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To Panama With Purpose

A Woman-Led Mission Sets The Tone For The Jewish Federation Of South Palm Beach County’s 2026 Campaign

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Aligning with the values of the Jewish community, Panama’s motto is “For the Benefit of the World,” adopted after the Central American nation declared independence from Colombia in 1903. The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Women’s Philanthropy mission to Panama last September built on that ideal through a uniquely female lens.

The Federation’s four-day mission to launch its 2026 annual campaign was designed to give women philanthropists and community advocates from South Palm Beach County — united in their passion for giving, leadership and service — a deeper connection with Jewish life beyond Boca Raton. It offered participants the opportunity to witness firsthand how Federation-supported programs strengthen Jewish communities worldwide. 

The mission was organized by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, the region’s central philanthropic organization supporting Jewish life locally, in Israel and around the world. Established more than 40 years ago, the Federation is a network of Jewish and social service organizations, synagogues and schools that provide services and programs supporting and strengthening Jewish communal life. Through its annual campaign, the Federation funds a network of social service programs, education initiatives and community organizations that strengthen Jewish life and care for those in need. Missions like the Panama trip offer participants the opportunity to see how these partnerships work and how Federation philanthropy helps sustain Jewish communities around the world.

All 60 women on the September 2025 mission made generous donations to the Federation’s annual campaign. The trip sold out less than 48 hours after it was announced, according to Shelly Snyder, immediate past chair of Women’s Philanthropy.

The mission was developed and planned under the leadership of Kathleen Ben-Shoaff, the Federation’s senior director of Women’s Philanthropy. Mission co-chairs were Daryl Mogil and Gail Meyer Asarch.

Just a three-hour flight from Miami, Panama City, the country’s capital, is home to a thriving Sephardic-majority Jewish community, estimated at 17,000 people and growing. Jewish life in Panama dates back to the 16th century, with major growth spurts following the World Wars. Political and economic instability in other Latin American countries has fueled the current wave of Jewish immigration to Panama.

Similar to Boca Raton, Panama City has a strong infrastructure for Jewish living. The vibrant Panamanian Jewish community — the largest in Central America — includes synagogues, schools, cultural institutions and kosher restaurants and supermarkets. 

According to the World Jewish Congress, Panamanian Jews are well integrated into all aspects of society and experience almost no antisemitism. The country is also notable for having two Jewish presidents in the 20th century, and Panama City’s current mayor, Mayer Mizrachi Matalon, is the city’s first Jewish mayor.

Woman Power

The Federation’s missions strengthen ties by fostering meaningful relationships between women who share a commitment to Jewish continuity and collective responsibility. Through collaborative learning and open dialogue, participants build bridges of understanding that transcend geography. From a woman-led perspective, the mission highlights the togetherness and vision women bring to philanthropy and leadership within the Jewish community.

“The mission demonstrated the extraordinary power of women coming together with shared purpose,” Ben-Shoaff says. “The 60 participants embodied the strength, compassion and collaboration that define women’s leadership. Their unity and generosity illustrated how women’s philanthropy can create real change, strengthen Jewish life and inspire others to lead with courage and empathy.”

Meeting with women leaders and members of Panama’s Jewish population highlighted the shared values and goals that unite Jewish communities around the world. Those conversations reinforced how woman-led engagement can translate shared values into action — shaping leadership paths, strengthening networks and creating lasting impact across borders.  

Amy Dweck, who was installed as Women’s Philanthropy chair this March, said the mission left her energized and inspired.

“A big part of my role is helping women feel more connected,” she explains. “I don’t want anyone to skip an event because she doesn’t know anyone. My goal is for women to meet one another, feel comfortable and know they belong — that there’s always a sense of sisterhood waiting for them.”

Intergenerational participants from a wide range of backgrounds experienced the joy of camaraderie and a deep sense of sisterhood on the mission, while also forming lasting relationships grounded in Jewish values and collective purpose.

Some were pleasantly surprised by the size of the Jewish population in Panama City, which Snyder describes as “the mini–Boca Raton of Central America.” She adds that she was impressed by “how easy it is to have a very nice Jewish life in Panama that seems very safe. It’s a very walkable community. Although they have different synagogues and have different ways of practicing, they all respect one another. They’re very unified. They support one another.”

“It’s such an amazing community,” Dweck agrees.

Beyond admiration, participants gained a deeper understanding of how an established, well-resourced Jewish community can serve as a model for partnership and shared responsibility.

“Unlike other Federation missions where we see the need of the Jewish community, this was about making partnerships and relationships in a well-established and thriving Jewish community,” Snyder says. “Our overall desire is for the Jewish community to support one another and to take care of those in need.”

A Multifaceted Itinerary

The itinerary balanced cultural exploration and community engagement. Filling two buses, the women visited Jewish schools and four synagogues that showcased the richness and diversity of Jewish life in Panama. At an ORT-affiliated school — part of an international Jewish education network — they delivered English-language PJ Library books to complement the school’s Spanish-language collection. They also visited social service organizations such as Simjati Social Club, a state-of-the-art senior center where participants engaged with older adults in memory, coordination and social-connection activities.

Given that the mission arrived in Panama City just before the High Holy Days, a service project packing Rosh Hashanah food boxes proved especially resonant. 

“It was incredibly meaningful to give back in such a hands-on way,” Dweck says. “Knowing we were making a difference together made the experience even more powerful.”

In meetings with local leaders, the women gained insight into both the challenges and successes of sustaining Jewish life in Panama. Among the dignitaries they met were Israeli Ambassador to Panama Mattanya Cohen and U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera, who discussed the region’s political landscape. 

“These missions are incredibly immersive,” Dweck says. “From early morning until late at night, we’re learning, volunteering and experiencing every facet of communal life.”

Friendships deepened as the women went on a series of excursions: visits to a tropical rainforest and the historic Casco Viejo, a UNESCO-listed colonial district; a VIP Panama Canal experience on which they could watch ships navigate the locks; and a boat tour on Gatun Lake to Monkey Island for close-up wildlife viewing.

With a robust kosher dining scene in Panama City, the group enjoyed meals that reflected both the community’s cultural diversity and the high quality of its cuisine. Some observed that the offerings were more varied than what they typically experience at home in Boca Raton.

Generosity Transforming Lives

Participants returned to Florida energized and ready for the new campaign season. Federation leadership plans to build on the mission by expanding leadership development opportunities and sustaining engagement through women’s philanthropy. The experience strengthened leadership networks, encouraged deeper involvement in Jewish life and reinforced the importance of global kinship — both for participants and for the Panamanian Jewish community.

“The enthusiasm and inspiration generated by the experience created strong momentum for future missions and programs,” Ben-Shoaff says. “The Federation’s goal is to ensure that the spirit of connection, learning and giving that began in Panama continues to grow within the South Palm Beach County community and beyond. For the women, the mission served as a catalyst for lifelong connection and deeper engagement in Jewish communal life. For the Panamanian Jewish community, the visit reinforced that they are part of a caring, interconnected global Jewish family.”

As the Federation prepares for its 2026-2027 campaign, the mission to Panama served not only as a meaningful travel experience but also as a powerful reminder of the shared responsibility of connecting Jewish communities worldwide.

“The experience resonated on a very deep level,” Dweck says. “You could see how inspired the women were — not just by what they saw, but by what they felt.”