24 | FEBRUARY 1 • 2024 J
N

OUR COMMUNITY

L

ong before Oct. 7, 2023, 
Debra Messing committed 
to championing Jewish 
causes, combating antisemitism 
and shining a spotlight on Jewish 
pride.
But following 
an already decade-
long growing 
scourge in world-
wide antisemitism, 
with Oct. 7 every-
thing changed in 
the Jewish world. 
The social justice 
and human-rights 
advocate emerged 
as a pro-Zionist 
powerhouse. 
Unabashed, vocal, informed 
and visible, Messing has become 
a relatable voice for the State of 
Israel, especially on social media. 
Hosted by Federation’s Women’s 
Philanthropy, Messing will 
speak at Congregation Shaarey 
Zedek on Monday, Feb. 12, at a 
women-only celebration of com-
munity.
Moving from Brooklyn to 
Rhode Island with her family 
at age 3, becoming one of three 
Jewish children at her school, 
Messing — whose father was 
the president of her temple 
and of Rhode Island’s Jewish 
Federation, where her mom was 
vice-president — experienced 
antisemitism early: broken win-
dows, a swastika painted on her 
grandfather’s car and a student 
asking to see her horns. 
Graduating summa cum laude 
from Brandeis University, the 
Emmy Award-winning actress 
and producer forged her way 
into our hearts as one of the 
first openly Jewish characters on 
network television as the iconic 

Grace Adler in Will & Grace, even 
insisting on adding details of her 
upbringing and experiences to 
the role. 
A headliner of the 2017 
Women’s March, Messing boy-
cotted the 2018 event 
because its leaders 
refused to denounce 
antisemites such as 
Louis Farrakhan. Since 
Oct. 7, she also was a 
headline speaker at the 
recent March for Israel 
in Washington, D.C., and 
spoke at a pro-Israel rally 
in New York City calling 
for the release of hostages 
in Israel. 
In an effort to shed a light on 
the lack of response from human 
rights and women’s organizations 
to the depraved sexual violence 
that was perpetrated on Oct. 7, 
Messing recently returned from 
Israel, accompanied by British 
journalist Douglas Murray. 
While there, she visited the Gaza 
border area, bearing witness to 
the devastation at Kibbutz Kfar 
Aza, and spoke to survivors and 
family members of victims and 
hostages. 
“
As soon as Oct. 7 happened, 
it just felt like I had to be here,
” 
she told them. “I had to show 
everyone here that you’re not 
forgotten, that we care, and that 
we are working day and night to 
get the hostages out in any way 
that we can.
” 

Women’s Philanthropy’s Signature 2024 

event will host Debra Messing at 

7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at Congregation 

Shaarey Zedek in Southfield. A minimum 

gift of $136 to Federation’s 2024 Annual 

Campaign is required to attend. In-person 

tickets $70; virtual $36. Jewishdetroit.org/

signature.

Messing to 
Headline 
Signature Event

LYNNE KONSTANTIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Debra 
Messing

Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult
Country Club and Beachside Communities 

 Advantage Plus

601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432
Elly & Ed Lepselter

(561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com
®

 Boca Raton,
Delray Beach, Boynton 
Beach and Beyond!

 Advantage Plus

601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432
Elly & Ed Lepselter
(561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com

COME TO FLORIDA IN THE NEW YEAR

Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult
Country Club and Beachside Communities 

®

 Boca Raton,
Delray Beach, Boynton 
Beach and Beyond!

 Advantage Plus

601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432
Elly & Ed Lepselter
(561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com

Buying or Selling? We Specialize in Active Adult
Country Club and Beachside Communities 

®

 Boca Raton,
Delray Beach, Boynton 
Beach and Beyond!

 Advantage Plus

601 S. Federal Hwy. • Boca Raton, FL 33432
Elly & Ed Lepselter
(561) 302-9374 • Visit us at www.edandellyhometeam.com

Call Today!

Boca Raton,
Delray Beach,
Boynton Beach
& Beyond!

FLORIDA

It’s Your Move

Select Group

6905 SW 18th St. Boca Raton, Florida 33433

Let Old Friends be your 

Michigan-Florida Connection

Keyes Real Estate

Estate Property Sales from
Listing to Clean-Out!

Buy • Sell • InveSt

Throughout South Florida, Including Boca, Boynton, 
Delray, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties

Nina Spinner-Sands

NinaSpinner-Sands@keyes.com

(954) 290-8293

Rita Morse

RitaMorse@keyes.com
(305) 609-7559

