Jacksonville Jewish Community

Jacksonville, Florida is located on the Atlantic coast and Tip of Florida. According to the Encylopedia of Southern Jewish Communities, there are an estimated 13,000 Jews currently living in the Jacksonville area. The weather in Jacksonville is cooler than the population centers to the South, located at the midpoint between Atlanta, Georgia (5 hours), and Miami, Florida (5 hours). The cooler and less humid weather is just one of the things that attracts many to this area, and not as cold as Atlanta, where it mostly rains or ices over, it occasionally snows.

Etz Chaim synagogue, the largest Jewish Orthodox synagogue features a Mikvah, a community Eruv, and regularly scheduled daily services. Torah Academy of Jacksonville, located nearby, is an orthodox school catering to the entire community, spans from early childhood through high school. Both the Synagogue and school are located within walking distance of the Orthodox community in Jacksonville. Nearby you'll also find the Jacksonville Jewish Center, Margo's Catering, exclusive caterers for the Jewish Center, and the Galinsky Academy day school, serving the Conservative Jewish community in Jacksonville. For those who are practicing Reform Judaism there is Congregation Ahavath Chessed, reform, which is the oldest Jewish congreation in Florida, and Beth - The Beaches Synaogue.

There's a kosher bakery, Beyer's Bakery, that also sells dairy take out, and a caterer, Classic Kosher Catering, as well as Gili's Kitchen (butcher, catering, kosher meats, and restaurant), and the Winn Dixie Supermarket, which carries fresh kosher meats, dairy, Weberman prepared foods, Bakery, Anny's Challahs and pastries, as well as many kosher packaged items (must have a certification).

Museums include the Museum of Contemporary Art, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, and the Museum of Science & History. Most people don't realize that Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the Continental USA. There are plenty of parks and nature preserves scattered throughout the city. Nearby entertainment includes Bowl America Mandarin, bowling lanes. Just like in other parts of Florida, there are many shopping centers.