Jews mourn Pope Francis and his commitment to fighting antisemitism | Opinion

Bridge builder

In the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, decried antisemitism and called for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Since then, a growing convergence between Jewish and Christian communities has emerged.

The recent passing of Francis has elicited expressions of grief and heartfelt condolences from Jewish communities and leaders around the world. A transformative figure since his election in 2013, Francis emphasized the importance of nurturing interfaith relations, particularly between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community — a commitment that resonated deeply with many.

In expressing his condolences, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that Francis “rightly recognized the immense importance of fostering strong ties with the Jewish community and advancing interfaith dialogue as a path toward greater understanding and mutual respect.”

Earlier this month, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski addressed attendees at the annual leadership Seder hosted by the American Jewish Committee of Miami and Broward. Reflecting on Francis’ legacy, the Archbishop said, “The teachings and insights of the Church clearly affirm, as Pope John Paul II later stated, that antisemitism is a sin. The relationship between the Catholic Church and Jews has changed dramatically in the last 80 years in a post-Holocaust world. Four popes — Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis — have led us to see Jews as our elder brothers in faith, not as enemies.”

Ayelet Raymond,

“Kosher Barbie,”

New York City, NY

Rambling emblem

Unveiled on Feb. 26, just days after James Uthmeier was sworn in as Florida’s Attorney General, his office’s new seal replaces institutional dignity with partisan branding. The new seal, emblazoned with the phrase “Free State of Florida,” is not just a design choice — it’s a troubling hyper-partisanship of a legal office that should serve all Floridians, not just one ideology.

This redesign fails to reflect the gravity or dignity of the Attorney General’s role. Public offices like his are meant to uphold the law, not a political party. When the symbols of those offices themselves blur that line, it undermines public trust in law enforcement and weakens democratic norms.

Furthermore, the new seal is incredibly lacking from a design standpoint; it’s an incoherent mix of styles and typography that encapsulates the failure of Gov. DeSantis’ crew to remain relevant on the national stage and distinguish themselves from President Trump while towing his party line.

Jackson Ribler,

Homestead

Withering trees

Re: the April 23 op-ed, “Miami tries to weaken tree canopy protections.” It’s beyond disgusting that the City of Miami Commission would even consider a bill that would make it easier to tear down trees. Shame on them. This is an absolutely horrible idea.

How dare they not tighten the rules so people won’t be allowed to tear down our precious trees. All over South Florida people are chopping down trees. We must vote out these commissioners and mayors.

Trees give us oxygen and life. Stop chopping down trees and stop collaborating with developers who pollute our city.

Ron Schwartz,

Miami

Elections controversy

Florida’s “hanging chads” controversy in the 2000 election led Congress to create an independent Elections Assistance Commission to overhaul elections. President Trump recently issued an executive order seeking to force it to make changes he wants, such as adding a proof of citizenship requirement to the process.

Because elections are ordinarily a state function and supposedly run independently, matters are likely to be settled in court. Given Trump’s 2020 election loss and his attempt to change the results of that loss to Biden in Georgia, let’s hope the courts get involved soon.

R. Thomas Farrar,

Miami

One at a time

During the Biden administration, more than 10 million immigrants came into contact with border officials trying to enter the country illegally. I’m sure no one is against deporting criminal non-citizens, but how to do we do it efficiently and within our laws? As a conservative, I would do this quickly and free our communities of their presence.

The liberal approach is to give each one due process (the tweezers approach), enabling members of this group to remain for an extended time, thwarting their removal. The answer must rest in compromise and with the U.S. Supreme Court allowing the orderly removal of those who entered illegally and are members of criminal groups.

Roger Shatanof,

Coral Gables

Insurance claims

A proposed bill in Tallahassee could bring long-overdue balance back to Florida’s property insurance landscape. The bill, HB 1551 (Attorney Fee Awards in Insurance Actions), would reinstate the “prevailing party” attorney fee standard in property insurance litigation, meaning the side that loses in court would be responsible for legal fees and costs.

After the sweeping 2022 reform (SB 2A), which stripped away the “one-way attorney fees” that once empowered policyholders to fight denied or underpaid claims, many families found themselves without a meaningful path to justice. Legal costs became too steep to pursue rightful compensation, even when insurers were clearly in the wrong. Meanwhile, premiums continued rising and the frequency of denied claims seemed to rise in lockstep. In some cases, even the ability to request an appraisal — once a fair middle ground — was quietly eliminated or curtailed.

This is more than just a policy shift. It is a step toward restoring trust, fairness and dignity in the insurance claims process — a system that, at its best, should protect homeowners, not punish them for seeking what they’re owed.

Saul Cimbler,

Coral Gables

Major threat

The Miami Herald’s April 20 obituary on Richard L. Armitage, a U.S. state department official during the Afghanistan and Iraq War years, referenced the Bush administration’s exaggeration of Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction.

Poison gas is a weapon of mass destruction. If any doubt, ask the Kurds.

Mark Wickman,

North Miami

Defending immigrants

Kudos to Mike Fernandez, CEO of MBF Healthcare Partners, for taking a stand in his April 16 op-ed, “Open letter to the Miami-Dade delegation: Defend immigrants now.“ It must hit home when an entire group of people are considered undesirable and unacceptable.

While honorable, I doubt Fernandez would have taken notice if it were not Latinos who are being targeted. What is happening is so sad and not just the immigration issues.

David Saraga,

Daytona Beach

To your health

Is it fair that our taxes pay for research into infectious diseases that might never harm us?

Of course. When you live in a place where people with dirty hands touch everything at your favorite grocery store, you will probably get sick.

Wouldn’t you wish for something to prevent you from getting sick? Or, at the very least, wouldn’t you want the best medicine available for treatment?

The budget cuts proposed by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., seek to undermine a desire we all have to stay healthy. This has led to a stop in data collection, preventing us from better understanding how diseases spread and how they disproportionately (and negatively) affect groups such as Hispanics and people of color. Key research on cheaper, more effective and safer medicine also has been targeted.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava must stand against this administration’s dangerous health policies, such as her decision to keep fluoride in our drinking water. There is immense power at the local level. Let’s use it.

Anaïs Roatta,

Miami

Eras tour

President Trump declared in his inaugural address that he envisioned a “Golden Age” during his second term. However, if he persists in his destructive economic policies, including his on-again off-again tariff war, he will lead the country into the “Stone Age.”

Marshall Tanick,

Naples