A South Florida rabbi says he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect members of his Jewish congregation as antisemitic threats increase locally and around the globe.
A recent attack in Australia, where a father and son are accused of shooting and killing 15 people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach, has further reinforced the need for heightened security at Jewish gathering places in South Florida.
Despite the tragedy, Jewish leaders in the region say their communities remain strong.
“It was so shocking and painful to see,” said Rabbi Yossi Harlig of the Chabad Center of Kendall and Pinecrest.
A look at the rise in violence
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents are rising worldwide. In the United States, incidents increased for the fourth straight year in 2024, reaching nearly 9,500 reported cases. That marks an 893% increase over the past decade.
Although the ADL noted a slight decline from 2023 to 2024, last year still recorded the second-highest number of antisemitic incidents ever reported in the state. Most of those incidents, about 83%, occurred in Miami-Dade County.
Increasing security in South Florida
Rabbi Harlig said the surge in threats has forced his congregation to significantly expand security measures since the October 7 attacks in Israel.
“We have full-time security from when people show up until people leave,” Harlig said. “That’s over 12 hours a day. It’s more than $100,000 a year just in security, cameras, and panic buttons. But we’re focused on doing everything in our power to make sure our campus is safe.”
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner said the city has increased police presence to protect Jewish residents and institutions.
“You see substantial police visibility in our city,” Meiner said. “But certainly, to protect our Jewish residents and Jewish institutions.”
Despite ongoing concerns, Rabbi Harlig said the community is responding with determination rather than fear.
“Whenever we’ve been challenged throughout our history, and unfortunately that’s been thousands of years, we dig in deeper,” he said. “This is a moment for us to stand even stronger.”
On Thursday, Dec. 18, several Miami-Dade mayors are expected to hold a joint news conference to publicly condemn antisemitism and reaffirm support for the Jewish community.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply