A horrible and tragic fire has destroyed the Florida State University Chabad Center for Jewish life in Tallahassee. For more than two decades, the center has served the Panhandle, with more than 5,000 members in the Florida State University community from Tallahassee to Pensacola, and has alumni all over the world.
This fire comes during the month of May, when American Jews celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, acknowledging American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the United States of America. As such, the loss of the Torah scrolls, hundreds of books and 20 years of teachings is magnified, and the loss to the community will be felt for years. The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers, shares in mourning this tragic and significant loss. The burning of a Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is heartbreaking to Jewish people and ignites a hole in the souls of Jews everywhere.
We stand united in our resolve to see this Jewish Community Center rebuilt better than before, and to further ensure the spirit of the Jewish People will survive and triumph.
The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus consists of:
Representative Michael Gottlieb, Co-Chair – District 98
Representative Emily Slosberg, Co-Chair – District 91
Senator Lori Berman – District 31
Senator Lauren Book – District 32
Senator Tina Polsky – District 29
Senator Annette Taddeo – District 40
Representative Mike Caruso – District 89
Representative Ben Diamond – District 68
Representative Randy Fine – District 53
Representative Joseph Geller – District 100
Representative David Silvers – District 87
Representative Allison Tant – District 9
