The Jewish Federation Real Estate (JFRE) group of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia hosted its 11th annual Legends and Leaders event on October 20 at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall.

This year, aside from focusing on networking and connecting with industry experts, attendees also learned about ways to support Israel through the onslaught of terror attacks the Jewish homeland has been facing.

JFRE works all year round to proactively strengthen Israel’s security and infrastructure to help them prepare for tragedies like this through their JFRE Fund allocations. In 2022-2023, the JFRE Fund granted $759,459 to 24 capital projects, such as surveillance cameras, infrastructure upgrades and other safety needs, in Greater Philadelphia, Israel and overseas. 

In addressing the urgent humanitarian needs in Israel right now, JFRE leadership created a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $232,000 through the JFRE Fund at the Legends & Leaders event to support the Jewish Federation’s emergency Philly Stands With Israel Fund. Attendees met the goal by donating over $292,000, which yielded a total of over $524,000. One hundred percent of these donations are being quickly directed to the people of Israel. 

“It was empowering to see how JFRE came together to make a difference in the lives of others and support Israel in its time of need,” said Jonathan Morgan, outgoing JFRE Chair. “I am always inspired by the work we are able to do when we unite as a community.”

Over 400 professionals in real estate and related industries attended the signature event that also featured an expert panel with industry icons CEO and Co-Founder Dean Adler of Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P., Vice Chairman Leonard Klehr of Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P., and Chairman and Co-Founder Ira Lubert of Lubert-Adler Partners, L.P. Adler, Klehr and Lubert, who were inducted into the esteemed JFRE Hall of Fame, spoke with Senior Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending Malina Robbins of WSFS Bank about industry best practices, the hardest real estate challenges in their storied careers and how they find strength in and solidarity with their Jewish community during these difficult times.

JFRE’s Legends and Leaders event raised over $480,000 in sponsorship from 60 companies this year.

(L to R) This year’s panel discussion featured JFRE Hall of Fame inductees: Leonard Klehr, Dean Adler and Ira Lubert in conversation with Malina Robbins.

Some of the members of the Jewish Federation Real Estate Executive Committee with Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia staff.

Former JFRE Chair and current Board Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Michael Markman spoke of the importance of supporting Israel.

President Richard Green of Firstrust Bank, JFRE’s Presenting Sponsor of the event.

Outgoing JFRE Chair Jonathan Morgan welcomed the hundreds of attendees.

Legends and Leaders attendees had the opportunity to network with the best and brightest minds in the real estate and related industries.

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To learn more about how JFRE strengthens the real estate industry and Jewish communities around the world, visit jewishphilly.org/jfre or contact Alan Lepore, JFRE Program Manager, at alepore@jewishphilly.org or 215.832.0532.