A Conservadox Jewish Community for our Family? (Tampa, Weston: real estate, home)

[ljgold3]

Hi! We are a family of 4–two kids ages 10 and 6. And we’ve pretty much had it with tri-state winters! Both my husband and I work remotely now so we are looking to move down to Florida. We aren’t particularly observant but identify as conservadox. We are looking for a home in a community where we can send our kids to public schools but feel connected to a local Chabad or ortho synagogue progressive enough to welcome us (even for just the big holidays). Welcome your suggestions!

[ljgold3]

Can you tell me what community you live in so I know to avoid it?

[Lillie767]

Most people from the tri-state area settle along I-95 on the south-east coast of Florida. However, there are Jewish communities along I-95, crossing Florida across I-4 and then heading south along I-75 along the west coast of Florida.

The east coast will have a more NYC feel, while the west coast (Tampa down to Naples) is more mid-westerny.

I would start at my local temple and ask if they have a sister temple in Florida.

For a listing of the conservative affiliated temples, see The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, https://uscj.org/network.

Orthodox temples, including modern orthodox, are mostly in SW Florida and Tampa. https://www.ou.org/synagogue-finder/

Chabad Lubavitch are spread out but concentrated in SW Florida. https://www.chabad.org/centers/defau...-Lubavitch.htm.

I have to laugh when I say that the hot weather in Fl affects my Ashkenazi cooking. I haven't found any season for Stuffed Cabbage and chicken soup is not always wanted for Pesach when the outside temperature is 80 degrees. Be prepared to adopt a more Israeli, Mediterranean style of cooking. More grains and vegetables, less meat and sauces.

Good luck to you and your family.

[Marysa Butzke]

^^^I had to laugh a little bit about "be prepared to adopt more Israeli, Mediterranean style of cooking"

Call me a crazy sabra, but the last time I checked, the home of Judaism is on the Mediterranean, and certainly NOT in far-off places like Poland, Germany, Russia and NYC....and shall remain there for eternity..



No self-respecting indigenous sabra or even ethnic Sephardic eats eastern Euro food...lol....no comparison in taste imho...lol

[blueherons]

What is your housing budget? That is going to let you know where you can afford to live.

There are synagogues everywhere. South Florida has a large amount of Jews, the third largest population in the US.

Most younger families like Parkland and Weston.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by ljgold3

Can you tell me what community you live in so I know to avoid it?

\\There is a lot of truth in what Marysa said.

We are currently having a crazy influx of ******* New Yorkers moving here driving up real estate prices. I'll add New Jersey and Connecticut to that generalization.



I think all of our nerves are shot.

[Lillie767]

Originally Posted by Marysa Butzke

^^^I had to laugh a little bit about "be prepared to adopt more Israeli, Mediterranean style of cooking"

Call me a crazy sabra, but the last time I checked, the home of Judaism is on the Mediterranean, and certainly NOT in far-off places like Poland, Germany, Russia and NYC....and shall remain there for eternity..



No self-respecting indigenous sabra or even ethnic Sephardic eats eastern Euro food...lol....no comparison in taste imho...lol

Your experience doesn't mirror my experiences living in the NYC region. Most Jews in that region identify more with Ashkenazi background than Sephardic heritage. Whilst the homeland may be Mediterranean, we are mostly children of the diaspora into Eastern and Central Europe. That is changing with the influx of Syrian Jews, but the Jewish cultural impact is still mostly Ashkenazi.

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by Marysa Butzke

You're welcome here but leave your leftist politics if you have them, where you came from. Otherwise try NY. Yes, I'm sabra, lived in Boca, but couldn't stand the "community", so I moved to swfl. FL is a great, well-run state because of its people, but the current invasion is getting absolutely obnoxious in more ways than one.

Why kvetch they let you and your narrow-mindedness in, its a big state..

[wizrap]

Weston has 3 temples, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform, and when we lived in Weston, we saw several families that were Orthodox walking to temple (I am not Jewish but my husband is but we never went to temple in Weston, nor much of anywhere else. He just wasn't very religious).

[562026]

Originally Posted by Marysa Butzke

I would recommend the OP to look at fabulous communities like Mountain Brook, AL.

I would recommend CVPFord a/k/a Mayrsa Butzke et al. move back to New Jersey from whence he came and stop trying to claim Florida as his own.