HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – There has been a disturbing spike in anti-Semitic incidents across South Florida, including one early Monday morning in Hallandale Beach. The Anti-Defamation League also reported a spike in hateful acts towards Jewish Americans all across the United States.
Officers with the Hallandale Beach Police Department arrested Jeffrey Carl Fleming, 39, on Monday. He is facing charges of stalking and hate crime after a video showed him dropping off a bag of feces on Friday at the Chabad of South Broward. He is also accused of spitting at the menorah before riding away.
“It’s rooted in hate and antisemitism,” said Rabbi Mendy Tennenhaus, of the Chabad of South Broward. “He chose to bring it here and not somewhere else. He chose the words that he used.”
A similar attack happened again Sunday night at a nearby synagogue.
“This is a cooler full of, supposed, human feces,” Tennenhaus said. “It’s an embarrassment. “It’s sad to have to have to live in such a world, and live in the U.S., the states, and have such activity going on around us.”
Yael Hershfield, of the Anti-Defamation League of Florida, agrees. This is in addition to the 40% increase in incidents in 2020.
“They’re coming every day, every minute we are getting reports,” Hershfield said.
The Israel-Hamas conflict added fuel to the fire.
“People have the right to take positions in favor or against the conflict, and what we’re asking is that the rhetoric is not inflammatory,” said Hershfield. “When we see hatred, it doesn’t matter who it’s directed at. We should all be speaking out on it.”
Hallandale Beach Commissioner Annabelle Lima-Taub is working to create a hate crimes task force to address these types of incidents.
Afternoon report