The slate of movies, red carpets, receptions, talks and meet-and-greets will continue to be staged mostly in Boca Raton and Delray Beach but there will also be a showing in Lake Worth Beach and a series of screenings in Deerfield Beach.

Les Rich — who co-founded the festival along with Wendy Honig and Arleen Roberts — says, “This year we’re going to expand to Deerfield. It’s kind of an experiment, but we’re going on five days in Deerfield at the Paragon Theater. They renovated the theater and it’s really good and I think we’ll do very well there. And maybe we’ll expand beyond that. I mean someday maybe we will change the name to the Florida International Jewish Film Festival.”

The schedule and ticket prices are available at JFilmBoca.org.

Screenings will take place:

• Feb. 21-28 at Cinemark Bistro Boca Raton and XD
• March 1-15 at Movies of Delray
• March 18-22 at Paragon Theater Deerfield

PROLOGUE

That’s not all that is happening. Even though the festival runs Feb. 21-March 22, there are some big events jumping off in January, including a sneak peek Big Reveal on Jan. 14 at the Movies at Delray.

“We do this every year … for free, we have the Big Reveal,” Rich explains. “People come, they can see trailers of all the different films that we’re going to show in the festival. And our patrons go and they choose which film they want to sponsor and we give the patrons first dibs on what films they want to go to. And then thereafter, like a week or two later, we’ll open for ticket sales to the general public.”

There will also be a Cinebash Opening Celebration on Jan. 26 at The Wick Theatre & Museum Club in Boca Raton.

“We’re going to have a dinner and we’re going to show the world premiere of a film called ‘Tovah’ about Tovah Feldshuh,” Rich says. “And at this event Tova Feldshuh will be coming and we’re going to give her a Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s going to be a really big event at the Wick Theatre. They’re intending to make a big national event out of it. It’s a really, really good documentary by a filmmaker named David Serero. So David Serero is also a famous opera singer. And I will try to get between David and Tovah to do a little singing together. That’s my goal.”

CLOSE-UP ON THE FEELINGS

Along those lines, nurturing the community is the main goal of the motion picture celebration, explains Honig.

“One of the things that we do with the festival is we entertain, we educate, we inspire,” she says “Okay, that’s all good. So do most film festivals. The one thing that we do that sets us apart from other festivals is that we embrace community. We know that there’s a need for events, parties, get-togethers, eating together, being together, and it’s really terrific when that happens because we’re building community and relationships.

It’s one thing when you just show a movie. I can show a movie and you go to the movie quietly with your popcorn and then you leave. We’re not like that. It’s a very different feeling. They get to meet and greet with movie stars, with different speakers.”

Another thing they are bringing back is the Movie Shorts Program, which will be on Feb. 1 at Movies of Delray

“We have a short film competition and people vote for which short film they like the best,” Rich explains. “And this year it’s a really good selection of short films that we have.”

Honig adds, “During COVID Les created the largest program of Jewish short films to keep people entertained. And I think to this very day, it probably is the largest of all online Jewish short films programs.”

OPENING CREDITS

Rich remembers that the trio has been involved in producing film festivals here in South Florida for decades.

“Wendy actually started many, many years ago,” he recalls. “Probably almost for 20 years now. She started up in Palm Beach. She worked at the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival. Then Wendy and I worked at the Palm Beach International Film Festival many years ago.”

• Honig and Rich ran a Jewish sidebar showcase at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, which shut down in 2017.
• Then from 2017-2023 they ran the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival at the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center. That festival has been rebranded and is run by the JCC.
• Honig also ran two screening committees of the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, one in Boynton Beach and one in Palm Beach Gardens.
• Arleen Roberts was on the Screening Committee at Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival and all the versions of the Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival. When the Boca International Jewish Film Festival started in 2024, she became a director.

“There’s a tremendous amount of people moving into the South Florida area,” Honig adds. “They’re moving into Boca, they’re moving in all over the place. If you go to downtown Boca, you realize how many people are moving in. There is such a great need for them to have a festival like this. You know, not everyone plays golf, not everyone plays pickleball. There are people that really love this and love coming together and meeting people and making friends and having parties and doing events together.

I think it’s a very important thing. So for the very nominal fee of a ticket, they get to come in and they get to see these speakers and the movie stars and make friends. It’s just such a wonderful time.”

HOT FLICKS PICKS

Here are, in no particular order, just a few of Honig and Rich’s BIJFF highlights.

“ADA: MY MOTHER THE ARCHITECT”

Honig — “We are 501c3 and we give money to Jewish and Israeli charities. And one of the charities that has partnered with us is The Technion, which is the technical university in (Haifa) Israel. We will be having a film called ‘Ada: My Mother The Architect.’ And Ada graduated from The Technion and Ada’s daughter made the film and … will be at the film (screening). And also we’ll have a speaker from Technion speaking. And afterwards they’re doing a dessert buffet at the theater.”

“LUCKY STAR” AND “LOST IN TERRITORIES”

Honig — “We also have a lot of comedies. And this year, I have two that I really love. One is called ‘Lucky Star.’ It’s a French film (titled ‘La Bonne Étoile’). And the other one is ‘Lost in Territories.’ It’s hilarious.”

“PARTING THE WATERS”

Rich — “We’ve got a film about … Michele Kuvin Kupfer, an Israeli Olympic swimmer. She’s originally from Palm Beach, Florida. It’s called ‘Parting the Waters.’ So that’s another film that’s going to be very, very popular.”

“LABORS OF LOVE: THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HENRIETTA SZOLD”

Honig — “We have five showings of ‘Labors of Love: The Life and Legacy of Henrietta Szold.’ Henrietta Szold founded (Jewish women’s service organization) Hadassah. You probably know of Hadassah Medical Center in Israel. But more than that … she founded nursing in Israel, midwifery, she had a thousands of children from Germany (and Nazi-occupied Europe) brought over to the Youth Aliyah program. They would put up children … in kibbutzes. So it was really fantastic, saved their lives. Henrietta Szold was amazing. But I’m going to tell you what makes it exciting. The filmmaker will be there for two of the showings. And the filmmaker is Abby Ginzberg.”

Honig says that Ginzberg is the granddaughter of the love of Szold’s life, who married another woman. “The granddaughter decided to make this film about the person who loved her grandfather. And what she says, which is really, I think, pretty wonderful is, if Henrietta Szold had married her grandfather, she’d be making matzo ball soup. She’d be, you know, cooking and cleaning. Instead, she changed the world.”

Rich adds, “The Hadassahs are going to put on a big Hadassah event. That’s going to be March 1st and March 2nd. It’s going to be in Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth. So that’s going to be a very big event because the Hadassahs are huge in Southern Florida. They are really going to be flocking to this film.”

“AARON SAPIRO: THE JEW WHO SUED HENRY FORD”

Honig — “So … that is something Jews don’t know about. There was a Jew that sued Henry Ford, I didn’t know this. And (Ford) had to shut down his anti-Semitic, The Dearborn Observer. I think he also had to shut down one of his plants and he had to issue a public apology. Everyone knows that Henry Ford was antisemitic, but they didn’t know about this one courageous man, who was a lawyer, stood up and actually won.”

Rich  — “We’re having Robert Watson…he’s a local professor … from Lynn University. So he’ll … be discussing the film, antisemitism and the historical context and be interviewing the filmmaker Gaylen Ross. That’s what we do. We get speakers, some of them are local, some of them national. We’re more and more trying to get the speakers to come in, just to add some interest to all the films.”

“JERUSALEM ’67”

Honig — ” ‘Jerusalem ’67’ is the first feature film about the Six-Day War in Israel. The film is about a woman, who was sort of a hero, that fought in the war. She was the first, or one of the first women, who were able to pray at The Wailing Wall. Usually the men were there. She was very courageous; had to choose between her kids and the war and she rolled up her sleeves and went to war.”

“THE EVERYTHING POT”

Rich — “Our closing film, which we’ll be announcing fairly soon, we’re going to have a star — Lisa Edelstein. It’s a film called ‘The Everything Pot’ and that’s going to be our closing film at the Movies of Delray. And ‘The Everything Pot’ is a comedy. Do you remember the show ‘House’ on television? He was a doctor. He had a girlfriend; That was Lisa Edelstein.”

Honig — “So ‘The Everything Pot’ is a zany, quirky movie … where this woman, she gets an invitation to a wedding of a former person that she worked with that was much younger than her. And Linda’s (character) is happily married at this point in the film. She buys the (wedding couple) an everything pot. The wedding is canceled and they want their pot back. At one point she climbs over a fence … trying to get the pot back and she falls into their yard. It’s very cute.”

When the South Florida Sun Sentinel asked readers to share pictures of their menorahs, we suspected that the local Jewish community was home to an abundance of these precious objects, some classical and passed down through the generations; others, contemporary works of art bursting with color and energy.

But who knew? We didn’t realize how many would come with emotion-laden stories, of vulnerable moments, cherished relationships and dogged efforts to preserve spiritual legacies.

Jewish homes are often filled with sacred items, ranging from mezuzahs to dreidels to Seder plates. But read below about the particular joy brought by these South Florida menorahs, which have made impressions deep in their owners’ souls.

Rescued from Hurricane Katrina

Boca Raton residents Robert and Fran Lenter feel an intimate bond with their brass menorah: Robert rescued it from a mound of rubble at Congregation Beth Israel in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Their family had been members of the synagogue for four generations; Fran’s father was president for seven years.

After the waters subsided, Robert, a freelance photographer, trudged through the destruction and encountered the remains of the historic Orthodox congregation. Its seven Torah scrolls and thousands of prayer books were ruined.

“I saw a shining object buried in the muddy rubble,” he said. “I carefully made it over, reached down and dug it out, not knowing what it could be. It was a small brass menorah.”

Robert said it was the same menorah, with two Lions of Judah holding up the Ten Commandments, that his wife had lit as a child in the synagogue’s Sunday school.

“Since Katrina 20 years ago, I can safely say with all my heart and soul that God led me to Beth Israel to retrieve it,” he said.

A moose for a Brown

Some menorahs seem to represent their owners perfectly. In Stephanie Brown’s family, each member lights a menorah inspired by their interests, such as baseball or fire trucks or motorcycles or shoes.

Brown’s sisters bought her a moose menorah for her birthday 25 years ago because of her love for the antlered animals; she has a moose nightshirt, a mug and a wall-mounted moose head coat rack. She has seen several of the enormous mammals during trips with her family to Park City, Utah.

“They saw the menorah there and knew it was so me,” the Boynton Beach resident said. “I’ve been lighting it at Hanukkah ever since.”

‘One of a kind’

Rabbi Greg Weisman of Temple Beth El in Boca Raton and his family feel linked with previous generations through their menorah, which was built by Weisman’s great-grandfather, Jacob Cutler.

An artist born in Ukraine in 1904, Cutler used whatever materials he came across to craft his pieces. Weisman said Cutler made several menorahs, including one that measured at least 8 feet high and was placed atop a Los Angeles synagogue.

The Weismans’ colorful and whimsical candelabrum is about 22 inches high, with a big arch resting on a smaller arch made of wood, colored stones and yellow yarn.

“People have seen pictures of it on social media and asked me where they could get one like it, and with a proud smile I tell them that it’s one of a kind,” Weisman said.

All below will be aglow

Whether a menorah is one of a kind or mass-produced, it is almost guaranteed to inspire comfort as an additional candle is lit each night. Take a look at these beautiful works of art owned by our fellow South Floridians and know that all will be aflame over eight evenings in the coming days, creating a glow of Jewish connection across South Florida, the United States and the world.

Bring the family to a preholiday fest before lighting the candles at home, or light them together with other Jews during community-wide menorah lightings.

Festivities start in the afternoon on Sunday and continue throughout the eight nights. So, whip out your favorite Hanukkah-themed sweaters, get your dreidels ready and prepare for a festive holiday.

Below, find holiday events happening throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties.

BROWARD COUNTY

Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center’s Grand Chanukah Festival

Start your celebrations early with the Grand Chanukah Festival on Las Olas. With everything from face painting and a petting zoo to mechanical rides and music, kids of all ages will enjoy the preholiday event. A menorah lighting is scheduled for 4 p.m.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center, 1302 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $25 for children ages 2-16 (includes unlimited rides), free for adults

INFORMATION: jewishfl.org/events/festival

Chabad of Coconut Creek’s Chanukah Celebration

Starting at 5 p.m., the Promenade at Coconut Creek will have feature entertainment (including fire jugglers!), traditional jelly donuts, and kids’ crafts before a communitywide candle lighting to commemorate the first night of Hannukah.

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Promenade at Coconut Creek, 4467 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek

COST: Free

INFORMATION: promenadeatcoconutcreek.com/events

Fort Lauderdale’s Menorah Lighting Celebration

Head to Las Olas for a traditional menorah lighting. Hanukkah music will bring a festive air to the event, as community members recite blessings and join together to welcome in the Jewish holiday.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

COST: Free

INFORMATION: parks.fortlauderdale.gov/special-events

46th annual South Florida Chanukah Festival

Revel in the final night of Hanukkah with the South Florida Chanukah Festival, hosted by Chabad of South Broward. Billed as “South Florida’s largest Jewish concert,” the event features musicians such as Avraham Fried, Zusha and Joey Newcomb.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

WHERE: Rick Case Arena, 3051 Ray Ferrero Jr Blvd., Davie

COST: Tickets start at $20

INFORMATION: chabadsouthbroward.com

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Mega Chanukah Street Fair

Chabad of Greater Boynton Beach and its early childhood education program, Beit Blumi, will join forces to host the annual Mega Chanukah Street Fair.  A boutique will be on-site for your last-minute shopping needs, plus an obstacle course, BMX bike show, petting zoo, rock climbing wall, carnival swings, and a large gelt drop for the kids.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton Beach, 10655 El Clair Ranch Road, Boynton Beach

COST: Suggested donation of $36 per family

INFORMATION: chabadboynton.com/megachanukah

B’nai Torah Hanukkah Celebration

B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton is celebrating the joy of the season with an event for all ages. A DJ-led dance party will be accompanied by Hanukkah characters, games and activities. There also will be holiday-inspired bites.

WHEN: 4.p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St, Boca Raton

COST: $15 per person, $45 per family

INFORMATION: btcboca.org/event

Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting

Old School Square in Delray Beach will play host to this annual festival on the first night of Hanukkah. Join Chabad of East Delray and the city in celebrating, with sufganiyot, latkes and cotton candy, plus bounce houses, glitter tattoos and a giant bubble show following the 6 p.m. menorah lighting.

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

WHERE: Amphitheatre at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach

COST: Free

INFORMATION: delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

Hanukkah Celebration at Juno Beach Town Center

If you’re looking to spice up your nightly menorah routine, head to Juno Beach Town Center for the third night to light candles with the community and enjoy a sampling of traditional Hanukkah foods.

WHEN: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16

WHERE: Juno Beach Town Center, 340 Ocean Drive

COST: Bring a festive food to share

INFORMATION:: juno-beach.fl.us/community

PJ Library Light Up the 4th night of Chanukah

Join PJ Library and the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County for a festive fourth night at Boca Center. Start the evening with crafts and storytime at 5 p.m., followed by a candle lighting and live concert featuring Rock N’ Roll Rabbi David Paskin.

WHEN: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17

WHERE: Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton

COST: Free

INFORMATION: jewishboca.org/events

Chanukah at Boynton Beach City Hall

This community-wide event aims to amplify Jewish solidarity and pride. The inaugural event will feature a fire show, music and refreshments as well as the official lighting of the city menorah.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18

WHERE: Centennial Park & Ampitheater, 120 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach

COST: Free

INFORMATION: chabadboynton.com/cityhallrsvp

Palm Beach Synagogue West’s Hanukkah Celebration

At this point, the holiday will be coming to a close, but the community celebrations continue! Head to CityPlace for a festive event featuring live music, doughnuts and latkes.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

WHERE: CityPlace, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach

COST: Free

INFORMATION: cityplace.com/west-palm-beach-events

Chanukah at Delray Marketplace

Close out the holiday at Delray Marketplace with its giant ice menorah. Sip on hot cocoa and apple cider while enjoying a Hebrew school choir and firetruck gelt drop. There will also be a Hanukkah-themed sensory play area for babies, bounce houses, latkes and doughnuts.

WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

WHERE: Delray Marketplace Amphitheater, 9025 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach

COST: Suggested donation of $36 per family

INFORMATION: delrayjewish.org

Hanukkah, which begins on Sunday, Dec. 14, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabee freedom fighters fought the Seleucid Empire in the second century BC and won. The temple menorah only had enough oil to last one day but is said to have lasted eight days, a miracle recalled today by lighting menorahs for eight nights.

The holiday, celebrated by eating fried foods, spinning dreidels and exchanging gifts, lends itself to creativity. Menorahs are works of art; dreidels, feats of engineering. The music is joyous and inspiring; the food, delicious and fattening.

Check out below the many local ways you can enjoy the festival or use our unique South Florida setting to inspire your own inventive approach to a very happy week.

Catch a meal at a kosher restaurant

Kosher restaurants close for most Jewish holidays, but Hanukkah is not one of them. We are fortunate to have so many kosher options in South Florida, and new restaurants are constantly opening, ranging from Middle Eastern to Eastern European. Treat the family to a night out this Hanukkah, before or after you light the candles.

Host a latke/doughnut fest

Hanukkah is a great excuse for a party, and the holiday’s focus on fried foods, in remembrance of the oil that is said to have burned for eight nights, makes for great creative possibilities. Invite friends and family for freshly made latkes and assemble a Latke Toppings Bar along your kitchen counter, filled with bowls of applesauce, sour cream, fruits, lox, chives, jams, guacamole, salsa and chocolate sauces.

Go crazy with the crafts

Hanukkah is a craft-oriented holiday, with plentiful ways available to make your own menorahs, greeting cards, stained-glass dreidels and even dreidel piñatas. The David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie is hosting a Hanukkah Craft & Culinary Event on Dec. 4 to celebrate the holiday, and it’s open to the public ($25). Register at dpjcc.org/events.

Buy locally made sweets

Norman Love Confections, a Florida-based chocolatier with stores in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, is offering a 2025 Hanukkah Collection of fun, Jewish-y flavored chocolates, including Cinnamon Rugelach, Berry Cheese Blintz, Black & White Cookies, and Sufganiyot (raspberry-filled doughnut ganache wrapped in a milk chocolate shell). A 10-piece gift box goes for $34. Go to normanloveconfections.com.

Invest in a cool menorah

Synagogue gift shops are a great way to support the local Jewish community, and they are selling some fabulous menorahs this year. At B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton, there are menorahs by artists such as Michael Aram, who makes jewelry and sculptures inspired by nature, and the late Gary Rosenthal, who created Judaica such as mezuzahs and tzedakah boxes. There are also kids’ menorahs that draw youngsters to the holiday with colorful decorations, Hebrew letters and cartoon figures. Prices range from $40 to $250.

Get bookish

Read a book about Hanukkah with a child. PJ Library, a free Jewish book subscription service for kids, sent “Hanukkah Upside Down” (Harry N. Abrams; 2023) as its November offering. Here’s how the library describes the book, written by Elissa Brent Weissman with illustrations by Omer Hoffmann: “Noah lives in New York. Nora lives in New Zealand. Which cousin will have the world’s best Hanukkah?” There are local PJ Library communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. For more information, go to pjlibrary.org.

Take a nature walk

Did you know many Israelis celebrate Hanukkah by taking a hike in the gorgeous cool winter weather? We can do the same in South Florida. For a list of 11 picturesque spots where you will see majestic trees, birds and maybe even owls, snakes, rabbits and alligators, go to SunSentinel.com/birds.

Attend a public celebration

There are so many public gatherings scheduled this year. Here are just a few. Click here to find more activities.

Delray Beach Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting

• When: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14
• Where: Amphitheatre at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach
• Cost: Free
• Information: delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

Palm Beach Synagogue West Hanukkah Celebration

• When: 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19
• Where: CityPlace, 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach
• Cost: Free
• Information: cityplace.com/west-palm-beach-events

46th South Florida Chanukah Festival

• When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21
• Where: Rick Case Arena, 3051 Ray Ferrero Jr Blvd., Davie
• Cost: Tickets start at $20
• Information: chabadsouthbroward.com

“We need leaders who aren’t going to coddle their billionaire donors, who won’t support a genocide and who aren’t going to settle for flaccid incrementalism,” Kasky said in the launch video posted on Nov. 18 for his campaign to represent New York City’s 12th Congressional District.

The video’s caption includes the three main points of his campaign: “Medicare for all. Stop funding genocide. Abolish ICE.”

While Kasky’s anti-Trump positions are likely to go over well with the district’s largely liberal populace, his stance that Israel is committing a genocide — and the apparent centrality of that stance to his campaign — could be an issue for constituents. The district includes the Upper West and East Sides of Manhattan, where many voters sided with the pro-Israel Andrew Cuomo over Zohran Mamdani in the city’s recent mayoral election, as well as Midtown Manhattan.

Kasky’s messaging may, however, speak more to young voters in the district. A New York Times/Siena poll from September found that 66% of New York City voters ages 18 to 29 found that Mamdani, an anti-Zionist, “best addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” among the mayoral candidates.

A democratic socialist, Kasky was a vocal supporter of Mamdani throughout the mayoral election — and an aggressive critic of fellow Democrats who objected to the mayoral candidate’s anti-Israel stances.

“‘Vote blue no matter who unless it’s a Muslim who criticizes Israel’s extremist far right nationalist government’ is not ‘vote blue no matter who,’” he wrote in one tweet.

In another, he wrote that Democrats who refused to endorse him after the primary should “go get a consulting gig and stop disrespecting your own voter base.”

Kasky had teased entering the crowded race for months, ever since Rep. Jerry Nadler, Congress’ most senior Jewish member, announced he would not be running for reelection.

In that time, Kasky has also weighed in on the viability of Micah Lasher, the Jewish state Assembly member and former Nadler aide who launched his own campaign for the seat earlier in the fall.

Lasher is unable to “fight fascism” because of his “genocide denial and free speech attacks on students,” Kasky wrote, with a screenshot of a Lasher tweet from Oct. 28, 2023, that criticized what Lasher called the “awful use of the word ‘genocide’ by some westerners to describe Israel’s actions.” (As the war in Gaza neared its two-year mark this summer, a poll found that half of Americans believed Israel had committed genocide, a claim that Israel and the United States both reject.)

Kasky also reposted a poll according to which Brad Lander, Mamdani’s most prominent Jewish ally, would beat the moderate congressman Dan Goldman, who is Jewish and withheld an endorsement due to “some of the rhetoric coming from Mamdani.”

“Needless to say, I am looking forward to working with Brad Lander,” Kasky wrote.

Kasky is the co-host of the “For You Podcast” with Tim Miller, which attempts to “break down the politics of the TikTok generation,” for The Bulwark, a center-right, anti-Trump media company.

One of Kasky’s podcast guests over the summer is now his opponent: Jack Schlossberg.

Schlossberg, who is the grandson of President John F. Kennedy and has said he is “at least 100% half Jewish,” announced his own candidacy for the 12th Congressional District recently.

Kasky remarked on their podcast that many women in his life have crushes on Schlossberg — and Schlossberg replied that the two men have a similar appeal.

“I always say, when you go unhinged politics Jew, it’s hard to go back,” Kasky said.

Kasky was thrust into the national spotlight as a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. Together with other survivors, he led a march in Washington and spurred a national movement that is seen as crucial to the 2022 passage of the most significant federal gun control legislation in decades.

Kasky, a junior at the time of the shooting, is credited with having selecting the name and hashtag #NeverAgain — which has long been linked to Holocaust commemoration — for the student-led gun control campaign. (Another co-founder of Never Again MSD is David Hogg, who recently stepped down as the youngest-ever vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.)

Before the shooting, Kasky said he played Motel in a school production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The quality of his performance was proof, he joked, that he was not a paid actor in the protests, as some conspiracy theorists accused.

Kasky attended Hebrew school growing up, which he referenced when speaking on MSNBC about the “No Kings” protests against Trump.

“This kind of reminded me of my education growing up — when you go to Hebrew school, you learn about fascism a little bit younger than the other kids,” he said. “And you find yourself asking, in the face of authoritarianism, in the face of seeing a genocide happen before the entire world, what would I do? How would I react?”

He moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, where he later dropped out, and lives in the 12th Congressional District that’s been described as a “crown jewel” of New York politics.

Now, Kasky is running on a progressive agenda that emphasizes fighting Trump and stopping U.S. military aid for Israel, referring to the country’s actions in Gaza in no uncertain terms as a “genocide” — a response which he says has been informed in part by his Jewish identity.

“I am always surprised when people ask me why I focus so much on Palestine,” he wrote. “Beyond my Jewish identity making me strongly opposed to genocide, I’m a school shooting survivor-turned-activist. I started my adult life demanding an end to American-made weapons slaughtering children.”

For more info, go to JTA.org. 

Each week brings a new headline that shakes our sense of security and stability, whether it’s violence, division, or tragedy unfolding far too close to home. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my three decades of Jewish communal work, it’s this: When the world feels overwhelming, our greatest source of strength is what we build right here at home.

At the Jewish Federation of Broward County, our mission is simple: we build community. In moments of uncertainty, we anchor people. In moments of fear, we uplift them. In moments of division, we bring them together. We are living in a time when people are starved for connection. What we crave is belonging, a place to feel seen, safe and supported.

Being Jewish isn’t just an identity, it’s a responsibility. Our work is guided not by politics or partisanship, but by purpose. In today’s climate, leaders are often faced with a difficult choice: speak up and risk backlash or remain silent and risk irrelevance. But more important than speaking is doing. And now, more than ever, we must lead with clarity, not just through programs and funding, but through presence and partnership.

Earlier this year, we launched Ignite Broward, a countywide listening journey that engaged more than 1,400 participants across neighborhoods, generations and denominations. Out of that journey, we heard a collective longing for deeper connection, greater inclusion and stronger collaboration across Jewish life in Broward County. In response, we’ve recently launched task forces that will work on turning the community’s aspirations into action by developing strategies that strengthen engagement and inclusion, foster collaboration across organizations, support vulnerable populations, and build Jewish identity and pride for the future. With dedicated leadership and an initial investment of $500,000, this work is already underway.

We may not be able to offer answers to all the questions, but we can strengthen the bonds that hold us together, locally and globally. We can choose, every day, to build the kind of community that reflects the very best of who we are — as Jews and as humans.

If you’re wondering where to begin, begin here.

Listen generously
Listening isn’t passive, it’s an act of presence, and sometimes, humility. To listen generously means hearing beyond someone’s words: taking in their fears, hopes and experiences without rushing to correct or even respond. Generous listening is one of the most radical forms of connection we can offer.

Build bridges
We cannot afford to live in silos. Create space where people of different backgrounds and beliefs can meet—not to agree on everything, but to recognize that the human experience is universal.

Prioritize education
Jewish life has always valued learning, not just as an academic pursuit, but as an obligation to grow, reflect and act. Education allows us to navigate complexity, confront antisemitism and empower the next generation to lead with both pride and compassion.

At 180,000 strong, Broward County’s Jewish community ranks among the largest in Florida, and the nation, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. What we build here matters. It can model what’s possible elsewhere. If we want a world that is safer, kinder and more connected, we must start with the spaces we can reach. So, let’s keep building because in times like these, when our communities are tested, unity is our blueprint for belonging.

Audra Berg is the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Broward County. She can be reached at aberg@JewishBroward.org.

“My upbringing was very closed off. We didn’t have any secular movies or music,” says Rabin, 24, who just released his sophomore album, “And everything you left was blue,” on Nov. 13, his 24th birthday.

It wasn’t until age 11, when his sister allowed him to sneakily listen to Taylor Swift through an earphone in the backseat of a car that Rabin realized there was more out there than religious music.

“I was blown away,” he says.

Rabin’s first EP, “Vincent,” came out in 2024 and, today, he creates music full of catchy melodies, pop themes and deep lyrics.

Though his songs don’t discuss religion, he says Judaism is a strong influence behind all of his work.

“My goal is to create music that resonates with as many people as possible,” he said. “But on a micro scale, I definitely have a soft spot towards my community and Jews in general.”

In South Florida, Rabin attended Lubavitch Hebrew Academy in Margate. But at 15 years old, he moved away to attend a Jewish boarding school in Pennsylvania. There, he realized Judaism was more than what he had learned as a child, and he was encouraged to find his passion.

“It was the first time I’d ever heard about a relationship with God,” said Rabin. “It really reframed the way that I see religion.”

Instead of 13 hours a day doing Judaic studies, Rabin was given time to explore his own interests. He began writing songs and teaching himself to play piano.

Rabin’s upbringing put a strain on him and his family. He says his parents aren’t involved in his music. But his Jewish pride never faltered.

Now living in New York City, he still considers himself Chabad. Whether he is performing on stage — Rabin has played at the Gramercy Theatre in New York and the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and has toured in Australia — or creating music videos, you will never see him without his kippah.

“I’m showing up as a proud Jew. I think that being able to do that will empower other Jewish people to express what they’ve been through,” he says.

Rabin sings and produces all his music independently, with the help of friends and former classmates from boarding school. His latest album was mastered by Grammy-winning Joe LaPorta, who worked on Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.” But even with the star factor, Rabin still does it all from his bedroom.

“We don’t have access to expensive equipment, we literally have our bedrooms,” he said. “We do our best with what we have and I’m really proud of what we do with it.”

His bedroom is also where he writes most of his lyrics, which read like a diary — each song is a different entry about what he has gone through, whether trauma from growing up or a relationship gone wrong. (In his most-streamed song, “Van Gogh,” Rabin writes: “If dying was an art form, could I be your van Gogh? Pretty please.”)

His new album does have some joy. “It used to be that my songs had no light at the end of the tunnel,” he says. “If it was dark, it was dark all the way through. And now when I’m writing, I’ve noticed that there is a tendency to have a little more light at the end.”

No matter what he writes, though, Rabin’s focus is to be open and honest. He hopes that sharing his story will help others feel less alone with whatever they are going through.

Rabin credits his Judaism for his strong desire to help others through his music. “Growing up Chabad gives you this framework that’s really focused on outreach and helping others,” he says.

And while he doesn’t see himself returning to the strict Hasidic views of his childhood, he still feels very Jewish, saying he plans to keep a religious home and wants to have a family that follows the Torah.

“I want to have kids who believe in God and the Torah,” he says. “But I’m just trying to figure out exactly what makes sense for me.”

What he does know is that one day, he hopes that his music — and his kippah — will make it to a larger stage.

“I think it would be amazing for Jewish kids to look up at someone wearing a kippah on a red carpet,” he says. “I want to be a symbol for a Jewish artist that expresses themselves proudly — and there’s no Grammy-winning, kippah-wearing artist.” Yet.

To listen to the new album, go to link.alnevmusic.com/aeylwb.

With Hanukkah less than a month away (it starts at sundown Dec. 14), local holiday boutiques are a must for unique gifts. And if you aren’t ready to embrace the holiday spirit yet, the Jewish community is also hosting a variety of different events to get us through the end of the year.

From literary-focused gatherings to a fashion show for a cause and a totally kosher food festival, these last few weeks of 2025 are about to be quite busy.

Shop ’til you drop

The Holiday Boutique at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston will feature over 40 local vendors selling unique art and clothes. A raffle will also take place, with the grand prize winner receiving a 2-hour luxury charter yacht. Other raffle prizes include a personalized yoga session, private wine class for 20 people at Total Wine and a teeth whitening treatment from Kotch Dental in Pembroke Pines. The annual event encourages the community to learn more about the temple and support their Early Childhood Center. Food and drinks will also be available.

WHEN: 12:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19

WHERE: Temple Dor Dorim, 2360 Glades Circle, Weston

COST: Free

INFORMATION: dordorim.org

Hear from influential Jewish voices

This year’s Miami Book Fair is featuring a Jewish Life & Culture program, with the popular Street Fair hosting appearances by notable Jews in the literary world. Listen to cartoonist Art Spiegelman during a discussion on “Maus,” his seminal work on the Holocaust; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who will present her memoir “Heart of a Stranger”; and novelist Gary Shteyngart, who will participate in a panel discussion.

WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 22-23

WHERE: Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., Miami

COST: Single-day tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for seniors (over 62) and $5 for guests age 13-18.

INFORMATION: miamibookfair.com

See a show, for a cause

JARC Florida is hosting its eighth annual A Fashion Show With Heart, featuring 17 clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities walking the runway and showing off clothes from Shop Finally and Scales Gear. Before the show, guests can shop at the boutique fair, featuring nine local vendors showcasing jewelry and clothing. Proceeds benefit JARC Florida’s Dr. Allen & Annette Stone Adult Day Training Program, which teaches vocational skills such as cooking, packaging and horticulture to help clients gain employment.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4

WHERE: Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton

COST: $125 (includes lunch and boutique fair)

INFORMATION: jarcfl.org/fashion

Have a literary afternoon

The Levis Jewish Community Center’s Sandler Center is hosting A Literary Afternoon Series, featuring personal appearances with authors through March. This year, check out Allegra Goodman (Dec. 9) and Sara Goodman Confino.

WHEN: Through March 2026

WHERE: Levis JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton

COST: $25 for individual programs

INFORMATION: levisjcc.org

Enjoy food & wine, the Jewish way

Kosher Food & Wine Miami expects to draw more than 1,000 attendees to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach for local bites and over 400 wines, plus the chance to network with South Florida’s Jewish community. Proceeds will help support WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization), which provides funds for educational and social projects for women and children in Israel.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10

WHERE: Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

COST: $200 for general admission; $300 for VIP (early entry)

INFORMATION: kosherfoodandwinemiami.com

“This mission is about more than service; it is about presence, solidarity, and the extraordinary strength of Jewish women,” said Lori Palatnik, founding director of Momentum. “We are showing up for Israel when it matters most.”

The Florida women included Maya Arison of Fort Lauderdale, Karen Berman of Fort Lauderdale, Lilya Meisel of Boca Raton, Sari Rae Sheiner of Boca Raton, Tamara Wagner of Cooper City, and Fanny Zigdon of Miami.

In addition to their volunteer efforts, the women visited Hostage Square and other towns that were impacted by Oct. 7, 2023. They ended the trip with Shabbat in Jerusalem, hosted by Momentum.

“I was on a Birthright trip in June, and then the war with Hamas began, which interrupted my trip,” said Karen Berman, one of the mothers from Fort Lauderdale. “I didn’t want to leave Israel, but I had obligations at home. I really wanted to come back, and when I saw this trip on social media, I knew I had to join. I’m so happy [I was able to] contribute, which is exactly what I initially wanted to do.”

Mothers Rebuilding Israel has joined with Volunteer in Israel with Birthright to help bring more volunteers to Israel and connect Jewish women together. Since Oct. 7, Volunteer in Israel has brought more than 17,000 volunteers to the country.

But several South Florida nonprofit agencies are asking us this year to share our bounty with people we don’t know but who need us. They want us to donate a few hours to help assemble a meal, knit a blanket or write letters to our troops, all simple activities that can make a recipient feel less alone.

Take a look at the options below and find one that suits your schedule and your desire to give back. Local organizations are making it exceptionally easy this year to connect with our community and the world outside South Florida.

A DAY OF GOOD DEEDS IN BOCA RATON

Mitzvah Day will include a blood drive, craft-making for cancer patients, Thanksgiving basket-packing for Boca Helping Hands, flower arranging for seniors, fitness demonstrations, as well as activities such as building bird feeders and making toys for dogs. Volunteers will be on hand to offer seniors help with tech support.

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 16

WHERE: B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton

REGISTER: btcboca.org/mitzvah-day

DONATE A MEAL FROM ARC BROWARD

Arc Culinary is offering a gourmet holiday dinner package for 10 — and the option to help a family in need by purchasing a package for donation. The meal, which costs $235 and serves up to 10 guests, will consist of an oven-roasted whole turkey, Caesar salad, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and pecan pie. Arc Culinary is an offshoot of Arc Broward, which supports people with disabilities.

WHEN: Available for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 26

WHERE: Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen,10250 NW 53rd St., Sunrise

INFORMATION: arcculinary.com/holiday

ASSEMBLE MEALS

Put together and decorate Thanksgiving dinners for local families at this get-together organized by the Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Mobile Museums of Tolerance, a program dedicated to combating antisemitism and racism, will be on the campus at the same time.

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 23

WHERE: Temple Beth El, 2815 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach

REGISTER by Nov. 14: temple-israel.com/full-calendar

THANKSGIVING  MEAL PREP & DELIVER

Cook and pack Thanksgiving meals for those in need, organized by the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

WHEN: Packing days are Nov. 25-26; delivery days are Nov. 27-28

WHERE: The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach County, 844 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach

REGISTER: jewishpb.org/volunteer

BICYCLE COLLECTION

Donate new or gently used bikes, tricycles, scooters, skateboards and bike locks to be given to the West Palm Beach-based nonprofit, Jack the Bike Man.

WHEN: Dec. 1-5

WHERE: Mandel Jewish Community Center, 5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens; and
8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach

REGISTER: jewishpb.org/volunteer

DONATE SHOES

The “Step Up for Good” Shoe Drive is collecting gently worn, used or new shoes — including sneakers and cleats — for people in developing nations. All shoes must be free of holes, tears and mold to ensure they can be reused and repurposed.

WHEN: Through Friday, Dec. 5

WHERE: Levis Jewish Community Center, 21050 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton

INFORMATION: Visit bit.ly/LevisJCC_ShoeDrive2025 or contact Elaine Riba, director of JCC special events, at 561-852-3264 or elainer@levisjcc.org.