May 24, 2017
UM Hillel Launches Base Miami
In an effort to cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders, University of Miami Hillel will offer ongoing learning opportunities to young Jewish adults through its new Base Miami program. Beginning this August, Rabbi Adam and his wife, Jessie Gindea, will invite young professionals to connect to their Jewish identity through relationship-based engagement opportunities. Base Miami is supported by Federation’s Mason-Glazier Fund for Jewish Identity, in partnership with Hillel International’s Office of Innovation. Hillel receives annual Federation funding.
“University of Miami Hillel is a perfect platform to launch Base Miami,” says Igor Khokhlov, UM Hillel’s Executive Director. “Our Hillel has been building Jewish life on campus for over 75 years, and has the necessary infrastructure to support the next step in Jewish education for young adults.”
UM Hillel, one of seven Federation-funded Florida Hillels, launched Base Miami as a response to the 2014 Greater Miami Jewish Population Study, which indicated that the “greatest growth in the Jewish community since 2004 has been in Miami’s under age 35 population…residing in the Downtown and Brickell…areas.” Khokhlov added, “Endless research shows that these young Jews seek meaning, yet remain unaffiliated. By opening Base Miami, it would allow us to quite literally meet them where they are!”
Rabbi Adam and Jessie Gindea were hired to lead this initiative. “We are so very excited to be running Base Miami,” they said. “We have always felt the most beautiful and powerful pieces of the Jewish experience are the commitment to, and connection with, the greater Jewish community. Our goal is to create a home where Jewish life can be experienced, studied and explored in an open, warm and welcoming environment.”
Base Miami will offer recent graduates educational and volunteer opportunities, as well as partnerships with local nonprofits and community-oriented businesses. “From Shabbat and holiday meals, weekly classes and guided discussions to scuba diving excursions, challah baking and community service projects, Base Miami will be a home and hub of experiential, educational and meaningful programs for the Jewish community of Brickell and beyond,” said Rabbi Adam.
For more information on Base Miami, contact University of Miami Hillel Executive Director Igor Khokhlov, at igor@miamihillel.org or 305.284.8918.
