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| Living the Jewish Life in Jacksonville, FL |
| by Ron Gerber |
| For decades, Florida has attracted countless numbers of Orthodox Jews from all over |
| the country and all over the world. They came not just for vacation, but to relocate |
| and settle, making Miami and, ultimately, all of South Florida one of the largest |
| Orthodox Jewish communities in the world today. |
| Certainly, South Florida is still a very attractive destination to many people, although |
| some may now find the cost of living to be quite high, especially for young families. |
| If you have your sights on moving to, or within, Florida, you may be surprised to learn |
| that you can still have great weather and low cost of living. In fact, you’re about to |
| discover a gem of a city that’s been laying low below the radar, where homes are still |
| affordable, the climate is excellent, and the quality of life is high. A city by the ocean |
| and a majestic river, where business is thriving, genteel Southern hospitality abounds, |
| and the low cost of living makes it one of the more affordable cities in Florida. The city |
| is Jacksonville. |
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Welcome to Jacksonville
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| Located on the Atlantic Coast, in the northeast |
| corner of Florida, and centered on the banks of the |
| majestic St. Johns River, Jacksonville features |
| continuous growth, endless opportunities, and a |
| superior quality of life. With a metropolitan |
| population of over one million, Jacksonville has a |
| population significantly younger than all other major |
| Florida cities, with a median age under 35.3 years |
| old. Jacksonville may be the largest city in the state |
| of Florida and the third most populated city on the |
| entire East Coast (after New York and Philadelphia), |
| but you would never notice driving around. |
| Everything is spread out. In fact, Jacksonville has a |
| total area of 874.3 miles, making it the largest city in |
| land area in the contiguous United States! |
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Downtown Jacksonville
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| Jacksonville boasts a first-rate public school system and a multitude of institutions of |
| higher learning. Jax is home to the Southeast’s largest modern & contemporary art |
| museum, as well as a major symphony orchestra, sports and entertainment complex |
| downtown, and a myriad of special events that this sports-loving city hosts each year. |
| Downtown Jacksonville has experienced more than $1.6 billion in redevelopment |
| projects, from cafes and boutiques to museums and galleries. |
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A Natural Beauty
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| Outdoor people and nature lovers rejoice! |
| Jacksonville offers something for everyone who |
| loves the outdoors. From endless miles of beaches |
| and translucent waters to peaceful landscapes and |
| gorgeous gardens to ancient oak forests and salt |
| marshes, the variety is astounding. With 68 miles |
| of Atlantic Ocean coastline and 300 miles of river, |
| Jacksonville offers truly significant natural beauty. |
| With almost 84,000 acres or 131 square miles of |
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White Sand Beaches & Pier
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| city, state and national parks, Jacksonville operates the largest urban park system in |
| the United States. Jacksonville now ranks No. 1 among U.S. cities in gross acreage for |
| parks and is in the top 10 in the percentage of acreage in the city devoted to park |
| land. Not surprisingly, many parks around the city have received international |
| recognition, while the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens boasts the second largest animal |
| collection in the state. |
| As the longest river in the state of Florida, and the longest river in the United States |
| that flows northwards, the St. Johns River is home to numerous species of plants and |
| animals. It is not uncommon to see dolphins in the river east of Jacksonville and |
| manatees in the springtime when the water warms up. Alligators, bald eagles, ospreys, |
| stingrays, and many species of fish—both salt and fresh water—are found living in the |
| river and on its banks. |
| Unlike much of the rest of Florida, the First Coast's miles of beaches remain relatively |
| unspoiled. Jax’s beach communities offer some of the best sport fishing, boating and |
| water sport opportunities in the country. Strolling along the beach might produce a |
| collection of seashells, a view of porpoise and northern right whales playing off the |
| coast, or merely a relaxed state of mind. |
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Four Seasons Without Snow
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| To the point, Jacksonville offers year-round excellent weather, four seasons without |
| snow. The city's climate is subtropical. High temperatures average 64 to 91 °F (18-33 °C) |
| throughout the year. Winters can be marked by spells of cold weather, but outdoor |
| events and sports outings can be comfortably enjoyed year round. Additionally, |
| Jacksonville has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other east coast |
| cities. The city has only received one direct hit from a hurricane since 1871. |
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Business and Economy
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| Jacksonville is an expanding business city. The largest city in the state, it is also the |
| largest deepwater port in the south, as well as the second-largest port on the U.S. East |
| coast. Millions of tons of raw materials and manufactured goods move through the city |
| annually. The area's economy is balanced among distribution, financial services, |
| biomedical technology, consumer goods, information services, manufacturing, and |
| other industries. |
| Due to its convenient location, mild climate, |
| reasonable cost of living, high quality of life, and a |
| business-friendly government, Jacksonville has |
| been a very popular location for corporate |
| expansions and relocations. According to |
| Forbes.com, Jacksonville, Florida ranked in the |
| top ten U.S. cities to relocate to find a job. |
| Jacksonville is consistently rated one of the |
| "Hottest Cities in America" for business expansions |
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Enjoy the Outdoors Year-Round
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| and relocations, and ranked 11th in Inc. magazine's list of "Best Cities for Doing |
| Business" for 2006. |
| Major commercial air service in Jacksonville operates out of Jacksonville International |
| Airport, including the popular JetBlue. Jacksonville is also a full-service international |
| seaport, with four modern seaport facilities and the new JAXPORT Cruise Terminal, |
| which opened in 2003 and provides cruises to Key West, the Bahamas, and Mexico. |
| The combination of three major interstate highways, the port terminals, three major |
| railways, and Jacksonville International Airport has made the area a major distribution |
| center and a city of growing international commerce. Companies from around the |
| globe have discovered that it is not only a superior place to live and play; it is a |
| superior place for business as well. |
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Jewish In Jacksonville
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| Jacksonville is a city of approximately 15,000 Jews. As stated earlier, Jacksonville boasts |
| the youngest population in the State of Florida. This is true with regards to its Jewish |
| population as well. |
| The primary Jewish section of Jax is the Mandarin |
| area. Mandarin is a neighborhood located in the |
| southernmost portion of Jacksonville. During the |
| last decade, the Mandarin area has undergone the |
| greatest growth of any community in Jacksonville. |
| Mandarin is also one of the oldest areas of |
| Jacksonville, having been settled before |
| Jacksonville was founded. The area is home to the |
| JCA (JCC), a reform Temple, and two conservative |
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The St. Johns River
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| Synagogues – one which hosts a Solomon Schechter Day School of approximately 150 |
| children. |
| There are two Orthodox synagogues, including Etz Chaim, which is a modern Orthodox |
| synagogue, and Chabad. Both shuls are close to each other. Parts of the Mandarin area |
| are encircled by an Eiruv. There is a new Orthodox Day School – Torah Academy – |
| which presently caters to about 30 children. The Synagogues have active youth groups |
| and offer an assortment of youth activities. |
| Once called “a tropical paradise” by resident author Harriett Beecher Stowe (author |
| of Uncle Tom’s Cabin), the quaint area of Mandarin, just a short drive from the city |
| center, is marked by ancient oak trees draped with Spanish moss, beautiful parks, |
| marinas, and more water views than any other area in Jacksonville. |
| Within walking distance to both Chabad and Etz Chaim, you’ll find all types of housing |
| available, including stunning estate homes on the banks of the St. Johns River, modern |
| ranch homes, spacious colonials, condos, and rental complexes. The neighborhood is |
| woodsy, surrounded by lush flora, including the beautiful live oaks, which stay green all |
| year round. |
| The average price of a nice 3-4 bedroom ranch home in Mandarin is under $300,000. |
| Rental units range from $650 to $900 per month, depending on the number of bedrooms |
| and particular location. |
| Kosher in Jacksonville is on the rise. Recently a new restaurant was opened called |
| Rolling Munchies. The restaurant, which is under the Hashgacha of Rabbi Yoseph |
| Kahanov, senior Chabad Rabbi in Jax, offers a hearty variety of Mediterranean style |
| food. Both Publix and Winn Dixie supermarkets in Mandarin carry extensive lines of |
| kosher groceries, including: Rubashkin meats & poultry, wine and frozen foods. Cholov |
| Yisroel products are also available at Publix. |
| There is a BJ's Wholesale Club which carries Empire products and poultry, as well as |
| Kedem Grape Juice and many other kosher specialty products. Chabad additionally |
| offers a kosher coop. Food is ordered once a month and is delivered to all Chabad |
| Locations. |
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The Shul of Jacksonville / Chabad
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| The Shul of Jacksonville/Chabad, led by Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov, is an important |
| institution in Jacksonville's blossoming Jewish community. In addition to being a vibrant |
| full-service congregation of approximately 50 member families, it serves as the |
| cornerstone and headquarters for Chabad’s Jewish outreach and enrichment activities |
| throughout the greater Jacksonville area. As such, The Shul fills a wide spectrum of |
| needs for Jews of all ages and backgrounds. |
| The traditional Shtiebel setting, warm and welcoming atmosphere and joyous ambiance, |
| all contribute to the oasis for which the Shul has become recognized. The frequent |
| Kiddushim, insightful discussions and inspirational melodies are additional qualities that |
| add to The Shul’s distinctive mystique and spirit. |
| The shul has recently undergone a complete renovation, providing a clean, spacious |
| environment with a touch of elegance. In addition to daily and Shabbos minyans, |
| Chabad offers a rich assortment of ongoing programs and activities. There are now |
| three Chabad satellite branches in Jax, including one in the Southside area, which also |
| hosts a very successful joint preschool called Ganeinu. There is also a Chabad branch |
| at the Jacksonville Beaches, in Ponte Vedra, as well as St. Augustine. For more |
| information, contact The Shul of Jacksonville at 904-262-6641. |
| If you’re a member of the Orthodox Jewish community and are looking for a new home |
| where the cost of living is lower and the quality of life is high, where the climate is |
| enjoyable year-round and people practice true Southern hospitality, you may want to |
| consider Jacksonville, Florida. There’s no doubt, Jacksonville has something for |
| everyone. Whether you prefer the excitement of a bustling downtown or the serenity |
| of rural areas, you'll find what you're looking for in Northeast Florida. That's why |
| Jacksonville has been the best kept secret in the Southeast. |
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