South Florida has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Jewish population centers in the United States, attracting an increasing number of retirees, young professionals, and families Drawn by the region’s warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, and high quality of life, newcomers find it easy to enjoy outdoor activities year-round, participate in community events, and stay actively engaged in Jewish life.
One of South Florida’s greatest assets is its well-established Jewish infrastructure, which has led to the spike in relocations in recent years. The area offers a wide array of kosher supermarkets, Jewish day schools, synagogues across all denominations, and vibrant community centers. This strong foundation not only supports religious observance but also fosters a rich cultural and communal environment.
Nicknamed “The Israel of the West,” South Florida — particularly cities like Boca Raton, Hollywood, and Miami Beach — is not just known for its vibrant lifestyle, but also for its thriving Jewish communities. Boca Raton, for example, is home to approximately 65,000 Jews, boasting one of the highest population densities in the region outside of Miami, according to recent demographic studies.
With its rich cultural offerings and strong sense of community, South Florida isn’t just a great place to live — it’s also an incredible destination to visit. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, scouting a future home, or simply looking to immerse yourself in vibrant Jewish life, South Florida has something for everyone. Here’s your guide to exploring the must-visit Jewish landmarks, eateries, and experiences across the region.
Editor’s note: This article is part of our series on travel guides to your favorite destinations. Check out our Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Kraków, Toronto, Milan, Rome, Brooklyn, and Manhattan guides, and look out for guides to other cities coming soon.
What To See
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach was established by a committee of Holocaust survivors in the mid-1980s and opened in 1990. At the time, Miami Beach’s tourism industry was in decline, and the city had become home to one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors in the United States. As the older Jewish community began to age and pass on, local survivors and their families felt an urgent need to create a permanent tribute to memorialize the Holocaust and honor those who were lost.
They formally created the Holocaust Memorial Committee, establishing it as a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, remembrance, and community engagement. Today, the museum operates as a committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, continuing its mission of Holocaust education and commemoration.
The memorial’s centerpiece was designed by Kenneth Treister, a lifelong sculptor and Miami native, and took four years to complete, and was entirely funded through private donations. At its center stands a four-story-high bronze sculpture of a stretched arm, tattooed with a number, reaching skyward in anguish. Surrounding it are over 100 human figures, clinging to the arm and to each other, set against a backdrop of Jerusalem stone. The work symbolizes the suffering and resilience of Holocaust victims and honors the memory of the six million Jews murdered during the Shoah.
Jewish Museum of Florida
Before 1984, the history of Jewish life in Florida had largely not been researched or documented. There had been no comprehensive research, documentation, or preservation of the stories and contributions of Florida’s Jewish communities. That changed with the launch of the MOSAIC Project, which collected oral histories, documents, photographs, and artifacts that traced when, how, and why Jews came to the Sunshine State. The result was a statewide traveling exhibit called MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida, which visited 13 different communities between 1990 and 1994. Due to the massive success of the exhibit, the Jewish Museum of Florida was born to provide a permanent home for the collection and to expand upon it.
Now part of Florida International University, the Jewish Museum of Florida is dedicated to preserving and sharing Florida’s rich Jewish history, art, and culture. The museum is housed and is located in two preserved historic synagogues.
The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum
Part of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum is free and open to the public seven days a week during library hours. More than just a memorial space, it is a fully equipped museum and resource center dedicated to Holocaust education and remembrance.
The center features a collection of original artifacts, wall-mounted images, and historical documents that chronicle the events leading up to, during, and after the Holocaust. Visitors can view rare newspapers of the period, examine personal objects, and explore curated exhibits that offer a detailed timeline of Nazi persecution and Jewish resistance. Interactive research stations provide access to digital archives and connect users to the world’s leading Holocaust museums and institutions.
The museum is also home to the USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive, which allows guests to search and view more than 55,000 recorded Holocaust survivor testimonies, offering an intimate and powerful window into individual experiences of the Shoah.
Where To Eat
The kosher scene
Located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, PX Mediterranean Grill offers a glatt kosher menu serving everything from falafel to gyros. If you’re looking for something more upscale, ZUKA in Hollywood serves a unique fusion of sushi, salads, pasta, pizza, and cocktails — plus, it’s a hookah lounge. The sleek, adults-only dining environment is 18+, and reservations require guests to be 21 or older. To cater to South Florida’s large Latin American Jewish population, La Matera is a kosher Argentinian steakhouse located in North Miami Beach, and Lasso Grill is a kosher Asado-style restaurant located in Hollywood.
TooJays Deli
Florida’s favorite deli and bakery chain, TooJays, has been serving up classic deli fare, baked goods, and comfort food since 1981. With 19 locations across the state, they’re a go-to for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and offer catering, too. Some of their iconic items include the hot pastrami sandwich and corned beef reuben. Don’t forget to grab a pack of their iconic black and white cookies!
Motek Cafe
A kosher-style, family-owned Mediterranean restaurant with culinary influences from across the Middle East, Motek opened its first location in Downtown Miami in 2020. Whether you get a taste of their all-day brunch, lunch, or dinner menus, or try their freshly baked sweets and coffee, Motek has quickly become a staple in Miami’s dynamic food scene. The menu draws inspiration from Israeli, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Persian cuisines, with standout dishes like chicken schnitzel, kebabs, hummus bowls, and bourekas.
Following the success of its Miami locations, Motek recently opened a new outpost in Boca Raton and is preparing to expand beyond Florida for the first time, with five upcoming locations planned for New York City.
Motek’s growing hospitality group also includes sister concepts like YALLA, a Mediterranean street food counter at Aventura Mall, and Sesame Bakery, a French-style patisserie with an Israeli twist, known for its rugelach, babka, and buttery croissants with a Middle Eastern flair.
Locations: Aventura, Boca Raton, Brickell City Center, Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, and Miami Beach
Where to Spend Shabbat
There are several local Chabad houses throughout South Florida that offer Shabbat meals, prayer services, and warm hospitality for both locals and visitors. Communities in Boca Raton, Weston, Plantation, and Fort Lauderdale each have active Chabad houses, making it easy for travelers to find a welcoming Shabbat experience wherever they are.
There are also plenty of synagogues across the region representing a range of Jewish traditions. One standout is The Shul of Bal Harbour, often described as one of the most “unorthodox, Orthodox” synagogues in the country. Rooted in the Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy and the mitzvah “to love every Jew as one loves oneself,” the synagogue emphasizes kindness, inclusivity, and joyful Jewish practice through mitzvot, Torah study, and heartfelt prayer. Reflecting its diverse membership — including many Sephardic and Latin American Jews — The Shul also offers a dedicated Sephardic minyan.
Another notable congregation is Temple Beth Shmuel, also known as Circulo, the Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami. Founded in 1961 to provide a home for Jews who fled Cuba at the height of Fidel Castro’s rise to power, it quickly became a spiritual and cultural home to the Cuban-Jewish community. Designed by Oscar Sklar, the sanctuary features stained glass windows representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
In Boca Raton, Reform synagogues Temple Beth El and Congregation B’nai Israel both offer vibrant community life, educational programs, and services that welcome visitors year-round.
For Jewish young adults, Yehudi is a popular and growing organization offering monthly Shabbat dinners and events for ages 22–32. With locations in Aventura, Brickell, Surfside, and Miami Beach, and a dedicated South Florida college chapter, Yehudi creates meaningful Jewish experiences and is especially known for its warm and open atmosphere, ideal for travelers and locals alike.
Moishe House, an organization for Jews aged 22-32 to connect, also has three locations in South Florida: Wynwood, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami Beach. Besides hosting Shabbat dinners, young Jews are free to join events ranging from Israeli dancing, paint and sip, and mini golf, to debates about Israeli politics and Torah study.
