South Florida's Jewish community closely eyeing Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war

The Jewish community in South Florida, a key voting bloc for the state, is closely eyeing President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war and say the issue has emerged as a political test for 2024.

Jacob Solomon, president of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said South Florida has a large Orthodox community that maintains a strong connection to Israel in the U.S.

“We are among the most pro-Israel Zionist communities in North America,” he told the Associated Press.

Georg Lipsztein, a member of a Shul of Bal Harbour, located just north of Miami Beach, in the heart of South Florida's Jewish community, has said he is glad to see Biden supporting Israel.

“I think he has sent a strong message, and that is very important,” Lipsztein told the Associated Press. “Israel is going to do what it has to do.”

While Biden has been unequivocal in supporting Israel's right to self-defense, he has subtly shifted his tone. On Wednesday evening, President Biden said there should be a "pause" in the Israel-Hamas War to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans and get those trapped in the Gaza Strip released.

Flyers with photos of some of the of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas militants after their unprecedented attack on Israel over two weeks ago are displayed to a utility pole, Oct. 24, 2023, in Surfside, Fla. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File

Rabbi Andrew Jacobs, who leads a synagogue in Fort Lauderdale, Ramat Shalom, is among the rabbis and community leaders in the region that are encouraging congregants to stay informed.

He has also warned congregants to be prepared as “when the ugliness of war comes out” and critics begin to push back on Israel's ground offensive in Gaza.

“We have to be vigilant to all calls and cries for ceasefire or putting blame on Israel right now because this work needs to be done once and for all to bring peace to that region,” Jacobs said. “President Biden has expressed very strong support for Israel and those of us who support the Jewish state are going to continue to expect him to keep doing the same thing."

Other progressive groups have begun pressuring Biden to change his unequivocal support for Israel.

One Miami student, 20-year-old Nicole Segal, told AP she is hoping for continuing support from the administration, but has been disheartened by what she sees as a lack of support from others.

“It’s very shocking that not enough non-Jewish people are standing up for Israel. I feel as if when there were other political matters, they stood up,” she said. “It’s upsetting.”

Eric Lob, a Florida International University professor and non-resident scholar at the Washington-based think tank Middle East Institute, said Biden must exhibit “a delicate balance of showing support for Israel rhetorically and militarily but trying to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from getting out of control."

South Florida's Jewish community used to be a Democratic stronghold but has moved to the right, helping former President Donald Trump win the state in 2020 and helping DeSantis coast to a huge re-election win last year.

Trump won about 43% of Florida's Jewish voters in the 2020 presidential election, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won 45% of Jewish voters in his re-election

If Florida is to regain its status as a competitive state, how Jewish voters perceive Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war will be critical.

In 2016, Democrats had about 327,000 more registered voters in the state. The GOP now has about 626,000 more registered voters.