Israel attack takes place amid backdrop of rising antisemitism in Florida, elsewhere

BOCA RATON — At a somber gathering to show solidarity with Israelis facing a savage onslaught from Hamas, Judi and Joseph Hines took note of the numerous city police officers and private guards, along with the metal detectors they had to pass through to enter the event at Congregation B’nai Israel.

The show of security force, Joseph Hines said, reminded him of a similarly jarring scene they witnessed years ago in France as they approached a Parisian synagogue for Sabbath services.

"Outside was a police car and armed guards," he said. "And I said to Judi, ‘Gosh, we never see that in America.'”

That, the Boca Raton couple said, is no longer the case — and not just in the southern Palm Beach County city but apparently across Florida and throughout the United States as well.

Israel attacks take place against backdrop of antisemitism surge

A survey released this year by the advocacy organization American Jewish Committee, based on 2022 statistics, showed that 41% of Jewish people asked said they felt "less secure than a year ago," a 10 percentage-point increase from the prior year. And 50% of those surveyed, like the Hineses, had taken note that security at the synagogues and other Jewish institutions they attend or frequent has increased since the start of the decade.

Surging antisemitism, some fear, will be further fueled by anti-Israel rhetoric in the wake of the attacks on Israelis and other civilians by the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and beyond. Both the U.S. and European Union have declared Hamas to be a terrorist organization.

"Absolutely, there is real concern about how this is going to impact the Jewish community in the United States. We've seen increases in antisemitism already around the world," said Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee. "This moment forces us to rally together. … It takes it to the next level because it's so clear what's at stake here."

Florida, long a home and haven for Jewish residents, is not an exception to the national trend.

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The state has been the scene of chronic antisemitic incidents, from insidious leaflet distributions in communities to brazen displays of hate messages projected on buildings from the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville to a corporate office in West Palm Beach.

The episodes were so disturbing that they prompted state lawmakers to pass legislation to clearly classify such projections as third-degree felonies and hate crimes.

“All Floridians, including those of the Jewish faith, should be able to have quiet enjoyment in their communities and practice their faith without fear of harm," the legislation's sponsor, Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso of Delray Beach, said this year. "When we say 'Never again,' we mean never again.”

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel said she thinks the wave of anti-Israeli sentiment and anti-Jewish bigotry will continue to swell as the war drags on in Israel.

"I hate to say it, but it's going to get much worse," said Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat. "I hope I'm wrong, but I think that's what's going to happen. The people who are antisemitic now are not going to back down."

For Jewish people in South Florida and beyond, antisemitism conversations 'commonplace'

Despite the state law and universal condemnation of violent attacks such as the 2018 massacre at the Pittsburgh synagogue "Tree of Life," there is palatable concern that antisemitism, in statements and acts, is manifesting in the political and social arenas.

“When I grew up … you didn’t have people saying antisemitic things in public or on Twitter or on social media or in the press and just get away with it, right?" said Matt Levin, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, which hosted the event in Boca Raton. "Today, antisemitism has become so commonplace.”

Levin pointed to hateful statements by high-profile people, such as the rapper and music producer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and open and unfettered white nationalist demonstrations and roadside rallies.

“How do I raise my three kids and explain to them that the world is a dangerous place and hate exists?” he said. “So my children are growing up in an America that is different. It’s still the greatest nation on Earth. It’s still the democracy we want it to be. But it’s a different place where the norm now is a sign of hate that other parts of the Jewish diaspora has felt for many years.”

Rabbi Michael Resnick of Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach said the toxic political landscape, from global politics to domestic immigration, plus easily accessible social media and online platforms to disseminate the poisonous talk, fuel the hate against Jewish people and others.

"There's antisemitic rhetoric that you know, 'This is part of the Jews plan to replace white Americans, with immigrants from South America,' " he said, noting the phrase "Jews shall not replace us" was chanted at a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, six years ago.

As ugly as the discourse may be in America, Resnick said he is less concerned about "what everybody thinks of us" and far more deeply worried about the victims of the Hamas atrocities, including "the people who were taken hostage and what their fate is going to be."

"We don't want this violence, and hatred is exhausting after a while," he said, adding that Jewish people have always known to be watchful regardless of where they are. "I think Jewish people in general always have their ear to the ground of listening for antisemitic issues. You know, we are always a little bit on guard all the time under the best of circumstances."

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Even so, the caustic discourse is alarming, political and faith leaders said, as is what appears to be a society that increasingly tolerates it and a body politic that gives extremist organizations a seat at the table.

When neo-Nazis gathered outside an entrance to Walt Disney World in January 2022, for example, the then-press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a dismissive tweet rather than fully condemning their appearance. “Do we even know if they are Nazis?” the deleted missive read, and further suggested the event might have been orchestrated by Democrats rather than an alarming exhibition.

Worse, militant extremists like the Proud Boys have been embraced by mainstream Republican organizations. And former President Donald Trump, who sparked an uproar when he dined with a white nationalist last November, recently parroted a Nazi phrase by saying immigrants crossing the border were "poisoning the blood of country."

In the wake of the Hamas assault on Israel, the political left has also uttered its share of incendiary statements.

A Democratic member of Congress called the Israeli state "an apartheid government." A pro-Palestinian rally in New York City last weekend witnessed people stomping on Israeli flags and another protester bearing a banner with a swastika. And there's serious concern about anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda on college campuses.

This week, the White House called out Democratic lawmakers for some of their statements with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the language was "wrong" and "disgraceful."

Too often, however, some say the country's political leadership fails to weigh in decisively, if not actually serves to bolster the ugliness.

“They incite it," Judi Hines said of some political leaders. “It’s allowed to fester, and it’s encouraged actually.”

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Jewish people should not be 'cowed' but rather guarded and, above all, maintain unity, some say

Others say that rather than cause for discouragement, the current "moment" can be a watershed if Jewish people and pro-Israel entities harness the broad and widespread goodwill and support that has been demonstrated since the outbreak of war in Gaza.

Deutch at the AJC noted the cacophony of backing Israel and global Jews received from a myriad of political, social, cultural and business leaders, and the overall public as well. The common denominator, Deutch said, is repulsion at the display of "straight-up hatred of Jews" and the attack on a democratic country that shows Hamas' goals have "nothing to do with human rights" but the objective of killing Jews.

"We've seen shows of support like we haven't seen before," said Deutch, a former Democratic congressman from Boca Raton. "It's because of this moment. It's a horrific attack by a terrorist organization. People are standing together because there aren't two sides here."

Levin at the Jewish Federation said Jews must continue to be outspoken in the face of hate.

“We have to now live with that and not be cowed by it," he said defiantly "Most importantly, we will never stop speaking out.”

Rony Keller, senior rabbi at Congregation B'Nai Israel, agreed.

“Fearful is a word I probably would not use," he said. "I would say aware ... a little more cautious of our surroundings."

He said part of the mission is educate and cultivate a public square that is understanding and tolerant about different cultures and religions. That open mindedness springs from education and familiarity, he said.

“Just so much ignorance, so many times that it’s sort of automatic to go to antisemitism. People don’t know a situation and they’re not educated in any way," Keller said.

“And it’s so easy to default to hate. It’s much more difficult to default to love and to care, because that means I have to know someone and care for someone and have a relationship — a true, deep relationship.”

Palm Beach Post reporter Stephany Matat contributed to this story.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jews fear antisemitism surge in Florida, US to worsen after Israel hit