Florida’s Amelia Island Welcomes its First Rabbi

Douglas Greene, a real estate investor, moved to Amelia Island, Florida about 15 years ago. Like many of the island’s residents, Greene and his wife, Carolyn, enjoy the balmy weather and laid-back lifestyle on the island, which, at the northeastern tip of the state of Florida, is the southernmost of the Sea Islands chain along the East Coast. 

When Greene first moved to the island, there wasn’t much in the way of Jewish life. With no synagogue to attend, a small group of residents would get together on Friday nights to celebrate Shabbat together, but “it was more of a social scene,” said Greene. He’d been a member of a shul in Potomac, Maryland before moving to the island, but wasn’t satisfied. “I wanted more Judaism, but I also love it down here. My parents, sister, daughter and their families live here.”

Greene reached out to Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov, of Chabad Lubavitch of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, some 45 miles away. 

With Rabbi Kahanov’s help, Greene negotiated with the city of Fernandina Beach to purchase 20 burial plots in the local municipal cemetery, which were enclosed and sanctified as a Jewish cemetery. 

“I woke up in the middle of the night one night thinking, ‘Okay, I got Jewish death taken care of. Now I need to start working on Jewish life,’” Greene told Lubavitch.com. “So I started talking to Rabbi Kahanov about bringing someone up here.”

Fred Borakove, a Jewish resident of the island, said that many of the island’s estimated 1,000 Jews were interested in a little more formality in their lives. But for the many retirees who call the island paradise home, helping create a new Jewish center seemed daunting. “Almost all of us have built one or two synagogues in our lifetime,” Borakove said. They didn’t feel they could build another Jewish center on their own.

“It’s a pretty herculean task and somewhat daunting for a couple to decide to move here,” Greene said.

Earlier this year, Rabbi Levi and Mindy Katz visited the island. Rabbi Levi Katz grew up in Surfside, Forida, where his parents, Rabbi Menachem and Rochel Katz, work with the Aleph Institute. Mindy Katz grew up in Key West, Florida with her parents, Rabbi Yaakov and Chanie Zucker, of the Chabad Jewish Center of the Florida Keys. “We felt that they would be perfect,” Greene said. “The fact that she’s from Key West and he’s from the Miami area, they kind of understood the culture—particularly Mindy, who grew up on an island like ours.”

The Katzes moved to Amelia Island in the fall, and hit the ground running. They immediately launched programs and events aimed at reaching the many demographics that make up the Jewish community, lowering the barriers of entry for Jewish connection.

“They are there and they will help you, whatever degree of formality of service that you want,” Borakove said. “People are coming around to understand Chabad; to understand that you don’t have to feel embarrassed that you might not be able to read Hebrew anymore. Rabbi Katz said in one of our Shabbat services that G-d understands many languages including English—wow, I never thought about it that way!”

This Chanukah, more than 200 people joined Chabad’s public menorah lighting at Pocket Park in downtown Fernandina Beach. “I was blown away to see how many people were there,” said Borakove.

“They’re coming out and saying, ‘We’re Jewish; we’re not afraid,’” Borakove said. “‘We’re not keeping a low profile. This is how we celebrate.’”

Greene says the community is excited for an infusion of Jewish life on the island. “It’s very fulfilling for me,” he said. “I’m in my mid-60s, and I have a granddaughter who’s going to need Jewish education.“

“My kids are thinking of moving to Jacksonville because there are more Jewish resources available there—but now, maybe they don’t have to.”