Palm Beachers live in a close-knit community where showing respect to others and being good neighbors are important values.
But sadly, the island isn’t immune to hate and particularly to hateful comments.
How else could one explain what occurred in early May at New Synagogue, when a woman made antisemitic remarks to a security guard and continued to do so after being asked to stop, even as a service was taking place in the sanctuary.
Although the island has seen only a handful of antisemitic incidents in recent years, the episode troubles Jewish leaders on the island. It serves as a reminder that the nation is experiencing a growing tide of antisemitism.
Indeed, the nation is seeing the biggest rise in anti-Jewish hate in decades. FBI data released in August showed anti-Jewish hate crimes comprised nearly 70% of all religious-based hate crimes, USA Today reported.
An audit by the Anti-Defamation League shows antisemitic incidents in the U.S. increased after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and the Israeli military’s response in Gaza.
Synagogues in Palm Beach have taken steps to guard against anti-Jewish violence following the deadly Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh and other attacks on Jewish institutions.
They’ve joined synagogues across the nation that have hired more guards to watch over worshipers and take other measures to boost security.
That Jewish institutions in the U.S. have had to take such measures is a clear indication that antisemitism is a persistent and urgent problem.
The record is clear: There are too many incidents and they occur too frequently.
That’s why the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach’s efforts to support Jewish institutions and help them apply for state and federal security grants are important.
But just as important is the need for everyone in the community to be alert for antisemitism and intolerance.
It might be easy for some to ignore bad behavior and offensive remarks, or to excuse them as aberrations. But a climate of hate can lead to hateful actions.
“Antisemitism is not only a Jewish issue,” said Rabbi Zalman Levitin of Chabad House Palm Beach. “It is a challenge to the values of decency, tolerance and humanity that benefit everyone.”
The Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians & Jews, founded on the island in the early1990s, has a mission statement that is clear and uncompromising. The group is dedicated “to promoting fellowship, understanding, and respect among all religions and cultures; bringing the community together through education, dialogue, and interaction; and addressing issues rooted in intolerance, antisemitism, and unjust discrimination.”
Those are noble goals, offering a path toward a more tolerant community where hate has no place and a respect for others is prized.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach must unite against antisemitism, foster respect | Editorial
Reporting by Palm Beach Daily News Editorial Board, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Palm Beach Daily News Editorial Board, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
