BOCA RATON, Fla., February 20, 2025 — In a powerful display of unity, more than 2,000 philanthropists recently attended dozens of Jewish National Fund-USA events across South and Central Florida to support Israel’s post-October 7 recovery efforts, collectively raising more than $3 million to help rebuild shattered communities in Israel’s north and south.
Jewish National Fund-USA CEO Russell F. Robinson addresses a crowd of over 500 philanthropists at the organization’s annual Winter Connection Brunch at Boca West Country Club (credit FaneFoto.com)
Over 750 benefactors living and wintering in Palm Beach County showed up in droves to answer the call at “Winter Connection,” the organization’s flagship seasonal fundraiser which took place from February 4-6, 2025, in Boca Raton and Delray Beach. One of the week’s exclusive receptions at Boca West Country Club drew in 500 local members of the organization’s Donor Societies, as well as partners (donors) nationwide who traveled to South Florida for the annual soirée.
Key speakers included Loren and Eric Stein, Co-presidents of the organization’s South Palm Beach Board of Directors; Russell F. Robinson, CEO of Jewish National Fund-USA; and Deb Lust Zaluda, recently inaugurated president of Jewish National Fund-USA.
Michal Rubin, Lily Marshall, Colonel Richard Kemp, Leora Lindenbaum, JNF-USA CEO Russel F. Robinson, Jonathan Rubin
In addition to highlighting Jewish National Fund-USA’s Build Together plan for Israel’s South and its Reimagine plan for Israel’s north, the leaders demonstrated the organization’s Circle of Impact, whereby every project, initiative, and program supports job creation, community resilience, and economic development—key drivers of population growth in these frontier regions.
“I was recently in Israel and had the incredible opportunity to see firsthand the work that we are doing on the ground,” said Zaluda. “Over 4,000 people have volunteered with us to rebuild the communities that were impacted on October 7, and together with our partners on the ground, helped us reimagine a better way forward.”
Glen Schwartz, Betsy Fischer, Eric Stein
Robinson added: “Evacuees’ homes had been completely vacant for 8-9 months. Their electricity had been turned off and they didn’t clean out their refrigerators before they left. However, our volunteers were sitting in their homes cleaning the floors and the toilets and the kitchens and putting fresh sheets on their beds so that when they came home, they would open the door not to disaster, but to dignity.”
Although Robinson pointed out the difficult truth about the vast restoration efforts that are needed in Israel’s north while tens of thousands of people remain evacuated from their homes, he also painted a picture of the bright future that lies ahead for the land and people of Israel.
Deb Lust Zaluda, Col Richard Kemp, Russell F Robinson
“We will never let the darkness take anything away from us, we will never let evil win. We have to believe in tomorrow with every breath in our chest,” said Robinson.
Winter Connection’s headliner, Colonel Richard Kemp, a decorated military leader with 30 years of experience fighting terrorism in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones and who is considered to be one of the most respected voices in global security, participated in an engaging fireside chat about the Israel-Hamas war and the situation in the Middle East.
Colonel Richard Kemp was the keynote speaker at Jewish National Fund-USA’s annual Winter Connection Brunch in Boca Raton
During the conversation, led by Palm Beach County resident and Jewish National Fund-USA National Board Member, Marvin Schlanger, Kemp, who studied the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) extensively during his military service and has been to Gaza several times since the war began, spoke, among other things, about the deeply over-exaggerated casualty numbers provided by the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.
Parroted by global media outlets, the casualty numbers don’t distinguish whether deaths were of Hamas combatants, civilians, or those who died of natural causes. Kemp also reinforced how the IDF does not aim to kill innocent civilians and does everything possible to mitigate civilian deaths.
Bob Werner, Col Richard Kemp, Ron Werner
The Consul General of Israel in Miami, Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, also provided remarks at the reception on February 6, and 40 Boca Raton student ambassadors from the Claire and Emanuel G. Rosenblatt High School at Donna Klein Jewish Academy and Katz Yeshiva High School volunteered to help make the event a success.
“The State of Israel, like its people, has been shattered, but not broken,” said Elbaz-Starinsky. “You are not just donors. You are guardians and you are builders of the Jewish Homeland.”
For more information or to learn about future events in South Florida, contact the Jewish National Fund-USA office at 561-447-9733 or visit jnf.org/inyourarea.
Colonel Richard Kemp and Marvin Schlanger
Bob Oppenheinmer, Marci Robinson, Joan Oppenheimer
Alisa Jaffe and Julia Hanapole
Roz Burman, Col Richard Kemp, Kenny Kaplan
Dr Robert & Carol Keehn and Bob Koenig
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About Jewish National Fund-USA
Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. As a leading philanthropic movement, the organization supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south as it develops new communities in the Negev and Galilee, connects the next generation to Israel, and creates infrastructure and programs that support ecology, people with disabilities, and heritage site preservation, all while running a fully accredited study abroad experience through its Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Learn more at jnf.org.
