Actress, Producer and Activist
Debra Messing is an Emmy Award-winning Actress, Producer, and Human Rights Activist, best known for her Emmy & SAG Award-winning role as “Grace Adler” on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning comedy series “Will & Grace.” Messing has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Women In Film’s Lucy Award, The Gracie Allen Award, American Comedy Award, among 50 more nominations.
In the wake of the atrocities committed on October 7th, Debra has used her platform to be one of the strongest, clearest and most informed voices advocating for Israel, the end of hate and misinformation and the release of the hostages. She spoke at the March for Israel in D.C. and traveled to Israel in December 2023 to bear witness to the massacre and meet with hostage families and survivors. She has been traveling around the country speaking and Executive Produced the documentary, “OCTOBER 8,” about the explosion of antisemitism since October 7th.
Jeanne Levy Community Leadership Award Recipient
Richard A. Friedman is a transformative leader who has shaped Jewish life in the Palm Beaches and beyond. He is Co-Chair of Federation’s groundbreaking Palm Beach Center to Combat Antisemitism & Hatred and, together with his wife Susan, is a Founding Community Visionary.
They have helped define a bold vision for the community’s future. He previously served as Honorary Chair of the Jewish Palm Beach Leadership Circle, a group of committed philanthropists whose generosity helps meet the community’s urgent needs.
Rich is Co-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mount Sinai Health System in New York, founder of the Friedman Brain Institute and Secretary of Brown University.
He has served on the board of Central Synagogue in New York City, and in leadership at UJA-Federation of New York, which honored him with its Wall Street Division’s preeminent recognition for commitment to the Jewish community.
In his professional life, Rich is Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. For more than two decades, he led Goldman Sachs’ Merchant Banking Division, guiding its growth until 2019. He joined the firm in 1981 and became a partner in 1990.
Rich earned his BA from Brown University and his MBA from the University of Chicago. His leadership inspires all who seek to strengthen Jewish Palm Beach.
For more information, contact Kimberly Hickey at kimberly.hickey@jewishpalmbeach.org or 561.242.6642.