The safest place to be Jewish in America

Former Mayor of Bal Harbour, Florida, and Israel advocate Gabe Groisman said in a podcast interview that Miami is the best place outside of Israel to be an openly proud Zionist Jew. Having recently lived in South Florida myself, I completely agree. The way I can openly show my support for Israel and love for being Jewish without comment is merely fantastic. One of my first things on my bucket list when I moved here was to become involved in the Jewish community. I have been to events in the Jewish community in Miami, and even though I lived in Broward County, I connected more to the Jewish community in Miami because there are more opportunities to engage with Israel and resources for me to grow as a person and connect with others my age.

Brickell Key, Miami – Courtesy of the Author

The Northeastern US and South Florida have the largest Jewish populations in the United States, with New York City having the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Florida, with 665,000 Jews as of 2021, is second.

With the alarming rise in Jew hatred across the world, many Jews are weighing Aliyah as a potential future option. However, financial pockets may be tight. That is why there are also Jews migrating to South Florida, citing the large and thriving Jewish community and strong connection to Israel. Benefactors of being Jewish in South Florida include access to quality kosher food, affordable housing compared to other major cities, strong religious institutions, and a thriving business environment.

Aside from its Jewish population that resides there full time, Florida has been a winter getaway hub for generations. Not just for Jews, but for all Americans. Its beachy, warm, subtropical, coastal climate makes it the perfect destination for northerners to escape the northeast’s frigid, cold, snowy winters. This winter in south Florida is my first in six years, but now, it is a completely new reality for me and for the world. Israel is at war for its survival, and there has been an alarming rise of antisemitism.

The amount of fellow Jews I have made connections with during my time in Florida not only made me feel safe, but confident in the Israel-Florida relationship, and the amount of awareness tags I saw for the hostages is moving.

The Northeastern US and South Florida have the largest Jewish populations in the United States, with New York City having the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Florida, with 665,000 Jews as of 2021, is second.

In the 1970s, 80% of Miami Beach was Jewish, which shocked me, especially because of its popularity and diversity today. By 1985, most elderly members of the community had passed away, leaving the population to decline. Less than 50 miles away, Boca Raton saw its population skyrocket from 7,000 in 1960 to over 28,000 in the 1970s. Today, Boca Raton has nearly 100,000 residents and a significantly large Jewish population. Other areas with large populations include Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, and Surfside.

My love for being Jewish has only grown stronger from my time in South Florida. Having originally been there for treatment, I got involved in the Jewish community knowing it was huge, as a way to keep up my activism, career skills, and as a form of identity exploration and comfort in my personal hardships.

I have felt a stronger connection to my Jewish identity and have felt more connected to Israel. The skills I have learned from my time in South Florida will carry on with me for life.