In the News

More than 30 people gathered in the cool twilight last night to observe the sixth day of Hanukkah on the University of North Florida campus

"The truth is Chabad is booming here in Jacksonville," said Rabbi Shmuel Novack, director of the newly formed Chabad of Southside. "We're growing like mushrooms."

Working with the supermarket chain, Novack and Chabad Southside set up walking tours of this Winn-Dixie to help explain what fits their religion's dietary laws. So as they stood around a table full of kosher sodas, snacks, salad dressings, cookies and other foods, Novack reminded them first that kosher doesn't mean food blessed by a rabbi.

"This is Judaism's most holy object," said Rabbi Shmuli Novack, spiritual leader of Chabad of Southside, which ritually welcomed its own Torah scroll on Sept. 2.

"It's really a testament to the growth in this part of town and the success we are having in reaching out to this Jewish community," said Novack. "We are working on our building project and we are close to closing with the help of God and a few banks."

. . . Tonight it was my privilege and honor to welcome several leaders of Florida’s Jewish community to the People’s House for a dedication of a new Torah scroll . . .
Governor Charlie Crist

On the Fourth Day of Chanukah, Tuesday Dec. 19th a delegation of Florida's Chabad Rabbis met with Governer Jeb Bush, Governer Elect Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Elect Jeff Kottkamp at the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida.