The 22nd Annual President’s Dinner to feature keynote speaker Douglas Murray.
The 22nd Annual President’s Dinner will take place the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, located at 211 North Tampa Street. The event celebrates the success and engagement of Tampa’s Jewish community and is an opportunity for the attendees to show support. Event co-chairs Deborah Rosenthal and Ben Gersten have announced Douglas Murray as the keynote speaker.
A bestselling author of eight books, Murray is a journalist and associate editor at “The Spectator,” a British political and cultural news magazine. He is the founder of the Centre for Social Cohesion, the first think-tank in Britain to study extremism and terrorism. He is a fearless advocate for Israel and the Jewish people.
Douglas Murray is the author of eight books covering politics, history and contemporary social issues. His most recent work, “On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization,” was released earlier this year. Among his previous titles, “The Madness of Crowds,” received critical acclaim and was named “Book of the Year” by both “The Times” and “The Sunday Times.” “The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam,” published in 2017, spent nearly 20 weeks on “The Sunday Times” bestseller list, reached number one in nonfiction and has since been translated into over 20 languages.
Murray’s first book was published in 2000 while he was an undergraduate at Oxford and he has since written multiple works examining free speech, extremism and modern societal challenges. His 2011 book, “Bloody Sunday: Truths, Lies and The Saville Inquiry,” provided a detailed account of the longest and most expensive public inquiry in British legal history. For his work on this book, Murray was jointly awarded the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for promoting peace and understanding.
Now in its 22nd year, the Annual President’s Dinner is the Tampa JCCs & Federation’s signature event. Drawing hundreds of guests, including elected officials, community leaders and business figures, the evening promises to be vibrant, offering opportunities for connection, conversation and thought-provoking insights from Murray.
“The Annual President’s Dinner has grown into a cornerstone event for our community, drawing more than 900 attendees each year. Our lineup of high-profile speakers reflects our commitment to thoughtful dialogue and meaningful connection — it’s truly an evening that leaves a lasting impression,” reflected Rosenthal.
“I’m excited to be part of an event with such a rich history — it’s amazing to help carry that tradition forward while bringing in new energy. Douglas Murray has so much insight to share. It’s a great chance to be inspired, get involved and see how everyone can make an impact, especially the young adult generation” shared Gersten.
Formal invitations will be mailed in early December. Registration is open and tickets are available for purchase by visiting JewishTampa.com/APD. Early bird tickets are available through February 6, 2026. Strong demand is expected as well as a sold-out crowd. Those interested in attending are encouraged to make reservations now to secure a seat.
For more information about the event and to register, visit JewishTampa.com/APD or call Sarah Weiner at (813) 769-4738. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Alissa Fischel, Chief Development & Engagement Officer, at alissa.fischel@jewishtampa.com or (813) 769-4726.