Florida’s Front Line: Why Palm Beach Is Now a Hotspot for Antisemitic Activity

By Jewish Digital Times Editorial Staff

📈 A Disturbing Surge in Hate

Palm Beach County now leads Florida in antisemitic incidents, according to the latest Anti-Defamation League (ADL) audit. Despite Florida’s overall 24% drop in antisemitism in 2024, Palm Beach stands out as the state’s most affected region — for the second year in a row.

The county surpassed even Miami-Dade and Broward in total reported incidents, underlining a deeply localized problem that continues to challenge community and law enforcement efforts.

📰 Recent Incidents that Shocked the Community

🚫 Antisemitic Flyers in Driveways

In late 2023, residents of Wellington and neighboring areas awoke to find antisemitic flyers distributed in plastic bags alongside suspicious materials. These incidents mirrored similar ones across the state, pointing to organized hate campaigns.

🧱 Vandalism and Threats

The ADL’s annual report noted an increase to 84 incidents in Palm Beach in 2023, up dramatically from 20 the previous year. These included hate-fueled vandalism, bomb threats to Jewish centers, and public harassment.

🛡️ How the Community Is Responding

In October 2024, Palm Beach launched a Hate Crimes Task Force aimed at education, prevention, and enforcement. This coalition includes local police, state attorneys, interfaith leaders, and victim advocates.

The Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County has also intensified security upgrades and interfaith programming, supporting Jewish institutions and public awareness.

📊 The Bigger Picture

Statewide, Florida’s antisemitism declined in 2024, yet the state still ranks #4 in the U.S. for reported antisemitic incidents. Nationally, over 9,300 incidents were logged in 2024 — the highest since ADL began tracking in 1979.

🎥 Watch: ADL Reports Historic Spike in Antisemitism

Gain insight into the broader climate of hate across the U.S.:

📝 Conclusion

Despite progress statewide, Palm Beach County remains a stark reminder that antisemitism is not relic of the past — it is a present, pressing danger. Through strategic policing, strong community leadership, and education, Palm Beach is pushing back.

This article is part of our ongoing series investigating the rise of antisemitism in American communities. Read more at JewishDigitalTimes.com.