For Openers

Southerly Breeze

Boynton Beach, Fla.

© 2002

Ill nom poolside to the shopping aisles, and from the synagogues to the
JCCs, the Jewish presence in south Florida is unmistakable.
When both full- and part-year Jewish residents are counted, the
sun-splashed region is home to roughly 10 percent of America's 6.1
million Jews and has the second largest concentration of U.S. Jews. The rhythm
Of Jewish life is varied and vibrant
The tri-county region's core is Broward, with 220,000 full-year Jewish resi-
dents. To the north, Palm Beach County has 150,000. To the south, Dade has
134,000. In comparison, ale Detroit Jewish community is 96,000.
Palm Beach County has grown 33 percent over the past 12 years. Most of the
county's newest Jewish residents are retirees from the Northeast
and Midwest or immigrants from the Caribbean and Latin
America. Four Jewish day schools, a high school yeshivah, three
Jewish Community Centers and more than 40 synagogues serve
the county.
More than 90 percent of Palm Beach County's Jews say they
perform Jewish ritual, pay dues to a Jewish organization or con-
tribute to a Jewish charity, according to University of Miami
demographer Ira Sheskin's 1999 study on behalf of the Jewish
ROBERT A. Federation of Palm Beach County.
SKLAR
Whether it's chatting by the pool with an ex-Long Islander or
Editor
bumping into a former Detroiter at the Festival Flea Market, talk
invariably turns to Jewish news "back home." Florida's trans-
planted Jews typically get one of the Florida Jewish papers for
upcoming events, but also their hometown Jewish paper from "up north." The
Detroit Jewish News, for example, mails 900
.
t, 41,.:,. -
copies to the Sunshine State this time of year.
Most south Florida Jews identify as Reform or
Conservative, but there's also a - diverse Orthodox corn-
munity.
The region's Jewish influence sometimes makes the front pages of
the daily newspapers -- and not just to feature a Jewish holiday.
Last week, the Palm Beach Post reported on allegations that the
Palm Beach County-based Menorah Gardens Cemetery desecrated
hundreds of graves and mishandled hundreds of bodies; the cemetery's
out-of-state owners are investigating.
.
The newspaper also reported on Rabbi Jerrold Levy, 59, of Temple Beth
El in Boca Raton, a popular rabbi who, in the wake of an admitted "double
life," is headed to prison for seeking teenage boys, via the Internet, for sex.
But these kinds of incidents are rare.
The first Jew came to Florida in 1763. The first U.S. senator from Florida was
a Jew, David Levy Yulee, elected in 1845. But until recently, Florida Jews had to
be especially alert to discrimination. Today — by virtue of their collective num --
bers, activism and wealth — Jews are a respected force. CI

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By Goldfein

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Quotables

"The events of
Sept. 11 have left
a jagged hole, not
just in a city sky-
line, but in all our
hearts. We mourn
not only the loss
Queen Noor
of life, as tragic as
that is, but also the loss of confidence
in the promise of peace — and these
extend far beyond America's borders."
— Jordan's Queen Noor at the United
Nations Ecumenical Chapel, speaking
about the challenges facing peace out-
reach groups like Seeds of Peace.

"This is a legal problem and a human
problem. If we only see it as a Jewish
problem, we made a mistake."
7 - Rabbi Richard Yellin of Temple
Emeth in Delray Beach about a class-
action lawsuit, against SCI Funeral
Services, claiming remains were
dumped in the woods and bodies were
stacked to save space at Menorah
Gardens Cemetery in south Florida.
SCI is investigating.

) Shock IFIA

As the jolvbegins to
allegationsithat Floricra's'AMehorah
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Conservative synagogues in the region.

) Israel Bound

Unlike many of their American coun-
terparts, Russian Jewish teens are
unafraid to visit the Jewish homeland
during the ongoing Midwest turmoil.

1.Different
strokes

Anita Diamant

Anita Diamant,
author of the best-
selling The Red
Tent, devotes ener-
gy to an unexpect-
ed project — build-
ing a mikvah.

) Mideast Updates

From Tel Aviv to Gaza City, we'll con-
tinue to monitor and post the latest
news from the Middle East.

For all of these stories and updates,
please log on to
www.detroitjewishnews.cominews

— Joshua Paul Cane, JN Online
Web producer

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Yiddish Limericks

Too many years under my belt
Were squandered, and that's why I've
felt
Fertracht* and forlorn.
Farlorene yarn
Iz erger vee fizrlorene gelt.**

— Martha Jo Fleischmann

* lost in thought
** Lost (wasted) years are worse than
lost money.

1/4

2002

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