Palm Beach Synagogue honors Volusia sheriff for stand against antisemitism

Palm Beach Synagogue has honored Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood for his stand against antisemitism.

In a ceremony Wednesday at the synagogue, Rabbi Moshe Scheiner presented Chitwood with its 2023 Critical Citizen Award.

Chitwood was recognized for his actions earlier this year, when he took on the Goyim Defense League (GDL), a neo-Nazi hate group targeting the local Jewish community. The GDL distributed anti-Jewish fliers around the neighborhood and displayed hate propaganda at the Daytona 500, leading Chitwood to declare a war on antisemitism.

"We are honored to recognize Sheriff Chitwood for his outstanding leadership in combating antisemitism," Scheiner said. “It is crucial that we acknowledge those who take a strong stance against hate and discrimination, and the sheriff is a shining example of this."

Chitwood and his family endured harassment from the hate group, including death threats. Several members of the group were later arrested. Since then, Chitwood has instituted a new policy at the Volusia County Police Academy: every student is now required to make a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Tampa.

"I am humbled and grateful to receive this award from the Palm Beach Synagogue,” Chitwood said. “It is my duty as a public servant to protect all members of our community, and I will continue to fight against hate and intolerance in all its forms."

The award ceremony took place alongside a panel discussion about the Abraham Accords, which featured Dan Schapiro, former Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Peter Berkowitz from the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and Gabby Deutsch, editor of the Jewish Insider. The event was attended by more than 200 people, including former U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and Michael Hoffman, president of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Synagogue honors Volusia sheriff for targeting antisemitism