The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) collaborated with fellow JCRCs and Jewish communal organizations throughout the state to make our collective voices heard at 2025 Jewish Advocacy Day & Israel Day at the Capitol on March 25 and 26, 2025. More than 175 Jewish advocates traveled to Tallahassee to meet with legislators and encourage their continued support of our communities’ priorities.
Day 1: Holocaust Memorial Unveiling, Briefing with Israel Consul General, Lifetime Achievement Award
The robust first day included the unveiling of Florida’s Holocaust Memorial. In prominent view directly across from the Capitol building, the structure was authorized by the Florida legislature in 2016 and honors survivors who moved to Florida. At the ceremony, Governor Ron DeSantis presented the Governor’s Medal of Freedom to David Schacter, who moved to Miami in the 1950s after surviving Auschwitz. The opportunity to witness for such a historic moment at the state’s capitol amplified the importance of governmental advocacy on behalf of our Jewish community.
Hillel of Florida State University opened its doors to participants for a briefing by Miami Consul General of Israel Maor Elbaz-Starinsky. Two expert panel discussions – the Florida-Israel Relationship Over the Next Four Years and Balancing Free Speech with Combating Antisemitism – provided important context for our advocacy efforts. The first day concluded with the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Jewish Caucus to Mr. Schaecter, who gave a moving speech that reminded us all of the critical importance of our efforts.
Day 2: Regional Break-Out Sessions, Visits with Elected Officials, Re-affirming Our Commitment
Advocacy Day participants broke out into smaller delegations by region, which provided a unique, special opportunity to meet neighbors and share experiences. JCRC Directors assigned to each delegation briefed each other on advocacy strategies and the priority issues of the day, including the continued funding of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, enhancements to existing anti-BDS legislation, proposed anti-doxxing legislation, and the formation of Israel and antisemitism taskforces. Groups then visited the offices of 80 elected officials throughout the Capitol Building. It was a remarkable Wednesday morning!
Our Jewish Boca delegation had meaningful visits with Senator Lori Berman, Senator Tina Polsky, Logan Slaughter (Legislative aide to Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman), Charles J. Horowitz (Legislative aide to Representative Daryl Campbell), and Reid Ragsdale (Legislative aide to Representative Anne Gerwig). Our group shared stories of their experiences as Jewish Floridians, which highlighted the urgency for our elected leaders to support our issues.
Building and strengthening relationships with our elected officials, young leaders from the University of Florida and FSU, and each other re-affirmed our Federation’s commitment to advocacy. We look forward to making Jewish Advocacy Day & Israel Day at the Capitol an annual event that will grow in impact with each legislative session.
