St. Johns County will hold its annual Israel Friendship Day program at 8 a.m. Nov. 3 at the St. Johns County Administration Building.
The event is being presented by the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller in partnership with the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners and local Jewish leaders.
Scheduled participants include Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein of Chabad of St. Johns County; Rabbi Benjamin Dyme of Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue; Rabbi Levi Vogel of Chabad of St. Augustine; U.S. Rep. Randy Fine; St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Director Russ Martin; and Bar Gershon and Mariam Shpeen Feist of the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida.
County Commission Chair Clay Murphy said in a news release that the observance recognizes generations of Jewish families who have helped shape St. Johns County. The county’s Jewish heritage dates to the 16th century, according to the announcement, while St. Augustine’s Jewish synagogue was founded in 1898.
Israel Friendship Day began alongside a 2021 county resolution ending investments in companies on Florida’s Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions list. The county requires an annual compliance review.
