TAMPA, Fla. — On July 1, more than 180 new laws will go into effect in Florida, including two related to safety in the Jewish community.
HB 187 aims to clearly define antisemitism under state law, adopting the definition originally laid out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. HB 1109 allocates $20 million of the state budget to fund increased security for Jewish day schools and preschools.
Leaders of the Tampa Jewish Community Center (JCC) and Federation said the funding is essential to ensure kids are safe.
"It's a sigh of relief," said Jessica Scruggs, the Executive Director of Early Education and Youth Programs at Tampa JCC and Federation. "Unfortunately, it's absolutely necessary. We do live in a time when antisemitism is on the rise."
Mark Segel, Executive Director of Combating Antisemitism for the Tampa JCC and Federation, said they had already increased security at their schools out of their own pockets.
Segel said: "We have had to spend significantly more money on security the last couple of years than we have far into the past. This is a really unusual time for us. And, this is these are expenses that are, you know, were not planned for. So any opportunity to have, you know, additional funding that will help us offset these expenses is incredibly helpful."
According to data from the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. surged 360% after the deadly Oct. 7th Hamas attack, which sparked a brutal war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Tampa Bay's Jewish groups said they were not immune to those incidents.
"We've had our fair share of bomb threats, fortunately, all hoaxes," Segel said. "We've had our fair share of just threats in general, hate speech, etc. and we've had to respond accordingly."
Now, $20 million in state funds will go toward things like security cameras, fencing, and hiring extra security guards at Jewish day schools and preschools.
Segel said it's an essential measure in this modern climate.
"What we're seeing today is reflective of what we saw in the 1930s, and a lot of people are not taking this seriously, and they shouldn't be. It has not been this bad since the Holocaust," Segel said.
He said the state funds will provide peace of mind even beyond the Jewish community.
"We're a community center, and more than half of our members are not Jewish. More than half of the kids in our preschools are not Jewish. So, even though we, you know, carry the Jewish moniker and we operate, you know, based on Jewish values and beliefs and such, we are a resource for the entire community," Segel said.