South Florida is a recognized region of the state of Florida, comprising
Palm Beach,
Broward,
Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most populous county in ...
, and
Monroe Counties. These counties contain approximately 12% of the land in Florida, but 28% of its population. The
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF i ...
, in
Tampa, is not in South Florida as the term is used today.
The history of the Jews in South Florida dates back to the 19th century. Many
South Florida Jews are
Ashkenazi (descendants of Russian, Polish, and Eastern European ancestry), and Latin American (Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile). Many are also French, Moroccan, Syrian, Bukharian, and Israeli. There is a significant
Sephardic and
Mizrachi population as well.
Presently, there are approximately 514,000 Jews living in South Florida.
The population of Palm Beach County is 15.8% Jewish.
Boca Raton, with a population of about 95,000, has 16 synagogues.
Key West, Florida Jewish history
The exact origins of the
Key West Jewish Community are not dated, but Jews were first recorded in the city in the 1880s, when the community was organized by Joe Wolfson, Abraham Wolkowsky and Mendell Rippa. It is believed that most settlers were escaping European persecution at the time. Some early settlers were shipwrecked and decided to make a living in the city. In 1887, Congregation B'nai Zion was founded in
Key West, Fl
Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it con ...
. Morris Zion served as its first president. B'nai Zion's building was built in 1969, and it adheres to
Conservative Judaism, though it has a Liberal slant. In 1895, Jewish Key West residents supported the independence of
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
from
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
West Palm Beach, Florida Jewish history
Jews first settled in the city of
West Palm Beach
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...
in 1892.
Miami, Florida Jewish history
Jews first permanently settled in the
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
area in 1896. In 1907, the first
bris
The ''brit milah'' ( he, בְּרִית מִילָה ''bərīṯ mīlā'', ; Ashkenazi pronunciation: , "covenant of circumcision"; Yiddish pronunciation: ''bris'' ) is the ceremony of circumcision in Judaism. According to the Book of Genesis, ...
occurred in
Miami-Dade County. It was for Eddie Cohen. In 1913, B'nai Zion, the first congregation in Miami-Dade County, was founded. It later was renamed as Beth David. In 1953,
Abe Aronovitz
Abraham "Abe" Aronovitz (October 15, 1898 – July 11, 1960) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as mayor of Miami, Florida, from 1953 until 1955. He had a seat on the City Commission until 1958.
Background
Aronovitz was ...
became the first and only Jewish mayor of Miami.
Broward County, Florida Jewish History
In 1910, Louis Brown was the first Jew to settle in
Broward County
Broward County ( , ) is a county in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with over 1.94 m ...
.
Miami Beach, Florida Jewish History
The first Jewish family to settle in Miami Beach was the Weiss family, Joseph and Jennie and their children, in 1913. They later opened Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant. The first congregation in Miami Beach was Beth Jacob, which was formed in 1927. The congregation built the first synagogue in 1929 (now the Jewish Museum of Florida.) In 1943, the first of 16 Jewish mayors of
Miami Beach,
Mitchell Wolfson
Mitchell Wolfson Sr. (1900 – January 28, 1983) was an American businessman, theatre owner, politician, and founder of Wometco Enterprises.
Biography
Wolfson was born in 1900 in Key West, Florida. He went to school in Key West and at Erasm ...
, was elected to office.
Other history
*In 1959, approximately 10,000
Cuban Jews
Jewish Cubans, Cuban Jews, or Cubans of Jewish heritage, have lived in the nation of Cuba for centuries. Some Cubans trace Jewish ancestry to '' Marranos'' (forced converts to Christianity) who came as colonists, though few of these practice Judai ...
sought refuge in South Florida.
*In 1995, the
Jewish Museum of Florida
The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU is located in two restored historic buildings that were formerly synagogues, at 301 & 311 Washington Ave., in Miami Beach, Florida. The main museum building, at 301 Washington Ave., was built in 1936, is on the ...
opened.
*In 2004,
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Deborah Wasserman Schultz (née Wasserman; born September 27, 1966) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from , first elected to Congress in 2004. A member of the Democratic Party, she is a former chair of the Democrat ...
of
Weston, Florida
Weston is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, just west of Fort Lauderdale. It is part of the Miami metropolitan area, which is anchored by Miami. The population was 68,107 at the 2020 census. Weston is 30 miles northwest of Miam ...
became the first Jewish woman from Florida to be elected to the
U.S. Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washin ...
.
*In 2012,
Scott Israel
Scott Israel is an American law enforcement officer, and the Police Chief of the city of Opa-locka, Florida.
Israel was chief of police in North Bay Village, Florida, from 2004 to 2008, during which time he was named Police Chief of the Year in ...
was elected Sheriff of
Broward County
Broward County ( , ) is a county in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with over 1.94 m ...
, making him the first Jew to be elected Sheriff in Florida history.
Jewish religious observance in South Florida
There are nearly 189
synagogues
A synagogue, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of wors ...
and congregations built to serve over 500,000 Jews in
South Florida.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism is the collective term for the traditionalist and theologically conservative branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Written and Oral, as revealed by God to Moses ...
There are approximately 77 Orthodox synagogues and congregations in South Florida.
Conservative Judaism
There are approximately 60 Conservative synagogues and congregations in South Florida. Notable synagogues include The
Cuban Hebrew Congregation.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous sear ...
There are approximately 40 Reform synagogues and congregations in South Florida.
Reconstructionist Judaism
There are three established Reconstructionist synagogues and congregations in South Florida: Congregation Kol Ami (
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County is a county located in the southeastern part of Florida and lies directly north of Broward County and Miami-Dade County. The county had a population of 1,492,191 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous county ...
), Ramat Shalom (
Broward County
Broward County ( , ) is a county in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with over 1.94 m ...
), and Temple Beth Or (
Miami-Dade County).
Chabad in southern Florida
Chabad
Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (), is an Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, particularly for its outreach activities. It is one of the largest Hasidic grou ...
and its affiliated Adult Educational organization The
Rohr Jewish Learning Institute
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is a division of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish Hasidic dynasty. It offers adult Jewish courses on Jewish history, law, ethics, philosophy and ...
are active in Florida.
Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens
Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens aims to bring together the Jewish Community of the greater Palm Beach and Jupiter area and to serve the spiritual, educational and social needs of the community.
Chabad of Boca Raton
Chabad of Boca Raton is a
Chabad house
A Chabad house is a centre for disseminating traditional Judaism by the Chabad movement. Chabad houses are run by a Chabad Shaliach (emissary), and Shalucha (fem. for emissary) and their family. They are located in cities and on or near college ...
located in Boca Raton founded in 1989, the present building was erected in 1999. In 1990 city officials permitted it to erect a menorah in Sanborn Square, a city park.
Significant South Floridian communities and their Jewish populations
*Fort Lauderdale Metropolitan Area, Florida: approximately 234,000 Jews live in all of
Broward County
Broward County ( , ) is a county in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is Florida's second-most populous county after Miami-Dade County and the 17th-most populous in the United States, with over 1.94 m ...
.
**
Fort Lauderdale
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, Florida: 24,377 Jews live in Fort Lauderdale.
**
Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is located 22 miles (35 km) north of Miami. The population of Pembroke Pines is 171,178 as of the 2020 census. It is a suburb of and the fourth-most populous c ...
, Florida: approximately 19,988 Jews live in Pembroke Pines.
**
Weston, Florida
Weston is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States, just west of Fort Lauderdale. It is part of the Miami metropolitan area, which is anchored by Miami. The population was 68,107 at the 2020 census. Weston is 30 miles northwest of Miam ...
: approximately 18,000 Jews live in Weston.
**
Plantation, Florida
Plantation is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 91,750. It is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. The city's name comes from the previous part-owner of the land, the E ...
approximately 11,275 Jews live in Plantation.
**
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately north of Miami. The town's population was 110,320 at the 2020 census. Davie is a principal town of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,198,782. ...
approximately 11,228 Jews live in Davie.
*South Palm Beach Metropolitan Area, Florida: approximately 134,200 Jews live in South Palm Beach County as of 2018.
*West Palm Beach Metropolitan Area, Florida: approximately 94,000 Jews live in West Palm Beach (Palm Beach County from
Boynton Beach to
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined, but slightly less than one-thousandth t ...
).
*Miami Metropolitan Area, Florida: approximately 123,000 Jews live in
Miami-Dade County, an increase from 113,000 in 2004.
**
Miami Beach, Florida: Approximately 15,000 Jews live in Miami Beach.
**
Aventura, Florida
Aventura is a planned, suburban city in northeastern Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, 17 miles north of the city of Miami and part of the Miami metropolitan area. The city is especially well-known for Aventura Mall, the 5th largest ...
*
Fort Myers, Florida
*
Key West, Florida
Prominent South Floridian Jews
*Col.
Abraham C. Myers
*Former Florida Governor
David Sholtz
David Sholtz (October 6, 1891 – March 21, 1953) was the 26th Governor of Florida. Prior to serving as Governor he would be a state attorney serving Florida's 7th Judicial Circuit Court and previously as a member of the Florida House of Repres ...
*Former Miami Mayor
Abe Aronovitz
Abraham "Abe" Aronovitz (October 15, 1898 – July 11, 1960) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as mayor of Miami, Florida, from 1953 until 1955. He had a seat on the City Commission until 1958.
Background
Aronovitz was ...
*Representative
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Deborah Wasserman Schultz (née Wasserman; born September 27, 1966) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from , first elected to Congress in 2004. A member of the Democratic Party, she is a former chair of the Democrat ...
*Representative
Ted Deutch
Theodore Eliot Deutch ( ; born May 7, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative from Florida's 22nd congressional district from 2010 to 2022. His district, numbered as the 19th district from 2010 to 2013 a ...
*Representative
Lois Frankel
Lois Jane Frankel (born May 16, 1948) is an American politician and lawyer who has been the United States representative for Florida's 21st congressional district since 2017 and who represented Florida's 22nd congressional district from 2013 to 2 ...
*Secretary of Agriculture
Nikki Fried
Nicole Heather Fried ( ; born December 13, 1977) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 12th Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Florida commissioner of agriculture from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party (United Sta ...
*Former Attorney General of the State of Florida and Third District Court of Appeals Judge
Robert L. Shevin, as well as other members of the Shevin family, in law and business.
*Founder of
Wometco Theatres and former Miami Beach mayor
Mitchell Wolfson
Mitchell Wolfson Sr. (1900 – January 28, 1983) was an American businessman, theatre owner, politician, and founder of Wometco Enterprises.
Biography
Wolfson was born in 1900 in Key West, Florida. He went to school in Key West and at Erasm ...
*Former Miami Beach mayor and 2018 gubernatorial candidate
Philip Levine
*The Applerouth family originally of Key West, and Miami, Florida.
*Television journalist
Chuck Todd
Charles David Todd (born April 8, 1972) is an American television journalist who is the 12th and current moderator of NBC's ''Meet the Press''. He also hosts ''Meet the Press Now'', its daily edition on NBC News Now and is the Political Directo ...
*Federal Maritime Commissioner
Lou Sola
*Banker and former owner of
City National Bank of Florida,
Leonard L. Abess
*
Avraham Lapciuc a scholar who attended Rutgers Business and Philanthropist
*Actor and comedian
Eric Andre
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization).
The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...
*Conservative political commentator
Ben Shapiro
Benjamin Aaron Shapiro (born January 15, 1984) is an American attorney, businessman, columnist, conservative political commentator, and media personality. At age 17, he became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. ...
See also
*
Jewish Americans
American Jews or Jewish Americans are American citizens who are Jewish, whether by culture, ethnicity, nationality, or religion. Today the Jewish community in the United States consists primarily of Ashkenazi Jews, who descend from diaspora Je ...
*
Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews' achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May.
President George W. Bush first proclaimed the month on Apr ...
References
External links
A History of The Jews of South Florida Rabbi Menachem Levine, Aish.com
Jewish Museum of FloridaJewish South FloridaJewish MiamiJewish in MiamiJewish Federation of Broward CountyGreater Miami Jewish FederationJewish Federation of Palm Beach County
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jewish Community Of Southern Florida
South Florida
Jews and Judaism in Broward County, Florida
History South
Jews and Judaism in Miami-Dade County, Florida
History
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...