RESOURCES FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

CELEBRATING FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY MONTH

EACH JANUARY “Contributions of One Ethnic Group in

Shaping the Destiny of Florida”

This pocket watch with Hebrew letters was owned by George Dzialynski, born in 1857, in Jacksonville. George was the first Jewish boy born

in Florida to a family that planted roots in the state and has continued to live here as Jews since 1850.

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA-FIU AND

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, SOCIAL SCIENCES

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-5044 www.jewishmuseum.com Dear Educator, January is Florida Jewish History Month. The Jewish Museum of Florida initiated the legislation for this month to honor the indelible imprint of Floridian Jews on our State’s history. Florida’s greatest asset is its people. Diverse cultures have enriched the State since early times. It is a common belief that Florida Jewish History began after World War II, when it actually begins much earlier. Jews have actively participated in shaping the destiny of Florida since they were first allowed to settle in 1763. The concept for Florida Jewish History Month began with the Museum’s Founding Executive Director, Marcia Jo Zerivitz, who worked closely with legislators to translate the Museum’s mission into a statewide observance. In April 2003, Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill into that officially designated the month of January as Florida Jewish History Month. Sen. Gwen Margolis and Rep. Gustavo Barreiro each sponsored companion bills that were passed unanimously and eventually led to this historic event. Florida is the first state in our nation to have a month dedicated to the tremendous contributions of Jews in our state. The success of Florida Jewish History Month inspired the legislation for Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), in May, initiated by the Museum, with a Proclamation signed by President George Bush, April 2006. Florida Jewish History Month is a time to learn how Jews have been involved in enriching the lives and dreams of all Floridians. As you plan for Florida Jewish History Month, here are some facts to get you started: • A Jew, David Levy Yulee, is known as the “architect” of Florida Statehood. • His father, Moses Levy, among the earliest and largest developers in Florida, published a plan to abolish

slavery and was a proponent of free education in Florida. • More than 100 Jewish families have lived in Florida for over 100 years. • Floridian Jews have served in all the wars. Fort Myers is named for Col. Abraham Myers. • For more than 250 years, Jews have lived in Florida, maintained traditions of their heritage and contributed

to our State in every sector. In this packet, we provide you with educational materials to complement your existing curriculum, with the stories and history of one of Florida’s most influential ethnic groups. They include: • Florida Jewish History fact and theme webs; • Timeline of Florida Jewish history; • Lesson guide of important Florida Jewish History time periods and personalities; and a • Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU school field experience form. The mission of our Museum is to collect, preserve and interpret the material evidence of the Florida Jewish experience. We examine how Jews form a part of a dynamic mosaic of ethnic groups, all seeking to balance the continuity and traditions of their heritage with the values and customs of a larger society. Florida’s Jews have brought their visions of freedom and their creativity and have left their footprints across the entire State. We are your resource in the community. Please feel free to contact us at 786-972-3187 if you have any questions about Florida Jewish History, curriculum materials or to arrange your student group tour. Yours truly, Jo Ann Arnowitz Executive Director

FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY FACTS

Florida Jewish History

FACTS

Jews have maintained

the traditions of their heritage.

Jews have contributed

in every sector of the State of

Florida.

Many Jews came to Florida

to escape persecution and to seek

economic opportunities

Immigrants came mostly from

Europe and Latin America.

Jews have lived

in Florida for more than 250 years.

Joseph D. Palacios, Alexander Solomons

and Samuel Israel were the first

Jews to settle in Florida in Pensacola in 1763.

Jews emphasize traditions

and cultural values

FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY THEMES

Florida

Jewish History THEMES

tradition immigration

acculturation

discrimination

tolerance

historical documents

and artifacts

community

contributions

oral history

Where does your family story begin?

My family story begins in

_______

What are your favorite

family traditions? How did

your family come to Florida?

As a Florida resident, what

have you learned about other various

cultures?

Why did your family

come to Florida?

Share some family values.

When did your family arrive?

Identify a treasured

family object.

Who are people in your culture or

community that have made a

difference?

Share a family story about the

journey to Florida.

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-5044 www.jewishmuseum.com

TIMELINE: FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY

1763 England acquires Florida. It divides the territory into two colonies: East and West

Florida. Joseph D. Palacios, Alexander Solomons and Samuel Israel were the first Jews to settle in Florida in Pensacola in 1763.

1820 Moses Elias Levy begins purchase of 100,000 acres in what is now St. Johns, Volusia and Alachua Counties. In 1822 he builds “Pilgrimage Plantation,” a refuge for Jews that lasted until 1835. He publishes a plan to end slavery and also serves as Florida’s first Education Commissioner.

1821 Samuel Myers settles in Pensacola, becomes alderman and an officer in the military. In 1822, he and his

wife, Louisa, have Virginia, the first-known Jewish child born in Florida. 1836 Abraham C. Myers, a West Point graduate, serves as Army Quartermaster for the Seminole

Indian Wars, 1835-1842. Ft. Myers is named to honor him. 1837 Raphael Jacob Moses opens a store in Tallahassee. He later becomes a lawyer and practices

in Apalachicola. 1841 David Levy Yulee, the son of Moses Elias Levy, helps to write Florida’s Constitution (1841).

He is elected the first U.S. Senator from Florida (1845) and is the first Jew to serve in the U.S. Senate (1845-1851; 1855-1861). He organizes the Florida Railroad Company (1853). The town of Yulee (Nassau County) and Levy County, honor the family.

1850 Phillip P. Dzialynski arrives in Jacksonville. This is the longest-continuing Jewish family in Florida. 1857 The first Jewish cemetery in Florida is established in Jacksonville. Birth of George Dzialynski,

the first Jewish boy born in Florida to a family that planted roots in the state and has continued to live here as Jews since 1850.

1865 Judah P. Benjamin from Louisiana serves as Attorney General, Secretary of State and Secretary of War for the Confederacy (1861-1865). At the end of the Civil War, he escapes from the Union Army by hiding in the Gamble mansion (Manatee County).

1878 Temple Beth El (Pensacola), the oldest congregation in the State, is founded. 1879 Henry Brash elected Mayor of Marianna, the first-known of more than 150 Jewish mayors in

Florida. 1880s Cousins Morris Dzialynski of Jacksonville and Herman Glogowski of Tampa serve as mayors of their

cities. 1882 The Okeechobee Land and Development Company adopts a plan to save Jews in Russia. The

Company starts an agricultural colony above the Everglades. 1890 Dr. Louis Oppenheimer of Bartow establishes the local school system. continued…

1895 Key West Jews raise funds for Cuban revolutionaries fighting for independence from

Spain. 1896 The first permanent Jewish settlers arrive in the Miami area. 1933 David Sholtz begins his term as Governor of Florida (1933-1936). 1940s Admiral Ellis N. Zacharias of Jacksonville, Chief of Naval Intelligence, breaks the

Japanese code. This leads to the U.S. victory in the Pacific. 1943 Mitchell Wolfson serves as Mayor of Miami Beach, the first of 16 Jewish mayors in that

city. 1953 Abe Aronovitz serves as Mayor of Miami, the only Jew to serve in this office. 1968 Marshall Warren Nirenberg of Orlando receives the Nobel Prize in Medicine and

Physiology for deciphering the genetic code. 1974 Richard Stone elected as a U.S. Senator (1974-1980), the second Florida Jew to

hold this office. 1975 Arthur England begins his term as Justice on Florida’s Supreme Court (1975-1981). He

becomes Chief Justice in 1978. 1981 Raymond Ehrlich begins his term on Florida’s Supreme Court (1981-1991). He

becomes Chief Justice in 1988. More than 250 Jews have served as judges in Florida. 1987 Gerald Kogan begins his term as Justice on Florida’s Supreme Court (1987-1998). He

becomes Chief Justice in 1996. 1990 “MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida,” a traveling exhibit, begins its tour to 13 cities. Gwen

Margolis becomes the first female Florida Senate President. 1995 Jewish Museum of Florida opens. 1997 Barbara Pariente becomes the second woman appointed to the Florida Supreme Court.

In 2004, she becomes Chief Justice. 2003 Governor Jeb Bush signs a Bill designating each January as Florida Jewish History

Month. 2004 Debbie Wasserman Schultz elected to U.S. Congress, the first Jewish woman to

represent Florida. 2006 President George Bush signs a Proclamation designating each May as Jewish American Heritage Month

to honor contributions by Jewish Americans to our Nation. The Jewish Museum of Florida was the birthplace of this legislation, with the effort led by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

2012 Jewish Museum of Florida becomes part of Florida International University, igniting a new era of

interdisciplinary education and research.

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-5044 www.jewishmuseum.com contact: Jo Ann Arnowitz Executive Director, ext. 3180 or director@jewishmuseum.com

WHY FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY MONTH

Florida’s greatest asset is its people. Diverse cultures have enriched the State since early times. Like other groups, Jews have actively participated in shaping the destiny of Florida. Florida’s Jews have brought their visions of freedom and their creativity and have left their footprints across the entire State. Just as Blacks, Women, Hispanics and other groups have a designated month to focus on their contributions to the development of Florida, Florida Jewish History Month is a time to learn how Jews have been involved in enriching the lives and dreams of all Floridians. It is another time to celebrate the strength and richness that our multicultural population brings to our State. SIGNIFICANCE OF JEWISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO FLORIDA’S DEVELOPMENT

1. Jews have been a significant part of the development of our State since 1763, which is the first year that Jews were allowed to live (as Jews) in Florida. Since Florida was owned by Spain from 1513, it was “for Catholics only” for 250 years. The first Jews settled in Pensacola after the Treaty of Paris was signed that turned Florida over from Spain to England. 2. Today, 16% of the American Jewish community lives in Florida. Our State hosts the nation's third largest Jewish community (after NY and CA) with at least 850,000. South Florida has the second largest concentration of Jews in the world, after Israel, at 15%. 3. A Jew, David Levy Yulee, is known as the “architect” of Florida Statehood. As a territorial delegate in 1841, he went to the U.S. Congress to argue for statehood. In 1845 when Florida became the 27th state, Florida's first Senator to serve in Washington was David Levy Yulee. Yulee, the first Jew to serve in the U.S. Congress, also developed Florida’s first cross-state railroad. Levy County and the town of Yulee in Nassau County honor him. 4. David Levy Yulee’s father, Moses Levy, had come into Florida by 1820 and began purchasing 100,000 acres in north central Florida where, on 1,000 acres, he started a Jewish colony in Micanopy; he was a founder of that city. Twenty-three years before statehood, in 1822, Moses Levy established Pilgrimage Plantation that attracted Jews fleeing persecution in Europe and he brought sugar cane and fruit trees. The Plantation was burned down at the onset of the Second Seminole War in 1835. An Orthodox Jew, Moses Levy was among the

earliest and largest developers in Florida, published a plan to abolish slavery and was a proponent of free education in Florida as a charter member of the Florida Education Society. Continued on next page…

5. More than 100 Jewish families have been identified who have lived in Florida over 100 years. The Dzialynski family came to Jacksonville by 1850; is still there--still Jewish. There were six Jewish congregations in Florida before the turn of the 20th century. Today there are more than 300 congregations who are involved with improving the quality of life for all people in the State. 6. Floridian Jews have served on local, county, state and federal levels as politicians and in many public capacities. Richard Stone served as Florida’s Secretary of State then U.S. Senator (1974-80); David Sholtz was Governor (1933-37). In 1990, State Senator Gwen Margolis became the nation’s first woman State Senate president. More than 250 Floridian Jews have served as judges and more than 150 Jews have served as mayors. 7. Jews have served in Florida in all the wars. Fort Myers is named for Col. Abraham Myers, a Jewish West Point graduate who was the quartermaster for the fort in the Indian wars during the mid-1800s. Jacksonville’s Admiral Ellis Zacharias, Chief of Naval Intelligence during WWII, helped break the Japanese code in 1941 that resulted in the U.S. victory in the Pacific. 8. The contributions made by Jews to the development of Florida are in every sector. A Jew was a founder of the Florida Cattlemen's Association (Saul Snyder of St. Augustine); Jews have been prominent in the citrus, tomato and tobacco industries. An Orlando Jew and a graduate of the University of Florida in 1948 received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1968 for breaking the genetic code (Marshall Warren Nirenberg). Jews have been active in the development and construction industries including creating cities (Cape Coral, San Carlos Park, Bay Harbor Islands and Seaside) and highways, in banking and insurance, the arts, education, military and science, agriculture, space industry, the professions and much more. 9. For more than 250 years, Jews have lived in Florida and maintained traditions of their heritage. Jews represent one immigrant group in our multiculturally diverse state. 10. The Jewish Museum of Florida opened in 1995 on South Beach in two adjacent former synagogues, both on the National Register of Historic Places, that were lovingly restored by the Museum. The Museum’s mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the Jewish experience in Florida. Thousands of students, as well as adults who are both residents and tourists, visit the art and history exhibits and learn how diverse individuals – who are more alike than different - come together to preserve our cultural heritage and enhance the quality of life for all Floridians. In December 2012, the Museum became part of Florida International University, igniting a new era of interdisciplinary education and research. Check our website www.jewishmuseum.com for timelines and further information on Florida Jewish History Month.

FLORIDA JEWISH IMMIGRATION FROM 1763

301 Washington Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305-672-5044 www.jewishmuseum.com

LESSON PLAN FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS

IMPORTANT FLORIDA JEWISH HISTORY TIME PERIODS AND PERSONALITIES

Introduction:

How long have you lived in Florida? From where did your relatives come? Like all Floridians, you and/or your relatives came to Florida from someplace else, either recently or a long time ago. Some people came to Florida to escape religious or political persecution. Others came for better jobs or because they liked the climate. Florida’s history is the story of the people who settled here and Jewish Floridians are a part of the story. Jews have played an active role in Florida history from the time they were allowed to live here in 1763. Since Ponce de Leon discovered Florida for Spain in 1513 until the British got possession of Florida in 1763, Florida was “for Catholics only” (from a law decreed by the King and Queen of Spain stating that all of Spain and its territories were “Catholic” countries and possessions). Some historians believe that under Spanish rule there were “Conversos” (Jews who hid their religion and converted to save their lives) who lived in Florida in the 1500s and 1600s. Early Florida - Territory and Statehood:

One of the most noted Jewish persons to settle in Florida was Moses Elias Levy, a man of Sephardic heritage who came to Florida in 1819. Levy bought 100,000 acres of Florida land and, in 1822, built a communal/agricultural settlement colony for European Jews who were treated badly in their native countries. The colony was called “Pilgrimage Plantation” and it was near present-day Gainesville. Records indicate that Frederick Warburg and five other German Jewish families lived there. For four years, from age thirteen to seventeen, Levy’s son, David Levy Yulee, in later years known as the “architect of Florida,” also lived on the premises, helping with the colony’s operation. After thirteen years, the colony was destroyed by the Seminoles at the outbreak of the Second Seminole War in 1835. Moses Levy was one of the earliest Jewish settlers and largest developers in Florida. He was one of the first people to grow sugar cane and fruit trees in Florida. Additionally, he was Florida’s first abolitionist (anti-slavery) author. He established a trading relationship with the largest Seminole town in Florida. He was also an early advocate of public education for both boys and girls and was instrumental in establishing Florida’s first free public school in St. Augustine, where he lived in his later years. David Levy Yulee, Moses Levy’s second son, was born in St. Thomas, the West Indies. After Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821, David worked hard to make Florida a state. When Florida became a state in 1845, David Levy Yulee, a Sephardic Jew, was elected its first U.S. Senator. Yulee was the original Moroccan family name that David legally added to his name. One of his most important contributions to the State was starting the first cross-state railway line between the Florida Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Levy County and the city of Yulee were named to honor the family.

Several Jewish soldiers played important roles in the Seminole Indian Wars. Among them was Abraham C.

Myers, a West Point graduate from South Carolina. Myers was Army Quartermaster during the First and Second Seminole Wars, 1835-1842, and did a good job in supplying the troops with food and clothing. Ft. Myers, Florida, is named for him. During the Civil War, the American colonies were divided. Union army in the North vs. Confederate army in the South. Jews fought Union (Northern) armies in Civil War battles in Florida. However, Michael Levy of Pensacola, Morris Dzialynski of Jacksonville and Gus Cohen of Milton fought for the (South) Confederacy. There were some Jews who favored the Union and they stayed in towns held by Union troops. During the Civil War period, David Levy Yulee helped the Confederate (Southern) government and supported Florida’s secession from the Union. Raphael Jacob Moses from Charleston, South Carolina lived in the Tallahassee area around 1836 and then moved to St. Joseph and Apalachicola. He was secretary of a railroad company and a Florida delegate to the 1848 Democratic National Convention. During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate army. One interesting story about a Jewish leader took place in May 1865, when Judah P. Benjamin, Treasurer and Secretary of State of the Confederacy, escaped from Union troops by hiding in Florida. He was dressed as a farmer and was hidden in the Gamble Mansion in Manatee County. From there he made his way to Cuba and later to Europe. His image was on the Confederate $2 bill.

Questions for Further Exploration:

Elementary:

1. Complete the immigration map activity following this section. Immigrants from all over the world have made Florida their home. Look at your map and either circle or write in the country where your family comes from.

2. Based on your reading, in what year were Jews allowed to live in Florida? 3. Who were the Conversos? 4. During the Civil War, the country was divided into North and South. Identify the names given for each

side? 5. Moses Elias Levy came to Florida in 1819 and built the Pilgrimage Plantation. What crops did he grow?

Middle School:

1. When were Jews first allowed to settle in Florida as Jews? 2. Who were the “Conversos”? 3. Moses Elias Levy settled in Florida in 1819. What did he name his plantation and what reasons does he

give for settling in the state of Florida? 4. Moses Elias Levy was an advocate for:

a. eliminating slavery b. communal/agricultural settlements c. education d. all of the above

5. Based on your reading and further research of these people in Florida’s history, discuss the contributions and impact of these individuals in Florida’s history: a) Moses Levy c) Abraham C. Myers b) David Levy Yulee d) Raphael Jacob Moses

6. Judah P. Benjamin’s image is on the Confederate $2 bill. Based on your reading, what did you learn about Judah?

7. Define the following words mentioned in your reading. Refer to your dictionaries if necessary. a) Secession b) Confederate c) Union d) Seminole

High School:

1. Many Jews came to Florida to escape persecution. Did your family come here for the same reason? Explain when and why your family moved to the State.

2. The people who live in Florida today come from 200 different nations and practice many different religions. If the discrimination the Spanish originally insisted upon was the rule today, how would that change the face of Florida?

Extended Activity:

If you had lived in Florida during the Civil War period, would you have been in favor of secession? Why or why not? Researching further, discuss your position in detail using facts to support your answer.

FLORIDA JEWISH IMMIGRATION

Below is a map of Florida surrounded by places of origin of most Floridian Jews.

Listed are cities to which most Floridian Jews have migrated since 1763. Write the name of the city in the correct place on the map below.

Key West Tampa Jacksonville Ocala

Miami Orlando Pensacola Tallahassee

After the Civil War: After the Civil War, Florida faced many problems: farmlands were destroyed and the economy was ruined. However after life began to improve, people started to settle in Florida again. Jews were among the first to settle in Florida; many became peddlers or had stores in small towns and thus the Jewish community grew. At this time, most white business owners would not hire Blacks to work in their stores. Jewish business people often hired Blacks. In 1869, Samuel Fleischman had a hardware store in Marianna. He hired Blacks to work there and was threatened by the Ku Klux Klan. (The Ku Klux Klan, a.k.a KKK, is the name of a fraternal organization in the United States that has advocated white supremacy, antisemitism, racism, anti-Catholicism, homophobia and nativism. They often use terrorism, violence and acts of intimidation such as cross burning to oppress African Americans and others.) Fleischman was told to leave town, and he went to Tallahassee to get protection. The government in Tallahassee ignored his request and he was murdered. His body was found on the road leading back to Marianna and his murderers were never brought to trial. Several Jewish communities were established in northern Florida between 1850 and 1880. One of the earliest of these was in Jacksonville. Jacksonville was an important business and railroad center. Morris A. Dzialynski, a prominent Jewish businessman, served as customs collector, alderman and mayor. He was a leader of the first Jewish congregation in Jacksonville in 1882, the same year he was mayor. Jews were also active in other parts of the State. Henry Brash was elected three times as mayor of Marianna, beginning in 1879. Herman Glogowski became mayor of Tampa in 1886. The Maas Brothers, Abe and Isaac

Maas, from Tampa and Ocala, started a small store. This grew into a large department store chain that lasted 100 years. By the late 1800s, Key West had become one of the largest cities in Florida. It had a large port and a cigar-making industry. Key West became a center of Jewish settlement, especially for Jews escaping persecution in Romania. They opened businesses and joined community groups. Key West Jews were active in supporting Cuba’s independence from Spain. During the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898), Jews raised money for Cuban independence leaders. José Martí, the Cuban leader, traveled to Key West to thank the people who had raised the money. He was especially grateful for the help he had been given by Louis Fine, a Jewish community leader. Fine served on a committee to help the Cubans.

Questions for Further Exploration:

Elementary:

1. Who was Samuel Fleischman? What happened to him and why? 2. After the Civil War, Florida faced many challenges, based on your reading, name two problems faced by

early Florida settlers. 3. In this reading you learn about the challenges faced by one of Florida’s earliest settlers, Samuel

Fleischman. From your reading, imagine you were settling in Florida after the Civil War. What do you think some of your challenges would be?

4. In your family history, you may have learned that your relatives immigrated to Florida. What challenges

did they face?

5. In this reading we learn that 6 early settlers held jobs that contributed to Florida’s growth after the Civil War. Match the job with the person.

Owned a Hardware store Mayor of Mariana Customs collector Mayor of Tampa Department Store Community Leader

Henry Brash Herman Glogowski Maas Brothers Morris Dzialynski Samuel Fleischman Louis Fine

6. Have you or your family ever traveled to a new place to visit? Did you or your family ever experience “culture shock” upon visiting a new place? What was that like? Discuss this idea with your classmates and share experiences.

Middle School:

1. What parallels can you make between Samuel Fleischman and a time in your life when you have stood up for something you believed in? Describe what that experience was like. Would you do it again?

2. What were the contributions of these people to the state of Florida? Support your answers from your readings.

a. a) Henry Brash d) Maas Brothers f) Herman Glogowski b. b) Morris Dzialynski e) Louis Fine

3. Why did Key West become one of the largest cities in Florida by the late 1800s? Research further and give five reasons for its growth.

4. Why do you think the Jews of Key West helped raise money for the Cuban revolution? Support your answers with details from further research.

High School:

1. If you had settled in Florida during the Civil War period, what jobs/roles or important contributions would you have fulfilled in the growing state? Would you have been a peddler? A storekeeper? Or something else and why?

2. What were the specific economic problems Florida faced after the Civil War and how did Jews help to improve each situation? Research beyond the readings and support your findings with details.

Extended Activity:

Research at least three Jewish communities that were established in Florida between 1850 and 1898. Name the outstanding economic, political and cultural contributions made by Jews in those communities. Share your findings on a poster board for all to see in a creative manner you devise.

Florida Enters the Twentieth Century:

Key West’s position as one of the largest cities in Florida didn’t last long. After Henry Flagler’s railroad reached Miami in 1896, Key West’s population declined. Miami’s population increased. Jews moved from Europe, Asia and Latin America to Miami and to other Florida cities. Some came from cities within the United States. By the early 1900s, Miami’s population reached about 1,000. Twelve of Miami’s earliest sixteen stores were owned by Jews. One of the most prominent Miami Jewish businessmen and the first permanent Jewish settler in Miami was Isidor Cohen, who came from Russia and in 1896, opened a store on the banks of the Miami River. He was a signer of the Charter of the City of Miami. Cohen’s book, Historical Sketches and Sidelights of Miami, Florida, describes some of his adventures in frontier Miami. When his store first opened, he had to row his customers across the Miami River to reach it. He worried about his customers’ falling out of the boat and drowning! Eventually, life became more settled. By 1912, a Jewish congregation was established. By 1923, South Florida’s Jewish population reached approximately 2,500. South Florida has the third largest Jewish population in the United States (after New York and Los Angeles).

Saul Schneiderman, was another pioneer of the early 1900s who moved in 1904 to St. Augustine from Russia. He changed his name to Snyder and built a successful grocery business and cattle ranch. He became a founder and president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. Saul Snyder’s cattle brand, the “Magen David” (Jewish Star), was known throughout the State. Questions for Further Exploration:

Elementary: 1. In your reading, what three countries do immigrants begin to come from to live in Florida? 2. Isidor Cohen was the first permanent settler in Miami. What country did he come from? He owned a

store, but how did his customers reach it?

3. Saul Schneiderman’s cattle were branded with what symbol?

Middle School:

1. Based on your reading, write three things you learned about each of these early Miami settlers:

Saul Schneiderman and Isidor Cohen 2. What contributed to Miami’s development as an important Florida city after 1896? 3. You learned that Isidor Cohen and Saul Schneiderman both had successful businesses in early Florida.

What jobs did they do in their communities? Imagine that you were brought in to improve their businesses, based on your reading, what would you help them fix or improve?

High School:

1. In your reading, early 20th century Florida saw several economic innovations that contributed to its

growth. Identify three people mentioned in the readings and what their innovations were. 2. You learned that Isidor Cohen and Saul Schneiderman both had successful businesses in early Florida.

Imagine that you were brought in to improve these businesses. Based on your reading and your modern-day knowledge, what modern innovation would you implement to make those improvements?

3. From your readings, which industry would you have embarked on in early Florida of this time period?

Why?

Extended Activity:

Create a visual timeline that traces Miami’s population growth from the years of 1900 – 1923. Through further research in this time period, include pictures and facts to illustrate the content of your timeline. In addition, add the economic contributions of Jews to the growth during those years describing in detail the projects that helped improve Florida’s growing community.

Florida During the Depression: After World War I (1914-1918), Florida’s economy expanded, and Florida entered a boom period. Roads improved and more people moved to the State. Florida’s new Jewish settlers included people from U.S. cities in the north and from Eastern Europe. In 1926 however, two main factors affected Florida’s continued growth: economy and nature. A fruit fly problem along with a major hurricane caused a great deal of damage and a slumping economy with a tremendous decline in land sales. Because of these problems, Florida was affected by the great Depression of the 1930s before the rest of the country and the world. In 1933, David Sholtz, who came from a Jewish family in Daytona Beach, began his term as Governor of Florida. During the election, an opponent made antisemitic remarks about his Jewish background. Sholtz ignored the attack and stuck to campaign issues. When the votes were counted, Sholtz had won. It was the largest number of votes a candidate for Governor received up to that time. During his time as Governor, Florida was in the middle of the great Depression: businesses had failed; people were out of work; schools had closed and, in some counties, teachers had not been paid in months. Sholtz’s plan to help Florida recover included asking the Federal government for help. Although some members of the Florida Legislature disagreed with his plan and fought it, Sholtz was successful. Governor Sholtz was a friend of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and he supported the President’s program to end the Depression called the “New Deal.” President Roosevelt’s program provided the State money to feed the poor and created jobs for those without work. Sholtz is often called the “New Deal Governor” because of his agreement with Roosevelt’s plans. Florida was granted this federal aid and Governor Sholtz moved forward for plans to reopen Florida schools, pay teachers and provide students with free textbooks. David Sholtz’s parents were immigrants from Germany: his father, Michael Sholtz, was a successful developer in the Daytona Beach area who liked the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) so much that he built a training camp for the baseball team. They only trained there for one year (1916), but it was a good year. It was the year they won the pennant (first place in the league in which they played)! Questions for Further Exploration:

Elementary:

1. What were the two main factors which affected Florida’s continued growth? Explain. 2. Based on your reading, describe what you learned about David Sholtz? 3. What challenges did David Sholtz face and describe how he was successful in meeting those challenges

by doing further research beyond the readings here.

Middle School:

1. Based on your reading, what natural and economic factors affected Florida during the Great Depression? 2. Identify David Sholtz’s three contributions for the growth of Florida. 3. Why is Mr. Sholtz’s story important? 4. Who did Sholtz ask for help to rebuild Florida? Based on facts from your reading, create a timeline

illustrating his plan for recovery from the Depression.

High School:

1. Governor Sholtz was bullied and attacked during his campaign for Governor. Why was he attacked? Based on your reading, why do you think he was not discouraged? Give reasons for your opinion on this matter.

2. Identify an individual in the media or your community whose story is similar to Governor Sholtz. Compare and contrast their differences and similarities.

Extended Activity:

If you were developing an advertising campaign for Governor Sholtz, how would you position him in the media? Develop a public service advertisement for Governor Sholtz using modern day strategies and technology. How would you adjust the ad for various market audiences? (i.e., MTV, late night television, early morning or prime-time slots.)

Florida During Modern Times: Florida Jews have contributed to U.S. military efforts, scientific developments, real estate and development and to the exploration of space. Admiral Ellis Zacharias of Jacksonville helped the United States in World War II by deciphering the Japanese code. This led to the Japanese defeat in the Pacific. Dr. Marshall Warren

Nirenberg of Orlando was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1968 for breaking the genetic code. This enabled scientists to treat diseases and medical problems more successfully. Harry Kaplan, from Brevard County, received an award from the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) for his work in developing the space suit and backpacks in 1973. Jewish Floridians also have been active in business, education and government. The Wolfson family, originally from Key West, started the first Florida television station, located in Miami, in 1949. They opened a chain of movie theaters (WOMETCO) and started the Seaquarium, an important present day Florida tourist site, on Key Biscayne. George Terry of Orlando had oil wells and 157,000 acres of cattle ranches in Florida by the 1960s. Reba Engler Daner was one of the first female attorneys in the State. Rose Weiss, of Miami Beach, sold over five million dollars worth of U.S. War Bonds during World War II. Ruth Greenfield opened the first integrated school for the cultural arts in Miami in 1951. Paul Bell was Superintendent of the Dade County Public Schools in 1990. Many Jewish Floridians have held important positions in government. There have been four Jewish Chief Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, 250 Jewish Judges, 150 Mayors. Richard Stone, of Miami Beach, served as Florida Secretary of State (1972-1974) and United States Senator (1975-1980). Gwen Margolis from Miami-Dade County became President of the Florida Senate in 1990; she is the first female in the United States to hold this position. In 2004, Debbie Wasserman Schultz was elected to the U.S. Congress, becoming the first Jewish woman to represent Florida. BONIM means builders in Hebrew. From farmlands, to city blocks, to buildings, communities, houses, skyscrapers, railroads and highways, Jews have had a hand in it all. Since Moses Levy began purchasing 100,000 acres in north-central Florida in 1820, Jews have been involved in every aspect of the development of Florida. They took raw land - much of it swampland - and helped bring the South's smallest populated state to the powerhouse it is today. The real estate developers and builders and those in allied industries (lawyers, bankers, construction companies) made an indelible imprint and helped transform Florida from the South’s least populous state one hundred years ago to the powerhouse that it is today. William Lehman was the moving force behind the creation of the Miami Metro Rail; the Lehman Causeway connecting Aventura and Sunny Isles is named in his honor. William Singer was instrumental in the execution of the Julia Tuttle Causeway and the Palmetto Expressway. The portion of I-95 going through Miami-Dade County is named in his honor. Shepard Broad created Miami’s Bay Harbor Islands and the Broad Causeway bears his name. The Norman Giller Bridge on the Lehman Causeway, which connects Aventura to Sunny Isles, is the only bridge named for a living architect. Hollywood was developed by visionary Sam Horvitz. Key

West was redeveloped mainly by David Wolkowsky. Abe Mailman created the City of Miramar and funded what is today the Abe Mailman Center for the Developmentally Disabled at Jackson Memorial Hospital Center. Henri Levy developed the Miami communities of Surfside and Normandy Isles. In Broward County, Morris

Cooper established the community of Cooper City.

Brothers Jules and Jack Freeman developed the city of San Carlos Park, south of Ft. Myers. Leonard and

Julius “Jack” Rosen assembled 114 square miles of wooded real estate on the western tip of Lee County which is Cape Coral. Robert Davis developed Seaside, the renowned Florida northwest beach town where “picket-fenced cottages line brick streets leading towards sugar-white beaches and clear Gulf waters.” Irwin Levy, Aaron Schechter and Bob Rapaport were the visionaries behind the creation of Century Village Retirement Communities in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels on Miami Beach were designed by Morris Lapidus. Henry Hohauser designed over 100 buildings in the Art Deco District, including the famous Cardozo, Carlyle and Park Central hotels and the building that houses the Jewish Museum of Florida. In 1928 while on vacation in Miami, Nathan Stone was unable to obtain a room in the Roney Plaza Hotel because of its anti-semitic policies. Stone purchased land at Washington Avenue and Eighth Street for the Blackstone Hotel, a hotel that welcomed Jews and African Americans. The Miami Beach

Holocaust Memorial on Dade Boulevard and Meridian Avenue was created by Kenneth Treister. Max

Orovitz lawyer, builder and investor, was the inspiration and leader of the group of local businessmen to form Mt. Sinai Medical Center. These Jews, like people from other ethnic groups, are all part of the history of Florida. They have lived in Florida and they have worked very hard to make it a better place.

Questions for Further Exploration:

Elementary:

1. Based on your reading, you learned that Jews contributed to the: a) military b) science c) medicine d) space e) real estate development f) all of the above 2. The following Jewish people made significant contributions to Florida. Based on your reading, where

did these people come from in Florida: Admiral Ellis Zacharias ______________________ Dr. Marshall Nirenberg ____________________ Harry Kaplan_______________________________ George Terry____________________________ Reba Engler Daner___________________________ Rose Weiss_____________________________ Gwen Margolis______________________________ Richard Stone__________________________

3. Each of us contributes in our own way to make a better world. Each of the following people made the world a better place by their achievements. Based on your reading, what extraordinary achievement did they do? Admiral Ellis Zacharias ______________________ Dr. Marshall Nirenberg ____________________ Harry Kaplan_______________________________ George Terry____________________________ Reba Engler Daner___________________________ Rose Weiss_____________________________ Gwen Margolis______________________________ Richard Stone__________________________

4. What does the Hebrew word BONIM mean? _________________________________

5. Based on your reading, in Miami-Dade County, who built the city Bay Harbor Islands and the Broad Causeway that leads to it?

6. Who was the architect responsible for many of the hotels in the Art Deco district?

7. From what you learned about the achievements of Florida Jews in modern times, which of these people inspires you and why?

8. As a young person in this world, how do you make your world a better place? 9. Who in your culture is someone who you look up to and makes a difference and why?

Middle School: 1. Based on your reading, identify the ways Jewish Floridians have contributed to military, scientific and

space efforts. 2. For whom is the Singer Expressway portion of I-95 going through Miami-Dade County named? 3. Using your dictionary, define the words:

Developer Architect Designer Investor Builder Visionary

4. Name the Jewish Floridians who achieved recognition in fields such as: television, science, cattle ranching, law, education and government.

5. If you could model yourself after any one of the people mentioned in this section, who would it be? Why?

6. Each person has an important job in our world. Whether it is a mother, father, teacher, doctor, artist or young person, each of us plays an important role. Thinking into your future, what job or role will you fulfill in our world and why?

7. Who built Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau Hotel? 8. Who built the Blackstone Hotel and what reason fueled its creation?

High School:

1. If you could model yourself after any one of the people mentioned in this section, who would it be? Why?

2. The people mentioned in this section were pioneers and visionaries who cultivated a meaningful life through their professions and beliefs. As you consider your future over the next few years, what do you think your professional choices will be and how do you think you will cultivate your role in society?

Extended Activity:

Today there are many Jews in Florida who are contributing to the world of business, law, education, science and the arts. Using the Internet, research and find ten such individuals, writing a brief biography of their major contribution to the community in each of these fields. Prepare a creative visual way to share this information with others in your school. In your reading you learn that Architects such as Kenneth Treister and Henry Hohauser contributed to the architectural development of Miami Beach. Do further research about these architects. Why are they important? Find evidence to support their artistic and cultural contributions to the community.

Museum Exterior

Museum Interior

This pocket watch with Hebrew letters was owned by George Dzialynski, born in 1857 in Jacksonville. George was the first Jewish boy born in Florida to a family that planted roots in the state and has continued to live

here as Jews since 1850.

Hands-on workshops

Guided Tours

School Groups

JEWISH MUSEUM OF FLORIDA-FIU

SCHEDULE: Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am – 5 pm;

closed Mondays and holidays

ADDRESS: 301 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33139-6965

Phone: 305-672-5044

Fax: 305-672-5933

WEBSITE: www.jewishmuseum.com

EDUCATION MANAGER:

PHONE NUMBER: 786-972-3187

EMAIL: education@jewishmuseum.com

FOCUS: The mission of our museum is to collect, preserve and interpret the material evidence of the Florida Jewish experience from 1763 to the present. We examine how Jews form a part of a dynamic mosaic of ethnic groups, all seeking to balance the continuity and traditions of their heritage with the values and customs of a larger society. Sound familiar? Every family has an immigrant background; the photographs, stories, artifacts, historical documents and art in our Museum, while reflective of the Jewish experience in Florida, embrace the shared immigrant experience in our society. Participants in our Museum experience soon recognize themselves in our stories and remark: “We are more alike than different.” We seek to illuminate the diversity that exists in Florida by providing a lens through which history is viewed. Our educational programs are rooted in the benchmarks and desired outcomes of the Florida Sunshine State standards, the Competency Based Curriculum and the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

AGES: Programming suitable for all ages – students to adults.

PROGRAM OFFERINGS:

• Guided tours: Core exhibit “MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida” and temporary art and history exhibits.

• Multi-media experience: Our exhibits are enriched with the use of primary source documents, photographs and artifacts (letters, clothing, ads, artifacts), films and oral histories to reach diverse learners.

• Professional Development: Hands-on workshops designed for teachers K – 12.

• Student Workshops: Multi-disciplinary hands-on workshops using exhibit themes to make history come to life.

GROUPS BY RESERVATION ONLY:

School group: Cost is $2.50 per student; $5.00 per adult (first adult free if school group is over 20 students) Adult group (20 or more): reservations required $50 non-refundable deposit required for all tours

GENERAL ADMISSION:

Adults $6.00 Senior/Student $5.00 Family $12.00

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment and educational programs/activities and programs/activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, and strives affirmatively to provide equal opportunity for all as required by:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended - prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, or national origin.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 - prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended - prohibits discrimination on the basis of age with respect to individuals who are at least 40.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended - prohibits sex discrimination in payment of wages to women and men performing substantially equal work in the same establishment.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - prohibits discrimination against the disabled.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) - prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment, public service, public accommodations and telecommunications.

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) - requires covered employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to "eligible" employees for certain family and medical reasons.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 - prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Florida Educational Equity Act (FEEA) - prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, national origin, marital status, or handicap against a student or employee.

Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 - secures for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status.

School Board Rules 6Gx13- 4A-1.01, 6Gx13- 4A-1.32, and 6Gx13- 5D-1.10 - prohibit harassment and/or discrimination against a student or employee on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, political beliefs, marital status, age, sexual orientation, social and family background, linguistic preference, pregnancy, or disability.

Veterans are provided re-employment rights in accordance with P.L. 93-508 (Federal Law) and Section 295.07 (Florida Statutes), which stipulate categorical preferences for employment.

Revised 10/29/07