MOMENT MAGAZINE

South Florida

“South Florida”—the two words evoke a very specific vision of American Jewish life: white-haired retirees power-walking

along the beach and grandfatherly types noshing on corned beef sandwiches at a deli counter. Indeed, the South Florida Jewish community is thriving, and not just among the elderly. But it wasn’t al-ways that way. As part of the Spanish Empire, Florida was subject to the laws of the Inquisition—and Jews were forbid-den from settling there—from the time it was discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513 until it was traded to Britain and the ban was lifted in 1763. Jews first lived in the northern part of the state; Jacksonville was home to the state’s largest Jewish community for many years—even until the mid-20th century.

Jews came to South Florida in pursuit of the economic opportunities made pos-sible by Henry Flagler and his Florida East Coast Railway. When the railroad came to West Palm Beach in 1892, Jews followed to open stores; in 1896, when the railroad made its way to Miami, so, too, did the Jewish businessmen. The first permanent Jewish settler in Miami was Isidor Cohen, who had come to New York from Rus-sia and “was attracted to Florida because of the railroad,” says Marcia Jo Zerivitz, founding executive director of the Jewish Museum of Florida-Florida International University. He followed the train tracks from West Palm Beach to Miami, where a few other Jews eventually settled—enough that they imported a rabbi from West Palm Beach to lead High Holy Day services in 1896. Miami’s first synagogue,

initially called B’nai Zion and later Beth David, was founded in 1912, and Miami Beach’s first synagogue, Beth Jacob, was founded in 1929. (Jewish gangster Meyer Lansky prayed in the building’s sanctuary; today, it houses the Jewish Museum.)

Anti-Semitism was rampant until the mid-20th century. Hotels refused to serve Jews, and Jews were prohibited from living north of 5th Street in Miami Beach, a deed restriction that was less observed during the Great Depression, when “people were willing to sell to anybody, so Jews could move north of 5th,” says Zerivitz. A 1949 state law ended real estate and hotel dis-crimination, and Jews were eventually wel-comed in the community. “During World War II, Jews were treated very hospitably, so many returned to settle,” notes Zerivitz.

The booming post-war economy drew

JEwIsh routES

WHAT IF one person gave a gift so large, it would take care ofevery Jewish need in Miami, in Israel and around the globe?

That would be great.

But it means even more when everyone joins together toprovide support. Because every voice matters.

That’s the idea behind 100% Community.

When you make a donation of any size to the Greater MiamiJewish Federation/UJA Campaign, your gift joins with thousandsof others to make the kind of impact you simply couldn’t havealone.

You rescue those in peril and bring help, hope and dignity to thevulnerable and distressed.

You support the Jewish institutions and services you care about –and those you didn’t even know existed. BE COUNTED. CARE. GIVE.

Member of Donate today at JewishMiami.org/gift

You educate our children, train young leaders and build vitalconnections with the people of Israel and Jewish communitiesthe world over.

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That’s the power of collective action.

That’s what Federation is all about.

So, count yourself in. Support your community 100% with a gift to the Federation/UJA Campaign.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation is100% Community. We are not complete without YOU.

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The Mission of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation is to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthenJewish life and advance the unity, values and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel and around the world.

Greater MiamiJewish FederationUJA Campaign

THE GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION IS

GMJF 100 percent Community_D_8.125 x 10.5 12/12/13 4:09 PM Page 1

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tourists and new residents—by 1950, the Greater Miami area had 55,000 Jews, esti-mates Zerivitz, a number that grew as the tourism, real estate and building industries thrived. A new group also found its home in South Florida: Cuban Jews, who flocked to the state’s shores with Fidel Castro’s 1959 ascent to power. Greater Miami grew to become the largest Jewish community in South Florida, reaching an all-time high of 230,000 in 1980. Other waves of Jewish newcomers settled throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Today, South Florida is home to some 650,000 Jewish residents—making it the third-largest Jewish population in the coun-try, after New York and Los Angeles. Ho-tels such as Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau, designed by Russian Jewish architect Mor-ris Lapidus and built by Jewish hoteliers Ben Novack and Harry Mufson, have for decades catered to a Jewish clientele, pro-viding kosher-for-Passover accommoda-tions. Greater Miami and Broward County, South Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County are each home to Jewish communi-ties with their own Federations and JCCs. The region buzzes with theater, music and arts: Miami’s former warehouse district teems with art galleries, and the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach hosts major shows—this year’s schedule boasts Porgy and Bess and Joan Rivers—since its opening in 1992.

Elderly and young people, year-round-

ers and snowbirds, all contribute to the lively Jewish life of the many towns of South Florida. Boca Raton in Palm Beach County is a major hub, with some 130,000 Jewish residents in a 2005 survey. Boynton Beach, also in Palm Beach County, has seen a boom in Jewish residents, with a 62 percent jump in numbers from 1999 to 2006. Broward County, home to Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, has some 234,000 Jews. From the Venezuelan and Syrian Jewish populations of Aventura to the “Little Moscow” district that stretches between Sunny Isles and Hallandale Beach, to Israelis in North Miami Beach and Hol-lywood, Jewish South Florida is flourishing.

—Sala Levin

AJFCS

Arthur I. MeyerJewish Academy

Welcome to the Beth emet

community

tikkum Olam Programs

Religious School & Youth Group

Nosh Fest V – march 2nd

Day & teen travel Camps

templebethemet.org

Award Winning elementary & early Childhood Schools

feed your mind,feed your soul

The Nobel Prize-winning author was born in Poland and lived for a time in New York. But in 1973, he bought a place in Miami Beach, eventually living there year-round with his wife, Alma. “Nothing can beat the splendor of na-ture,” Singer wrote in 1989. “Every day, as I sit on the beach looking out at the ocean, each palm tree, each wave, each sea gull is still a great revelation to me. After 15 years, Miami Beach feels like home.” In 1991, the year of Singer’s death, the full-tuition Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship was established at the University of Miami.

iSaac baShEviS SingEr

“Every day, as I sit on the beach looking out at the ocean, each palm tree, each wave, each sea gull is still a great revelation to me."

jewish routes South Florida

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Jewish Museum of Florida-FIUThe museum, a partnership with Florida International University, is located in the two historic buildings of former Congregation Beth Jacob, built in 1929 and 1936. Its current exhibit, “Grower, Grocers & Gefilte Fish: A Gastronomic Look at Florida Jews & Food,” features “walking food tours” that highlight past and present Jewish-owned restaurants.Miami Beach jmof.fiu.edu

Temple Israel of Greater MiamiThe main sanctuary of Miami’s Temple Israel is the oldest in continuous use in Florida. Built in 1928, it has been named the 15th most notable building by the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Tours are available by appointment. The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, four blocks away, is located on the site of Temple Israel’s home from 1922 to 1926. templeisrael.net

Alvin & Evelyn Gross Children’s MuseumThis hands-on, interactive museum of Jewish culture, history and values features exhibits on kibbutz life, archaeology, Jews around the world and more. Located on the Perlman Family Campus of the Soref JCC, Plantation.sorefjcc.org

Holocaust Memorial of Miami BeachThe Holocaust Memorial, dedicated in 1990, is located at 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue—coinciding with the exact years of the Holocaust. The grounds include The Sculpture of Love and Anguish, a more than four-story-high sculpture of an outstretched arm with more than 100 intertwined figures, and a Memorial Wall with thousands of names etched in black granite. Miami Beach holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org

Judaica Sounds Archives at Florida Atlantic University LibrariesFounded in 2002, the collection includes Yiddish theater, Israeli folk, cantorial and Sephardic music. The JSA also has the largest online digital collection of Jewish music and comedy in the world. Located in the Wimberly Library on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.fau.edu/jsa

JEwIsh hERITAGE sITEsDAVID POSNACK JEWISH DAY SCHOOL

Paul and Maggie Fischer High School

Now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year

January admission testing dates - January 5, January 26

Contact Susie Jackowitz at 954-583-6100 ext. 641 to schedule your private tour or admission testing.

Celebrating 40 years of academic excellence

5890 S. Pine Island RoadSuite A, Davie, FL 33328 www.posnackschool.org

Future Construction Rendering

Current

Lower S

chool Bu

ilding

Jan. 12, 2014 / 12:00-2:00 pm

OpenHouseK-12

Ramat Shalom| 11301 W. Broward Blvd.Plantation, Florida

Visit us at www.ramatshalom.orgOr Call (954) 472-3600

Welcome Home To

Ramat ShalomA Warm, Vibrant

Synagogue CommunityA Spiritual home for families and

single adults from all different Jewishbackgrounds, plus:

•Early Childhood Center starting at12 months (we offer VPK)•Dynamic Torah School

•Youth Groups & Teen Programming•Adult Education

•Social Action•Social Events

ASK ABOUT THE BEST WAY YOUCAN CONNECT TO JUDAISM

Rabbi Andrew Jacobs Cantorial Soloist Debbie HafetzLocated at 137 NE 19th Street, in Downtown Miami‘s Media & Entertainment District

Visit us at TempleIsrael.net305.573.5900

T emple Israel of Greater Miami is one of South Florida’s oldest congregations. And most innovative. Called the “Synagogue in the Central City,” Temple

Israel has grown up alongside Miami, both enjoying growth, adapting to the ever-changing population, and creating an environment that is vibrant, diverse and inclusive. Temple Israel offers educational opportunities for all ages, creative services, and programs designed to maximize “spiritual fitness.” We invite you to visit us and join the journey.

Bertha Abess Sanctuary Sophie and Nathan Gumenick Chapel

24th Annual Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film FestivalJanuary 16–26Film screenings in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. palmbeachjewishfilm.org

17th Annual Miami Jewish Film FestivalJanuary 23–February 3 Film screenings throughout Miami Beach and South Beach theaters. miamijewishfilmfestival.net

JEwIsh FIlM FEsTIvAls

upcOMING culTuRAl EvENTs

jewish routes South Florida

Nosh Fest V: South Florida’s Jewish Food Festival Includes tasting menus, cooking demonstra-tions and competitions, pie-eating contest and children’s activities. March 2, Temple Beth Emet Cooper Citynoshfest.org

Jewish Music Festival, David Posnack JCC March 1–April 6, Daviedpjcc.org

7th Annual Jewish Short Play CompetitionOriginal Jewish-themed plays performed as stage readings. Scripts may be submitted through January 21. March 29-30, Adolph & Rose Levis JCC Boca Raton, levisjcc.org/arts-and-learning

18th Annual Festival YachadThe largest Israeli dance festival of its kind in the United States, with more than 800 dancers participating. May 25, June 1Michael-Ann Russell JCC Miamimarjcc.org

2014 JCC Maccabi Games The Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center is the host of the 2014 North American host of the annual Maccabi Games—welcoming teen del-egations from North America and Israel for Olympic-style competition, cultural and social events. August 10-15 Boca Ratonlevisjcc.org/Maccabi

14th Annual David Posnack JCC Jewish Film Festival February 1 –22 at the David Posnack JCC, Davie

dpjcc.org