Real Estate VIPs Support Southern Israel Rebuilding Efforts at Upscale Philanthropic Fundraiser
MIAMI, April 17, 2024 — Nearly 200 members of the South Florida real estate community attended Jewish National Fund-USA’s First Annual Real Estate Division Flagship Reception on Sunday, April 7, 2024, to support the organization’s efforts to rebuild the southern Israeli communities that were destroyed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
(L to R) Sharona Whisler, Gabrielle Goldfarb, Kobi Karp, Nancy Karp, Mara Mades, Matthew Baron, Bob Diener, Gil Dezer, Doris Suttin
The upscale philanthropic fundraiser and networking event was held at Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, Inc., in Wynwood, Miami, and was attended by local and national real estate industry leaders and Israeli diplomats, including a member of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), Dan Illouz MK and Deputy Consul General of Israel, Mike Driquez.
Attendees of note included President of Dezer Development, Gil Dezer; Founder & Principal of Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design, Inc., Kobi Karp; Co-founder and President of Travel Funders Network & Co-Founder and Past President of hotels.com, Bob Diener; President & Founder, Baron Property Group, Matthew M. Baron; Coral Gables Mayor, Vince Lago; luxury real estate alumna of Netflix’s hit series Selling Sunset, Maya Vander; Simon Ziff of Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group, LLC; Arnaud Sitbon of ESJ Capital Partners; CEO and Founder of Rivergate Companies, Jay Massirman; and family members from Wynwood pioneers, Goldman Properties.
Real Estate VIPs Support Jewish National Fund-USA’s Southern Israel Rebuilding Efforts
“We care about the State of Israel because it’s part of our heritage, it’s part of who we are,” said Diener. “Over the last six months, as we’ve seen the worst outbreak of antisemitism since the Holocaust, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best thing we can do to fight antisemitism is to keep our Jewish institutions like Jewish National Fund-USA and others strong. The stronger we are as a People, the stronger the State of Israel will be.”
The main program featured a panel discussion with Diener, Baron, Dezer, and Karp, who discussed various topics related to building in Miami and in Israel and the Jewish community’s contribution to the Miami real estate sector.
Host and moderator Kobi Karp with panelists Matthew Baron, Bob Diener, Gil Dezer
Co-Chairs of Jewish National Fund-USA’s Miami Real Estate Committee, Adam Lipkin of Greystone Capital and Adam Yormack of Yormack Law, kicked off the event by discussing how Jewish National Fund-USA was uniquely prepared to offer immediate and consistent support after the attacks due to the organization’s two-decade relationship with the affected Israeli communities. They also highlighted Jewish National Fund-USA’s Volunteer in Israel Missions, which have offered 3,000 Americans the opportunity to pack support packages for wounded and evacuated Israelis, cook for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, pick produce on farms whose workforces were decimated, and clean, re-paint, re-plant, and repair all that Israel’s enemies have torn down.
“The challenges we face as a People are immediate and frankly existential to the core of who we are,” said Lipkin. “However, being here together demonstrates our solidarity to the world and speaks volumes to the fact that when our enemies try to destroy us, we rebuild and grow stronger together!”
Marc Hershberg, Adam Lipkin, Adam Yormack, Mara Mades, Alexander Kantor, Michael Balan, Gabrielle Goldfarb, Sharona Whisler
Mara Mades of Cornerstone Group and Doris Suttin of Doris B Suttin Realty, Inc., presented the panelists with certificates stating a circle of trees had been planted in Israel in honor of their philanthropic service and dedication to the land and people of Israel. They also presented the evening’s hosts, Nancy and Kobi Karp, with a Jewish National Fund-USA Be Inscribed Certificate stating a verse had been inscribed in a Torah in their honor by a scribe working on top of the ancient Jewish fortress of Masada in Israel.
Jewish National Fund-USA builds a strong, vibrant future for the land and people of Israel through bold initiatives and Zionist education. Since the “Black Shabbat,” the organization has raised $60 million to support the immediate and long-term needs of Israelis who were displaced from their homes — terrorism victims, families of the hostages, and tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children who are suffering from trauma and other impacts of a war thrust upon them. The organization is also spearheading efforts to rebuild the Israel Envelope communities bordering Gaza with its bold and visionary Build Together initiative providing the infrastructure and quality of life needed to allow residents to feel safe coming home.
Janet Goldman and Jessica Goldman Srebnick
Jewish National Fund-USA’s Real Estate Division connects industry leaders in real estate development, brokerage, real estate finance and law, construction, architecture, and hospitality who are interested in philanthropically supporting the land and people of Israel while also enjoying incredible networking opportunities in South Florida and across the country.
For more information about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Real Estate Division or future events in Miami, contact Gabrielle Goldfarb, Jewish National Fund-USA Associate Director, Miami and South Dade at ggoldfarb@jnf.org or 305-682-0025 x893.
Arnaud Sitbon, Philipe Harari, Gil Dezer, Kobi Karp, Jordan Karp, Mendel Fellig
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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.