Apr 6, 2021
Tuesday morning, I lost a friend, and the Jewish community lost a champion.
U.S. Congressman Alcee L. Hastings was a friend to my family for decades. I remember when he and my godfather, an attorney who would later serve as judge, worked together to improve the lives of minority communities in the 1960s. As a teenager, I had a first-row seat to his passion, compassion and fiery determination when it came to matters of justice, equality and access. Alcee’s influence followed me to Washington, D.C. and then to Florida, during my tenure with AIPAC, where I would continue to work with him to affect international and national foreign policy.
Oct 13, 2020
In any year, some of our college students find it financially difficult to pursue their educational goals and career dreams. And, the COVID-19 economy has made affording higher education more challenging for many local students and their parents – amid all the other stresses of college attendance.
Aug 21, 2020
As leaders of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County heading into the New Year, we hail the sweet and hopeful news of today’s historic signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House.
Aug 21, 2020
As we prepare for a new year of Jewish life in South Palm Beach County, we know we will rise to meet the challenges of 5781 together. We are proud to announce that our Federation enters this year with a major step to address a most critical challenge for all of us: securing our community against the dramatic rise in anti-Semitic attacks and incidents.
May 19, 2020
In this time of social distancing, PJ Library® of South Palm Beach County has been and continues to present great virtual programming for children and families. But nothing really replaces hands-on opportunities to make a difference for those in need.
May 1, 2020
On GIVING TUESDAY NOW, May 5, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is bringing the community together with ten top quality free virtual programs and an important, totally safe opportunity to aid the growing numbers among us who are struggling with income loss, family stress, profound isolation and more during the Coronavirus crisis
May 1, 2020
Once again, a vibrant crowd from every corner of Jewish South Palm Beach County will come together in testament and celebration of the strength and joy of their remarkable, united Jewish community. And while this year’s local 6th Annual Jewish Unity Day event will be virtual, it promises to be no less exciting, entertaining and inspirational. World class musical entertainment, videos, sketches, behind-the-scenes looks at our work together to meet the coronavirus crisis from rabbis and other Jewish community leaders, and more are in store - in a Tonight Show meets Saturday Night Live format
Mar 27, 2020
What an incredible Jewish community we have here in South Palm Beach County! When a sudden opportunity to donate many truckloads of Kosher for Passover food to our neighbors in need arose, there was no doubt we would make it happen. Our Jewish Federation, its Deborah and Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement and Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation, Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, Hands On Tzedakah (HOT), and all of our incredible rabbis and synagogues stepped right up with their support.
Mar 3, 2020
The Jewish Women’s Foundation (JWF) of South Palm Beach County will host its 2020 Granting Wishes evening on Tuesday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. Gathered at Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, their guests from all across the Jewish community will be first to learn about JWF’s 2020 grant awards. They’ll also hear from master storyteller, former publisher of Savvy Woman Magazine and accomplished author Talia Carner, whose most recent historical novel, The Third Daughter, about a shameful chapter in Jewish history, was named Finalist in the 2019 National Jewish Book Council Award’s Jewish Book Club category, and is spurring readers to activism against human trafficking.
Feb 18, 2020
Caring volunteers and families will get into the spirit of Good Deeds Day a couple weeks early this year at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, with two great ways to make a difference on March 15. Volunteers will be making calls in the annual Super Sunday Phone-a-thon, and families will join PJ Library® for a LEGO Mitzvah Project. By participating, they’ll all be part of the millions of Good Deeds Day volunteers from 108 countries around the world doing good deeds to improve lives and the world.
Feb 10, 2020
A committed delegation from South Palm Beach County and Broward joined hundreds of diverse Jewish advocates from across the country in Washington DC on February 4, 2020 to participate in Jewish Disability Advocacy Day (JDAD). The annual JDAD gathering on Capitol Hill is an important opportunity for advocates to learn from public policy experts, hear from members of Congress, and meet with their local representatives in support of timely pieces of legislation affecting people with disabilities.
Feb 4, 2020
More than 430 of the community’s most compassionate, generous women came together on January 30, 2020 at The Polo Club of Boca Raton for the most awaited annual event in local women’s philanthropy: The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Lion of Judah Luncheon. The roar from their annual ingathering at The Polo Club resounded throughout the community and across the globe, where every day their efforts are saving lives and strengthening Jewish life.
Jan 21, 2020
Amid a light show, videos, live music and standing ovations, the Night of Inspiration on January 13 fulfilled its promise of a transformative evening. Of all ages and spanning South Palm Beach County’s diverse Jewish community, 650 people packed the Olympic Heights Performing Arts Center to hear renowned international Jewish educator and Momentum trip leader, Adrienne Davis Gold, present “We Are All the Chosen One: What it Means to be a Light Unto the Nations.” They also celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Deborah & Larry D. Silver Center for Jewish Engagement (CJE), a division of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County that presented the program.
Jan 16, 2020
Local estate planning professionals committed to the Jewish community’s future will celebrate their 2020 Honoree, Marjorie A. Horwin, CPA, at the annual Irving Eckhardt Mitzvah Society Cocktail Reception on February 19, 2020. Over 16 years, the Mitzvah Society has inaugurated 78 professionals who have guided their clients to establish charitable legacies through the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation (JJCF) of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
Jan 9, 2020
We are shocked and deeply saddened to share news of the untimely passing of Harvey Sandler on January 1. Harvey was a pillar of our Federation and the Jewish and wider South Palm Beach County community. The profound loss of this man whose compassion, kindness and generosity inspired his towering philanthropy, shakes our entire community.
Jan 2, 2020
Hundreds of generous, committed members of the Federation’s “pride” will once again gather to rededicate and celebrate, at the annual Lion of Judah Luncheon. Drawn by shared compassion and generosity, they’ll come together at The Polo Club on Thursday, January 30, 2020. This year, the Lions will be roaring with #1 New York Times best-selling novelist, Jennifer Weiner.
Dec 20, 2019
A transformative evening is in store at the Night of Inspiration on January 13 at 7:00 pm. Amid high-energy multimedia and music, Adrienne Gold Davis, a renowned international Jewish educator for the full spectrum of Jewish life and a cherished Momentum trip leader, will take the stage, presenting “We Are All the Chosen One: What it Means to be a Light Unto the Nations” at Olympic Heights Performing Arts Center.
Dec 18, 2019
Once again, our Jewish community is outraged and anguished, as we reel from the murders that took place at a kosher market in Jersey City, and the desecration of a synagogue in Beverly Hills. These are among the latest attacks in a chilling global escalation of anti-Semitic violence that cannot be tolerated.
Dec 5, 2019
Lay and professional leaders, rabbis and legacy donors from ten South Palm Beach County Jewish agencies, schools, synagogues, and the Federation, gathered for a warm, elegant evening event on November 19 at the Federation. Together, they celebrated their remarkable successes in collectively raising $78 million in 624 legacy commitments from 471 donors for their own and the entire Jewish community’s future as part of the our JJCF Create a Jewish Legacy (CJL) program.
Dec 3, 2019
Latkes, gelt, live music, stories, prizes and more are in store for all ages at a free community celebration on the 2nd night of Chanukah - Monday, December 23, 2019. Everyone is invited to get into the fun and bask in our community’s holiday warmth and the glow of a giant menorah in the amphitheater at The Shops at Boca Center. The festivities will begin with crafts and story time at 5:30 pm before the giant menorah lighting and musical entertainment at 6:00 pm.
