[MHC2332]

Looking for recommendations for place to live on the West Coast of Florida that has mixed religions. I am Jewish. The East Coast - Miami Beach, etc. seems to be too expensive to buy. Would like to live near the beach in an updated condo community, with a pool, exercise room and beautiful surroundings. Suggestions? What about Venice?

[CapnTrips]

Naples. We have Jewish friends there, and I hear there is also at least one synagogue. Of course, Naples is also the most expensive city on the Gulf Coast. Venice is a good all-around retirement community, less pricey, tho not as upscale attractive as Naples (but attractive in its own way) and am not sure about the percentage of Jews vs. Gentiles.

[gypsychic]

Also check out Sarasota. Lots of mixed religions, plenty of Jewish people here.

[MHC2332]

Thanks. Does anyone have any recommendations for winter rental in a condo community to try out these areas? Someplace with pool and exercise room - on or near the beach?

[CapnTrips]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Also check out Sarasota. Lots of mixed religions, plenty of Jewish people here.

OP -- I highly recommend Sarasota. In fact, we're planning on relocating there by next summer.

[071402]

Temple Beth El on Pasadena. I'd post the link but moderator may cut it. Feel free to DM me.

[MHC2332]

What town?

[Happiness-is-close]

Naples has a large Jewish community. Very integrated into community and work life too. Naples has the tropical surroundings that Miami has but it can be very pricey on the beach....

Tampa as well had a large Jewish community.

If Venice is anything like Naples or Tampa Bay, you will find plenty of other Jewish residents to mingle with. Not sure what cost of living in Venice is like. It seems similar to Naples looking at it on pictures.

[d4g4m]

Many Jewish residents on Lido and Longboat Keys.

[StarfishKey]

Consider that Jewish people in New York tend to be very different from Jewish people in Florida. While a majority of Jewish people in NYC are left-leaning and many are younger, a majority of Jewish people in FL are right-leaning and older. The Jewish population in FL also tends to be on the very wealthy side, and very class conscious, whereas the Jewish communities in NYC cover a wide range of economic situations and class divisions are for most not important. A majority of Jewish communities in NYC are interested in diverse communities and maintaining diverse friends, whereas not so much with Jewish communities in FL.

So choosing an area based on Jewish population might not provide you with the social opportunities you are hoping for, depending on where on the spectrum you fall. If you are to the center or to the right politically, middle age or older, and have the money to engage in the kinds of activities that the wealthier people can afford in FL (like golfing, boating/fishing, country club type stuff, and nice restaurants), you will have no problem. But if you are strapped for money, young, and very liberal, you might not find much in common with the people you meet in FL. Additionally, ask ahead of moving about local synagogue membership dues. In NYC, most are on a sliding scale and you pay whatever you can afford, no questions asked. In FL, many have fixed prices and they are exorbitantly high (thousands per year for a single person - a friend of mine found for example that a random suburban synagogue in Miami had a set cost of $4,000 for a single person 29+) - probably for many because the communities to draw from are much smaller to cover the cost of the building and services they offer. In such cases, you may be able to ask them to make an exception, but this puts you in an awkward position socially and then you may be known as the poorest member of the synagogue, which is a problem considering how snobby many are. So if you plan on attending synagogue, that may be an issue. It is a real eye opener for people coming down from points North, where the experience is the total opposite - affordable, welcoming, and diverse. (The same friend of mine for instance had been paying $200 per year for membership at her synagogue in NYC, and she found that community a lot friendlier.)

Look at your individual prospective community though, because this of course is going to be on a case by case basis. I'm just saying, of the many Jewish people I know who moved from the NY/NJ/CT/PA area to FL, those who were older, wealthier, and conservative seem to be the ones who found real social connection and meaning with the Jewish communities in FL they have found. Those who were younger, poorer, more diverse in their own origins, and/or who were more liberally minded or interested in social action committees within their synagogues, struggled to find anyone to relate to.