Dec 27, 2016
With heavy hearts, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County family joins in mourning the loss of Ellen Rosenthal Sarnoff, longtime local leader and philanthropist who chaired our Board from 2011 to 2014. Ellen passed away at home following a long illness on December 23, 2016, at the age of 85.
Dec 20, 2016
More than 400 volunteers of all ages from throughout South Palm Beach County’s Jewish community fanned out across the area on Sunday, December 18 to make a difference for those in need at 17 hands-on projects. Whether the volunteers prepared food for the hungry, wrapped gifts, gardened, played games or did crafts with children or seniors, or much more, all were inspired and energized by joining with the full vibrant diversity of their Jewish community in helping their less fortunate neighbors. The day closed with a joyous recap and concert at the Federation, featuring Josh Nelson, one of the most popular performers and composers in current Jewish music, and his band.
Dec 16, 2016
Jewish Federations wholeheartedly endorse the strong statement issued earlier today by Natan Sharansky נתן שרנסקי, Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel, regarding the outrageous bill being advanced at the Knesset which aims to ban non-Orthodox services at the Kotel. This bill completely undermines the resolution that was negotiated in good faith and was resoundingly approved by the Government of Israel.
Dec 7, 2016
A record-breaking crowd of 400 of our Federation’s top donors filled the room at The Polo Club in Boca Raton on November 29 for a sophisticated evening of inspiration. At this season’s annual Sandler Family Major Gifts Event, they enjoyed a cocktail reception, an elegant dinner and two powerful speakers. The crowd was riveted as The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister of Canada, discussed his outspoken support for Israel and how anti-Semitism is a threat to the world. JFNA President & CEO Jerry Silverman brought home the importance of Federation’s work and the major donors’ generosity.
Dec 6, 2016
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is proud to announce an exciting new relationship with the town of Zichron Yaakov in Israel. This community-to-community, person-to person-partnership is part of the highly successful Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Partnership 2Gether (P2G) program to bring Jewish Diaspora and Israeli communities together in meaningful, ongoing connections through unique projects and growing personal relationships.
Nov 29, 2016
Hundreds of generous, committed members of our Federation’s “pride” will once again gather to rededicate and celebrate, at the Lion of Judah Luncheon on January 11. Inspiring and informative, the elegant event will feature Nancy Spielberg, documentary film artist and philanthropist, and Israeli shoe designer Kobi Levy, as it celebrates the generous women who contribute $5,000 or more to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County 2017 annual campaign.
Nov 28, 2016
Join our community in a national Jewish response to the devastating fires in Israel. Nearly 100,000 people in Israel have been evacuated from their homes as more than 200 fires rage across the country, threatening populated as well as forested areas. Israelis from all segments of society have opened their hearts to assist one another. Federation’s partner agencies on the ground are assessing and responding to emergency needs such as opening psychological trauma centers in hospitals, emergency housing for seniors, and a 24 hour hotline for people with disabilities. Their efforts will be ongoing, as the impact of the fires on Israelis will be long-lasting. One hundred percent of all dollars contributed to the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Israel Fire Emergency Fund will quickly provide critical assistance where it is most needed.
Nov 18, 2016
Hundreds of volunteers from throughout our Jewish community will fan out on December 18, 2016 to make a difference for those in need at 20 hands-on projects – followed by a concert with Josh Nelson! Our Federation and its Deborah and Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement invite everyone to join in Jewish CommUNITY in Action Day! Whether they’re interested in preparing food for the hungry, wrapping gifts, gardening, playing games with children or seniors, or more, they’ll be surrounded by the inspiration and energy of joining their Jewish neighbors to help those less fortunate in the community.
Nov 15, 2016
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has announced a magnanimous endowment gift of $10 million from Boca Raton residents and philanthropists Toby and Leon Cooperman. This transformative gift to our community will provide significant income to meet vital Jewish needs locally, in Israel and overseas, through our Federation’s Annual Campaigns far into the future, and will support local PJ Library® family engagement programming. Federation is proud to be among the distinguished institutions through which Toby and Leon, renowned longtime leaders in Jewish philanthropy, have invested in the Jewish people. In honor of the couple’s generosity and commitment to South Palm Beach County, the new state-of-the-art luxury Continuing Care Retirement Community on Federation campus has been named the Toby and Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of Boca Raton.
Nov 10, 2016
An elegant evening of inspiration is planned for hundreds of prominent Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County donors at this year’s Sandler Family Major Gifts Event. They’ll gather at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at The Polo Club in Boca Raton for a cocktail reception, dinner and an exciting keynote address from The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., Former Prime Minister of Canada. Celebrating major donors to the Federation’s 2017 Annual Campaign, the longstanding premier event in local Jewish philanthropy is named for Phyllis & Harvey Sandler and family. This year, it will be aptly held on “Giving Tuesday, the Global Day of Philanthropy.” Toby and Leon Cooperman will be the evening’s honorees, in recognition of their transformative vision and generosity on behalf of the local Jewish community and the Jewish people.
Nov 4, 2016
Late last month, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a dangerous resolution that aims to change the status quo of the Temple Mount and declare the Western Wall a part of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Oct 31, 2016
A new multi-media Yad Vashem Holocaust exhibit will be available for public view at two showings, on November 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and on November 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County campus. There is no charge to view the exhibit, but advance online registration is required at jewishboca.org/yadvashemusa.
Oct 19, 2016
Commemorating the 78th anniversary of the event considered the start of the Holocaust, the 15th annual Kristallnacht Film Forum will showcase “Buried Prayers” on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 1:15 and 6:00 p.m. in Zinman Hall on the Federation campus. “Buried Prayers” tells (in English) the unknown story of a group of Jews who, in 1943, stood in a field in Majdanek, a death camp in Poland. Fearing their deaths, they buried their most prized possessions in the soil. After 60 years the survivors returned with an Israeli archaeological team and were given 72 hours by the Polish government to work at the site. The screenings will feature, in person, Matt Mazer, Executive Director and creative force behind the film, and local Holocaust survivor Norman Frajman. Raising funds for March of the Living scholarships, the Forum will also feature a Donor Reception honoring Myrna and Dr. David Gross between the screenings.
Oct 14, 2016
Amid premium networking, business leaders and professionals will hear from Ron Gallatin, Former Member of the Operating Committee, Director of Corporate Strategy and Product Development, and Managing Director of Lehman Brothers Inc. Gallatin, also a prominent local philanthropist, will keynote the season’s first Lewis Katz Industry Icon Series event on Friday morning, October 28. Well over 100 will gather for breakfast at 8:00 a.m., with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Oct 10, 2016
With winds topping 140 miles per hour and unprecedented storm surges, Hurricane Matthew has left a long path of destruction in Haiti and other Caribbean areas, and to the north of us along the eastern coast through North Carolina. The powerful storm has wreaked havoc and forced hundreds of thousands to flee for their lives; many are returning to little or nothing left.
Oct 10, 2016
Women of all ages from throughout the Jewish community are invited to two opportunities to hear the remarkable Dafna Michaelson Jenet and to open the women’s season for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County over breakfast at the Polo Club or at an evening with dessert at the Weisman Center on November 16. Jenet’s book, It takes a little crazy to make a difference, chronicles this young, then newly single mother’s jumping off the path and hitting the road for the 52 weeks of one year to visit all 50 US states and conduct more than 500 interviews. Through this extraordinary experience, she forged a new life built on inspiring others with the stories of ordinary people solving problems in their communities, neighborhoods, businesses and lives and changing the world one by one. The couvert is $45, with no minimum gift required to attend.
Sep 29, 2016
We join with others across the globe in deeply mourning this week’s passing of Shimon Peres, z’l. Universally recognized as one of Israel’s greatest leaders, an eloquent spokesperson for his country and a strong advocate for all Jewish peoplehood, this iconic elder statesman will forever occupy an extraordinary place in our people’s story. Peres came by his unparalleled stature with vital roles from the very start of Israel’s statehood and War of Independence, all the way through the country’s most recent endeavors to achieve peace, and its efforts to create a “start-up” nation that have made Israel an economic and technological superpower. Peres held nearly every Israeli cabinet position, serving twice as prime minister and once as president. May his memory be for blessing and may we strive to keep it as a light unto our community and our people.
Sep 26, 2016
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County recently received a special visit from a representative of ESGR, a program of the U.S. Department of Defense. Arriving on a mission of honor, Lenny Miller, Vice Chair of Florida ESGR, presented Federation’s COO, Mel Lowell with the Patriot Award, “for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.” Lowell was nominated for the award by Federation’s Assistant VP of Security & Transportation, Ted Morris.
Sep 20, 2016
Some of South Palm Beach County’s most resoundingly philanthropic women roared their way to Washington, DC for a few action-packed September days at the biennial International Lion of Judah Conference (ILOJC). Fifty strong, they proudly comprised one of the event’s largest community delegations. To start, easily recognized by their fuchsia-pink, Lion-embroidered pashmina shawls, our Lions enjoyed two days of special activities together. They also learned, bonded and got inspired at conference plenaries and breakout sessions with some of today’s most respected, high-level speakers in religion, culture and art, business, politics and philanthropy, on issues affecting the Jewish community at home and abroad. And they feted our own Emily Grabelsky, who received the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award at the conference.
Sep 16, 2016
We at the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County join supporters of Israel worldwide, in hailing the unprecedented defense aid package just signed. Strengthening what U.S. and Israel officials called the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations at the State Department signing ceremony, the $38 billion, ten-year agreement constitutes the largest aid package to any country in American history.
