A recent event hosted by the South Florida Jewish Social Network. [Photo by Hailey Desser]
The South Florida Jewish Social Network will host a happy hour for young professionals on Thursday, Oct. 19, beginning at 5:45 p.m. at Osha Thai and Sushi Bar in Boca Raton. All proceeds will go directly to Israel via a partnership with the Jewish National Fund-USA.
A series of Hamas terrorist attacks Oct. 7 killed over 1,200 people in Israel, including at least 27 Americans. The vast majority of these casualties were Jewish men, women and children, making it the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
The thriving Jewish community of South Florida has come together in response, donating time, money and resources to Israel.
The South Florida Jewish Social Network has served as a place for people to connect with one another during this difficult time. Since the attack on Saturday there has been a large increase in the number of people joining the group looking for a community to connect with.
The group was started by a Boca Raton local real estate professional, Hailey Desser, as a Facebook group in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has now grown to nearly 1,500 people.
The group has become a safe place for support amid the war raging between Hamas and Israel. The group has provided resources for grief counseling, Israel solidarity events and links to news updates from reliable sources. The group has also provided a list of vetted nonprofits to donate to.
The group’s partnership with JNF-USA ensures that donations at the happy hour are directly distributed in Israel.
Donations will help evacuate the hardest-hit communities on the Gaza border and provide transportation, emergency housing, hygiene products, bedding and care packages. The money also will help buy firefighting and protective equipment and offer psychological treatment.
The happy hour is for people ages 21 to 45 who want to mix and mingle while donating to a good cause. Those unable to attend can donate directly to JNF-USA.
