As leaders of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and its Jewish Community Relations Council, we are outraged at the vandalism that occurred at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton on Monday night.  Our hearts go out to our Beth El friends and neighbors who have had their sacred space defaced by vile images and racial slurs.

The incident has served as a painful reminder that anti-Semitism exists even in our own community where Judaism is well-woven into the fabric of daily life.

We are proud of the strength and unity of our community in its refusal to succumb to fear or apathy in response to these acts of intolerance. We also commend the Boca Raton Police Department’s thorough and sensitive response as another example of our local law enforcement agencies’ longstanding commitment to our Jewish community.

Please know that our Federation remains vigilant.  Security on our campus continues to be of the highest priority, and serves as a model for Jewish federations throughout the country.

B'Shalom,

Stewart G. Harris
Chair, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County


William S. Bernstein, MSW
President and CEO, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County   

Rabbi David Steinhardt
Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

Kelley Whiter
JCRC Director