Orthodox Jews flee NY for Florida amid rising antisemitism
More than 100 Orthodox Jewish families, fed up with rising antisemitism and political dysfunction in New York, are planning to join the 60 who already fled the state for a new community in Florida — only for far-right influencers to descend on their community and spew vicious Jew-hating rhetoric.Lakefront Estates, a $300 million, 550-acre neighborhood developed in Glades County, officially opened its doors in October and has seen an influx ever since.The community boasts a kosher supermarket, synagogue and yeshiva for the Orthodox Jewish community.Lakefront Estates CEO Yidel Perlstein said that the Orthodox Jewish community represents the first wave of sales at the development because so many Jews were seeking to leave New York, but that the homes at Lakefront Estates are open for anyone to buy.
The town offers 4 bedroom 2,5000 square foot homes starting at $460,000 and 7 bedroom 3700 square foot homes for $585,000, Perlstein said.Multiple families interviewed by The Post said that rising antisemitism, which supercharged under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, gave them the final push to leave The Empire State.“You could feel the antisemitism everywhere; even my community Borough Park changed after Mamdani came in,” said Morris, a former Brooklynite, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from the influencers.
A mother of four, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that rising antisemitism and the high cost of housing in New York led her family to make the move to the sunshine state.“New York has become increasingly antisemitic, we’ve been facing that a lot,” she said.
She also said that Florida’s policy of providing vouchers to help pay for private school tuition was a factor in her family’s decision to move.Hate crimes in New York City have soared nearly 16% since last year, with attacks against Jews comprising half of them, according to NYPD data.
New York State Rep.Aron Wieder (D-Rockland County), who has seen 20 families from hi...