SWFL rabbi comments on rising antisemitic incidents in Florida

Reporter: Gail Levy Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:

Messages of hate against Jewish people in Florida have doubled in one year, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The only places with more are New York and California.

Southwest Florida has seen at least five antisemitic incidents and those are the only ones that were reported. Around June, racist fliers were thrown on people’s lawns in Naples and Punta Gorda. And in May, racist fliers were left on vehicles parked at the Miromar Outlets and Coconut Point.

Around the state, there is so much more hate flying around.

One flier or one attack is one too many for Rabbi Nicole Luna.

“As painful as it is, I do feel I have a responsibility to address it,” said Luna, of Temple Beth El in south Fort Myers.

Luna is addressing the rise in antisemitism in Florida.

Ben Popp did much of the legwork on where the rise is occurring and why.

“A lot of these incidents are related to a overlapping white supremacist network that we’ve seen in the state,” said Popp, with the Anti-Defamation League.

According to the research, Florida has become a home for hatred.

“This network is collaborating and working together in ways that they may have worked separately in the past. But now they’re collaborating on planning propaganda distributions, as well as rallies and in-person events,” Popp said.

Popp said groups called the Goyim Defense League, White Lives Matter and the National Socialist Movement are creating hate networks.

They not only attack Jewish people, but they attack people of color and the LGBTQ community.

Popp said to stunt these growing numbers, leaders need to address the problem and condemn it while also encouraging more education on extremism and the Holocaust.

“The community can’t fight hate and extremism when they don’t fully understand the threat that is out there,” Popp said.

But the message from religious leaders is unwavering.

“My message as a rabbi always has been and will continue to be to live our Jewish lives proudly, to not let those who hate us define us, to make sure we know why we love being Jewish, what wisdom there is in our tradition, and let the wisdom of our tradition guide our lives,” Luna said.

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