South Florida, meaning Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, boasts the third- largest Jewish community in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles.
On May 23, Gov. Ron DeSantis did his part to remember the Jewish population when he approved SB 356, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach, to declare Jan. 27 Holocaust Remembrance Day. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and the House.
SB 356 says, “In honor of the millions of victims killed in the Holocaust, the Governor shall annually proclaim January 27 to be ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day,’ which may be observed in the public schools of this state and by public exercise at the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor may designate.”
January has been Florida Jewish History Month since 2003, but the first official observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Florida will take place Jan. 27, 2026.
Florida schools already have a Holocaust Education Week, held the second week in November. That coincides with the anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom, Nov. 9-10, 1938. Local schools will now be encouraged to teach about the Holocaust and antisemitism throughout the year in an attempt to curtail the rising trend in antisemitism and attacks on Jewish people.
In a Florida Senate session on June 5, Jewish lawmakers said antisemitic threats have surged in the state with reported incidents in 2023 and 2024 above those reported in 2022.
Acts included vandalism of Jewish properties and places of worship, hate groups distributing flyers, and even the battery of a 68-year-old Broward man near a synagogue.
Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, urged her colleagues to “be a light in the darkness” and speak out against hate, warning that silence is deadly and endangers Jewish communities. Florida lawmakers, including the 14-member Jewish Legislative Caucus, are urging public condemnation of antisemitism and hate crimes.
Rep. Debra Tendrich, D-Lake Worth Beach, organized the call-to-conscience news conference on June 5 where Rep. Jennifer “Rita” Harris, D-Orlando, said, “Hate wants us to be
silent.”
The Antidefamation League of Florida’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents for 2024 tracked 353 incidents in the state, from harassment to vandalism to assault, down from 463 the previous year but up from 127 in 2020 and 269 in 2022.
The report (available at florida.adl.org/news/48334/) said there were 51 incidents in Palm Beach County in 2024, down from 83 in 2023.
Boca Community Church offering student activities
Reaching out to kids this summer is high on the agenda at Boca Raton Community Church, and its youth ministry is thriving. College, high school and middle school students are invited to learn about the Bible. The church hosts three groups: College students meet at 7 p.m. Sundays (July 6, 13, 20 and 27). High school and middle school groups each meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays (July 9, 16, 23 and 30).
These special events for youths are also planned:
• BocaStudents HS: Tacos & Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. July 11 for high school students; features fun, competition and everyone’s favorite food. Test your knowledge of pop culture, Bible facts and trivia to win prizes. Register at bocacommunity.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/964/responses/new
• BocaStudents MS: Sky Zone Day for middle school kids takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. July 26 at Sky Zone Trampoline Park, 1729 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach. High-flying fun on wall-to-wall trampolines, plus foam pits and dodgeball; cost is $25, which includes two hours of jump time and Sky Zone socks. Register at bocacommunity.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/960/responses/new
• The Sunday Summer Group meets at 9 a.m. July 13, 20 and 27 in the Family Room at the church for a special summer presentation. A casual alternative to Sunday school, each week features a church leader/guest speaker who will focus on a different section of scripture.
Boca Raton Community Church is at 470 NW Fourth Ave. Call 561-395-2400 or visit bocacommunity.org.
Temple Beth El to host Book, Brunch & Mimosas
The Temple Beth El Sisterhood hosts Book, Brunch & Mimosas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13 at the temple’s Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton.
The Sisterhood and Rabbi Laila Haas meet for fellowship and brunch catered by The Sticky Bun, along with a lively discussion of the book The Third Daughter by Talia Carner.
Inspired by true events, the novel is a dark but important story of thousands of young Jewish women who were trafficked into prostitution at the turn of the 20th century in Buenos Aires.
Tickets are $41 for members, $47 for guests. Reservations are required. Call 561-391-8900 or register online at tbeboca.staging.shulcloud.com/event/sisterhood-book-brunch--mimosas.html
St. Gregory’s offers another Yoga Mass
The combination of prayer and yoga poses is offered by St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church again from 4 to 5 p.m. July 26 in a Yoga Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel in the church. The Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren and Father Andrew Sherman lead. All levels are welcome. Bring your own yoga mat.
St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 561-395-8285.
Cancer support group at St. Vincent Ferrer Church
St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church offers a cancer support group for anyone of any faith (or no faith at all) fighting any form of cancer directly or indirectly, on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. and the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in Room D near the gym. The leaders are all cancer survivors. St. Vincent Ferrer is at 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. Call 561-665-8555 or email romans1212@stvincentferrer.com
Donations, volunteers needed at First United
Changing Lives of Boca Raton sponsors a homeless outreach from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at First United Methodist Church, 625 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. The group offers clothes, toiletries, food, showers, haircuts, spiritual encouragement and more to the community. Donations and volunteers are needed.
Changing Lives focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from — or at risk of — homelessness by providing scholarships for sober living facilities and detox, housing stipends, costs for mental and physical care, personal documentation, and more.
Changing Lives runs a thrift store at 2170 N. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton. Call 561-961-4635.
Eagle Scouts refurbish church’s Memorial Garden
The Eagle Scouts at First United Methodist Church, 625 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, have refurbished the church Memorial Garden as part of their scout project, and it includes offering parishioners a chance to add an engraved brick to the garden in remembrance of a loved one. Proceeds will be used to purchase new banners for the Sanctuary and the Gathering Place.
Bricks are $100; find an order form at files.constantcontact.com/2a360acc001/0168ae62-f26d-4ae4-ac63-3d2e91252e5d.pdf
Registration open for Hustle to End Hunger
Registration is open for the annual Hustle to End Hunger footrace on Oct. 4 in John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach. CROS Ministries depends on this annual fundraiser to feed thousands of residents in Palm Beach and Martin counties. All proceeds go to ensure access to healthy food for those in need.
Register at runsignup.com/Race/FL/LakeWorth/Hustle2EndHunger5K
The chip-timed 5K race ($40) begins at 7:30 a.m. A walk and virtual versions are also offered as well as the new “Lil’ Hustle,” a 100-yard kids dash open to ages 7 and younger.
Volunteers are also needed. Contact Gibbie Nauman at 561-344-4910 or gnauman@crosministries.org.
The event is presented by Genetics Institute of America and Lake Worth United Church of Christ.
Worship Night in Delray
The first family-friendly, community-wide Worship Night in Delray is planned for 7 p.m. July 19 at Cason United Methodist Church, 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.
A spirit-filled evening of worship, prayer and unity for the whole community will feature live music and words of hope from guest pastors and Cason Pastor David Schmidt, who helped organize the event.
Admission is free, but tickets are required. Go to casonumc.org/calendars or call 561-276-5302.
— Janis Fontaine
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