Miami Jews Unnerved by Muslim Women at Synagogue
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Miami-area Jews are reported to be on edge after Muslim women wearing hijabs entered a local synagogue two times asking questions about the congregation.
The women visited Congregation Beth Israel twice, the first time on Feb. 12 right before the start of Shabbat, according to local reports, citing police. They reportedly asked about times of services and programs, the numbers of participants and the busiest times at the synagogue, the local ABC affiliate reported.
One of the women pulled out a Koran during a visit. Similar visits occurred at two other Miami-area synagogues, according to reports. A male and female Muslim also approached two children in the area asking them similar questions, according to ABC.
The FBI reportedly is involved in the investigation. No crime has been committed.
“North Miami Beach Police are in receipt of a suspicious incident at a temple in North Miami Beach. We are working with multiple agencies to identify the people involved,” said a statement issued by police and published by the local CBS affiliate.
WSVN News 7 in Miami reported that law enforcement sources told the news station that one of the women seen in surveillance video from the synagogue has terminal cancer and was visiting different houses of worship with her mother to learn about different religions.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
