The ADL [Anti Defamation League] said Florida had 463 documented acts of antisemitism in 2023, up from 269 reported in 2022.
Three South Florida counties — Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade — accounted for just more than 200 of them.
Sunny Isles March,2024
Florida Legislature Identifies, Confront and call out antisemitism.”
Sunny Isles Beach Police announced the arrest of 39-year-old Mohammad Ali Alsaccal.
On Thursday, March 7, around 11:09 p.m. in the area of 17000 North Bay Road. Alsaccal began “aggressively walking” toward a man walking his dog. Alsaccal displayed a “blunt shiny weapon” — presumed to be either a knife or screwdriver — and proceeded to it at him.The victim was able to run away from Alsaccal and call the police. Alsaccal fled the scene before officers arrived and the victim was not injured during the incident.
The second incident was reported on Friday around 7:28 p.m. in the area of 18900 Collins Avenue. According to police, four people were walking back from attending a religious service at their temple when they observed Alsaccal holding what appeared to be a “sharp cutting object” and walking toward them.
He then walked past the group before suddenly turning back, raising the sharp object and running toward them, yelling at the group “Get out of my way, I’m going to stab you. Get out of my way.” The victims — all wearing and displaying traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing— frantically ran away from Alsaccal and flagged down bystanders to help them call the police. However, he fled before officers arrived. Fortunately, nobody was injured during the incident.
The third incident was reported on Saturday around 7:30 a.m. in the area of 17400 Collins Avenue. According to police, the two victims — who were Jewish and wearing traditional clothing — were reading the Torah as they walked to the local synagogue, when they saw Alsaccal approaching them, pulling out a “silver colored object out of his pocket,” and made a threatening stance toward them.
He then began to make antisemitic insults and threats before the victims were able to run away to call police. Once officers arrived, they were able to get Alsaccal’s description, which matched up with the suspect in the past two incidents, the release stated. After issuing a BOLO for Alsaccal, officers were able to find him in the area of 18600 Collins Avenue and arrested him.”
“On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Florida Legislature approved Bill 148, which defines the term “antisemitism” and provides more than 10 examples of it.
The bill, introduced by Senator Lori Berman and cosponsored by Senator Jason Pizzo, takes effect on July 2024
Following the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) the legislation defines antisemitism as
“…a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are redirected toward Jewish or non- Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
"For thousands of years, the same conspiracy theories, the same disdain, and the same impulse to scapegoat has coursed through Western and non-Western societies alike. "
"Though its outer form may evolve over time, [antisemitism's] essence remains the same. It’s not unlike a stubborn infection. Medication may alleviate the symptoms, but the infection itself lies dormant and may reemerge at an opportune moment in a new incarnation, a different “outer shell.” While the shape of the hatred may be adapted and massaged, the basic ideas or illusions that are at its core remain constant."