Antisemitic Assault Near Lehrman School
Targeted Violence: Teacher Attacked and Called a “Dirty Jew” Near Miami Beach School
A Jewish teacher was attacked near a Miami Beach school after being called a “dirty Jew” and having her phone shattered, the latest incident in a wave of antisemitic attacks plaguing Florida.
Teacher Targeted Near School
A Jewish teacher was targeted and attacked in an antisemitic incident near a Jewish school in Miami Beach on Wednesday. According to police reports, the victim had just parked her vehicle down the street from the Lehrman Community Day School, located along the 500 block of 77th Street, when the assault occurred.
As the teacher began walking toward the school entrance, the suspect approached her, spat directly in her face, and shouted an antisemitic slur, calling her a “dirty Jew.” The violence escalated when the suspect then slapped the teacher on the left side of her head. Before fleeing, the assailant snatched her cellphone and repeatedly threw it to the ground, completely shattering the device.
Local police responded quickly, and one suspect was taken into custody in connection with the attack.
Escalation of Antisemitism in Florida
This distressing incident is the latest in a troubling series of antisemitic acts reported across Florida. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently reported that Florida recorded 353 antisemitic incidents in 2024, with Palm Beach County consistently leading the state in the number of reported attacks. These incidents include a wide range of crimes, such as physical assaults, harassment, vandalism, and direct threats, many of which have been tied to tensions surrounding the Israel–Gaza war.
Recent high-profile incidents across the state underscore the current climate of fear and vulnerability:
Dangerous Incitement
Austin Parcels, Manager of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, commented that attacks like the one in Miami Beach underscore the tangible dangers Jewish communities are currently facing.
Parcels stated, “Portraying Jewish institutions or individuals as targets because of ties to Israel is inciting and dangerous,” highlighting the connection between anti-Israel sentiment and direct antisemitic violence.
Authorities are continuing their full investigation into the Miami Beach incident and are actively requesting that anyone with information contact the police immediately.