MIAMI, August 30, 2021 — More than 200 young professionals who share a passion for the land and people of Israel celebrated with JNFuture in South Florida at summer social events in Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach earlier this month — including a captivating and informative evening with City of Bal Harbour Mayor Gabe Groisman and Justin Ellis, Executive Director of Fuel for Truth, an organization dedicated to educating communities about Israel, the Middle East, and how to effectively combat misinformation surrounding the Jewish state.
Mayor Groisman and Ellis partnered with JNF-USA and The Rok Family Shul Chabad at an event on August 25 in Miami’s Brickell business district to educate the Millennial and Gen Z generations about the importance of reinforcing Jewish individuals’ historical connection to the land of Israel and the rise in anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism, as well as how young professionals, in particular, have been uniting together and bridging internal divides to combat these dire issues facing the Jewish community at large.
Mayor Groisman wrote and passed the nation’s first municipal anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement ordinance, and was the first in the nation to codify a uniform definition of anti-Semitism.
“In today’s environment it is more important than ever for the Jewish community to educate ourselves about our history, tradition, and religion,” said Mayor Groisman. “It is critical for the Jewish community to understand the importance the modern-day state of Israel plays in our lives, no matter where in the world we may be living.”
"By helping young Jews connect more deeply with their history, with Israel's story, they begin to understand and value their responsibility to it in the present, resulting in a commitment to shaping our collective future,” added Ellis.
Since its founding in 2007, JNFuture, Jewish National Fund-USA’s (JNF-USA) community of young professionals ages 22-40, has grown exponentially and now has chapters in more than 20 major cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
JNFuture in South Florida, which spans throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, leads the nation as one of the top three JNFuture chapters with the highest number of members.
The other two events from the JNFuture Summer Social series included a social gathering with libations and light bites at The Easton Rooftop Pool and Lounge, one of Fort Lauderdale’s trendiest new venues, and a phenomenal shabbat dinner co-hosted with Chabad Young Professionals in Delray.
These were the first in-person events hosted by JNFuture in South Florida since the start of the pandemic.
Justin Ellis will be hosting a Zionism masterclass on August 31 as part of JNF-USA’s Conversations on Zionism: Reclaiming the Narrative series. Visit jnf.org/convos for more information and to register.
To become a member of JNFuture in South Florida and for information on upcoming events, contact Jeffrey Greenberg, Associate Director JNFuture, Florida at 305-682-0025 x895 or JGreenberg@jnf.org.
Photos from the JNFuture Summer Social at The Easton Rooftop Pool + Lounge:
Matt Franzblau and Jeffrey Greenberg
Spencer Greenfeder and Chris Quadrel
Jeffrey Greenberg, Yair Litvinov, Sabina Shuminov, and Michael Bowman
Heather Vaughn, David Weisberg, and Boris Dubrovin
Eliana Blech and Jess Green
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Milton
561.447.9733 x 875
About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.