As the Hebrew year starts…

Marina Berkovich, JHSSWF President

Arecent study of an archeological discovery published in Current Biology journal mortified me. Human remains were discovered during construction in a UK well, and they turned out to be Jews murdered after the revered hero, King Richard I, and his “Jews are the nearest thing to infidels” actions mobilized the knights into the Third Crusade.

The antisemitic legislation of the Third Lateran Council of 1179 condemned usury and imposed many restrictions against Jews to legitimize such exterminations. In 1190, this Jewish family was murdered, most likely in a blood libel massacre, and thrown into a well. Seventeen bodies. Three of them sisters. “Part of a historically attested episode of antisemitic violence on 6 February 1190 CE,” the researchers wrote. When these bodies were discovered, science was available to test the six bodies with the well-preserved DNA, making it possible to not only prove the horrors Jews underwent then but also that the Ashkenazi Jews existed much earlier than was previously believed.

Our effort is to preserve evidence of Southwest Florida’s vibrant Jewish history. May we be spared from modern-day attempts at crusades, for the number of enemies, just as the number of the Jews, remains relatively proportional throughout history, excluding the periods of horrific violence that periodically threaten to wipe us all out. Somehow, we survive, try to learn more, and teach more to enlighten those of our own persuasion, and all others, of the insurmountable horrors we were once subjected to, in the hopes of it never repeating.

One such individual in Southwest Florida is Jack Nortman, the man whose Box Car Foundation provides Holocaust education to tens of thousands of visitors to The Box Car traveling exhibit, now located at The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center.

The Jewish Historical Society original production, Southwest Florida Jewish Pioneers documentary film, “Jack Nortman, Box Car Giant,” will be shown at a special event in partnership with South Regional Library on Jan. 19, 2023 from 4 to 6 p.m. to celebrate 2023 Florida Jewish History month.

Another Southwest Florida Jewish Pioneers film, “Mitch Spaiser, Way Back Then,” will be shown on Feb. 6 at Chabad Naples.

Registration information to all season events will be announced in November.

There were not many Jewish pioneers during the middle of 20th century in Southwest Florida but every one of them left an indelible mark on the region. Honoring and remembering their achievements is a way of showing gratitude to them.

We recently lost Murray Hendel. Please join us when we replay “Murray’s Mile,” and learn about what one man can do.

The story of Jules Freeman, Lee County Jewish pioneer, is going on our website’s Eyewitness Stories page. Jules came to this area in 1953 and purchased 240 acres of Fort Myers Tamiami Trail frontage. Over the following decades, the Freeman family built San Carlos Park and Three Oaks, helped establish FGCU, donated church and synagogue parcels, and park and community facilities. Jules and Jack Freeman’s legacy is continued by their descendants still living in Southwest Florida.

We count on your support

We encourage you to contribute your story, photos, videos and, of course, support our efforts by donating your time, making contributions and purchasing memberships online. Family membership is $54; individual membership is $36; student membership is $18; and corporate sponsorship is $300.

Join us online or mail check to The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida, 8805 Tamiami Trail North, Suite # 255, Naples, FL 34108.

We can be reached at 833-547-7935 (833-JHS-SWFL), www.jhsswf.org and office@jhsswf.org. The Virtual Museum of SWFL Jewish History is located online at http://jewishhistorysouthwestflorida.org/.

The Jewish Historical Society of Southwest Florida is a section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.