By COLlive reporter
Hundreds of young Jewish entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals from leading technology companies and financial institutions gathered at Trump Tower in Manhattan for an evening celebrating Jewish identity, connection, and mitzvos.
“It was a beautiful evening, with hundreds of incredible founders and investors coming together to celebrate their Judaism and connect with like-minded people,” said Rabbi Yossi Farro, a Chabad activist known for bringing the mitzvah of tefillin to some of the world’s most influential Jewish business leaders, celebrities, and entrepreneurs, who organized the event. Also in attendance were Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters, Rabbi Beryl Frankel, Executive Director, Chabad Young Professionals, Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone from My Tech Tribe, Martin Marks, Special Assistant to the President and White House director of Jewish engagement, and Mitchell A. Silk, former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Trade and Development.
“After successful gatherings in Los Angeles before Rosh Hashanah and San Francisco before Yom Kippur, we brought WrapFest to New York for the first time, and thank G-d, it was a smashing success.”
The event, known as WrapFest, was hosted at the offices of H1 Capital, which sponsored the gathering, together with co-sponsor Slash, a fintech company recently valued at $1 billion.
Throughout the evening, participants had the opportunity to put on tefillin, while Shabbos candles were distributed to women, encouraging them to bring the light of Shabbos into their homes.
One particularly meaningful moment came when a young Jewish man put on tefillin for the first time in his life, celebrating his Bar Mitzvah in a powerful expression of Jewish connection.
The evening also featured a panel discussion moderated by Gaby Goldberg, a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, one of the world’s leading venture capital firms, which manages more than $100 billion in assets.
Joining the discussion were Dan Loeb, billionaire investor and founder of Third Point, the investment management firm overseeing more than $20 billion in assets, and Ellie Zeiler, a prominent fashion and beauty influencer with more than 10 million followers across social media.
Both panelists shared personal accounts of their journeys toward a deeper connection with Judaism, describing the significant role Chabad played in strengthening their Jewish identity and inspiring greater involvement in Jewish life.
Loeb also discussed his creation of the Simchat Torah Challenge, an initiative encouraging young Jewish adults to commit to weekly Torah study and incorporate Jewish learning into their lives.
Beyond the formal program, the gathering provided an opportunity for Jewish founders, investors, and professionals from across industries to connect with like-minded peers while celebrating their shared heritage.
WrapFest NYC Host Committee: Yossi Farro, Alex Witkoff, Gaby Goldberg, Jacob Fortinsky, Olivia Levine, Josh Kadden, Avi Huberfeld, Jack Huberfeld, Ron Miasnik, Michael Broukhim, Nathan Orbach and Emily Austin.
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