Just a few days ago, we welcomed the new Hebrew month of Adar. In our tradition, Adar is known as the “happy month.” The Talmud teaches, “When Adar enters, we increase in joy.” (Taanit 29a) This joy is rooted in the story of Purim; in Mordechai and Esther’s courage as they triumph over the wicked Haman. The spirit of that joy stretches beyond one day; it carries through the entire month. So it feels especially fitting that our first Shabbat of Adar also marks something new and joyful in our own community.
This evening, Temple Beth El officially launches our new young adult initiative, Nefesh Social. Tonight, 50 Jewish individuals in their 20s and 30s will gather around a Shabbat table to build friendships, connect with Jewish tradition, and craft new memories of Jewish life here in Boca Raton. There is something so moving about this image: young adults choosing to show up to Shabbat dinner not out of obligation, but out of a desire for community, meaning, and belonging.
I founded Nefesh Social after noticing a real shift happening in Boca. Young adults are moving here in growing numbers. Careers, relationships, opportunity, sunshine, whatever the reason, they are here. Our playful tagline, “Not Your Bubbe’s Boca,” reflects that demographic shift. Boca is no longer defined solely by one generation. It is dynamic and evolving as we speak.
When I saw this shift, I felt both excited and responsible. As the newest rabbi on our team, and someone closer in age to many of these young adults, it felt natural to step into that space. I wanted to help create a community where they feel embraced, seen, and genuinely welcomed into Temple life. Community does not just happen on its own. It is built intentionally, relationship by relationship, Shabbat by Shabbat.
At the same time, this initiative is about more than hosting great dinners or social events. It is about the future of Jewish leadership and involvement. While we may say “it is not your bubbe’s Boca anymore,” the truth is that Boca was built by our bubbes. It was built by the generations who invested in synagogues, schools, friendships, and Jewish life so that we could inherit something strong.
That is why Nefesh Social has also launched a series called “Getting to Know the Bubbes of Boca.” The goal of this series is to listen, to honor, and to learn from the generation that built Boca as we know it today. Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing the incredible Sunny Thal, a beloved member and volunteer of our community, for our second episode. In our conversation, she shared an image that has stayed with me. She described the Jewish people as a tree.
The roots are the children and teenagers, drawing nourishment and grounding us in the soil. The trunk is the young adult generation, strong and central, holding everything upright. The branches are the adults who extend outward, supporting the canopy. The leaves are the elders, vibrant and full of life in their season, eventually changing colors and falling as part of the natural cycle.
Each part of the tree is essential, and no piece can exist on its own. In this metaphor, young adults are the trunk. The trunk carries weight. The trunk connects the roots to the branches. The trunk determines whether the tree stands tall and resilient. If the trunk is weak, the entire tree feels it.
That is why Nefesh Social matters so deeply to me. It strengthens the trunk. It invests in a generation that is ready to show up, ready to lead, and ready to shape the future of Jewish life in this city.
As we enter Shabbat in this joyful month of Adar, I invite each of us to reflect on where we are on that tree. How are we nourishing the roots? How are we strengthening the trunk? How are we honoring the leaves who built what we now inherit?
This moment belongs to all of us. My hope is that we continue to grow taller together, staying rooted in tradition, connected across generations, and filled with the kind of joy Adar calls us to embrace.
Shabbat Shalom!
P.S. If you’re not already following @nefeshsocial on Instagram, or if your children aren’t, please help spread the word and invite them to follow along. We would love to welcome them into this growing community.
Rabbi Ashira Boxman
