During Hanukkah, Miami-Dade mayors join to urge vigilance against antisemitism

In March 2020, two Orthodox rabbis from Surfside were diagnosed with COVID-19, making them two of the first residents in the area known to have a virus that was quickly terrifying the world.

Shlomo Danzinger, the town’s first Orthodox Jewish mayor, said the news of the infected rabbis enraged one of his neighbors, who erupted when seeing Danzinger on the street.

“When he saw me, his face got all red,” Danzinger said. “And as he walked past, he turned around and angrily shouted: ‘You effing Jews are going to kill us all.’ ”

READ MORE: Antisemitic graffiti in Broward causes increased deputy patrols ahead of Hanukkah

Danzinger shared the story at a press conference by Miami-Dade County mayors convened to put a focus on local antisemitism. Organized during the third day of Hanukkah at the offices of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the event was promoted as an effort “to act against the rising tide of antisemitism, locally, nationally and globally.”

Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade’s first Jewish county mayor, said she saw the day’s focus on antisemitism as part of a broader push to make the Miami area more tolerant and welcoming. “I’m very proud to fight each and every day to uplift the values of inclusion, tolerance and equity,” she said.

Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, who is Catholic, said every local leader needs to be part of the fight for tolerance.

“In the city of Coral Gables, we will not tolerate hate of any kind, including antisemitism,” he said. “Antisemitism is a poison for our community, and it’s up to all of us to fight it.”

The bipartisan collection of mayors did not address former President Donald Trump’s playing host to Kanye West in November after the rapper made antisemitic remarks in interviews linking Jewish people to greed and financial acumen.

Sarah Emmons, Florida regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, pointed to West as an example of the growing support for antisemitism.

“Last month, the words ‘Kanye was right’ were found written on a wall near the courthouse here in downtown Miami,” she said.

Danzinger, the Surfside mayor, said the outburst he saw from his neighbor in the early days of COVID was an example of the problem of antisemitism.

“We, as Jews, cannot become complacent,” he said. “Antisemitism exists. It often boils under the surface, but at times it exposes its ugliness in the open. We must call it out for what it is.”

This story was originally published December 20, 2022 at 4:13 PM.