation only—attendees included major philanthropists, trustees, and foundation professionals. The event showcased the innovative work and financial needs of eight organizations, some based in Miami and some that are national and seeking to expand to Miami, and most of which are focused on strengthening millennials’ connections to Judaism and Israel. The organizations were Moishe House, OneTable, Fuente Latina, Base Miami, 70 Faces Media, Yehudi, Honeymoon Israel, and ACT.IL.
In addition to the organization’s representatives, speakers included Michael Leven, CEO of Georgia Aquarium and the former president of Las Vegas Sands; Barry Shrage, president emeritus of Combined Jewish Philanthropies and Professor of the Practice at Brandeis University, and Alexander Jakubowski, executive director of KAHAL. Joseph Hyman, founder and president of the Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy, gave the introduction and closing remarks. Jacob Solomon of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation delivered the opening remarks, in which he spoke of defining characteristics of millennials, their unique needs, and shared relevant data related to organizations that effectively work with millennials.
CEJP’s Approach and the Process
The Miami Summit marks the first time that CEJP has partnered with a Jewish Federation. CEJP operates as an investment banking firm, but in philanthropy. In this way, it enhances giving to Jewish causes. Events such as the Miami Summit are funded by philanthropists, which allows CEJP to provide the service at no cost. The event featured expert speakers and strong presentations by organizations; CEJP expects that the summit will have positive repercussions and will empower Jewish millennials in myriad ways.
About The Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy
CEJP is a 501c3 whose services are free of charge. CEJP’s mission is to help create a new Jewish philanthropic paradigm fully aligned with the investment and impact-driven philosophy of major philanthropists to ensure the strength and vitality of the Jewish community and Israel. CEJP has facilitated $105 million in new Jewish and Israel giving to 100 organizations, over the past twelve years including $17.2 million in matching funds from partners and the Israeli government. To learn more, visit CEJP’s website.
About the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
For more than 80 years, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation has been a unifying force for Jewish community-building and philanthropy. It works to enrich the quality of Jewish life in Miami-Dade County by bringing comfort and hope to the vulnerable and by investing in programs that build Jewish knowledge, identity and peoplehood—ensuring the next generation of Jews. The Annual Federation/UJA Campaign raises tens of millions of dollars each year to fund agencies locally, including Jewish day schools, synagogue religious schools and Jewish community centers, as well as numerous social-service programs to care for those in need in Miami. Federation-funded agencies also work to advocate on important social issues and provide a strong foundation for Jewish life and identity-building on college campuses and in communities across the United States. To learn more, visit the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s website.
About Targum Shlishi
Targum Shlishi, a Raquel and Aryeh Rubin Foundation, is dedicated to providing a range of creative solutions to problems facing Jewry today. Premised on the conviction that dynamic change and adaptation have historically been crucial to a vibrant and relevant Judaism and to the survival of its people, Targum Shlishi’s initiatives are designed to stimulate the development of new ideas and innovative strategies that will enable Jewish life, its culture, and its traditions to continue to flourish. For more information on the foundation, visit its website. Follow Aryeh Rubin, Targum Shlishi’s director, on Twitter.