A Jewish couple visiting South Florida from New York was allegedly targeted in an antisemitic assault in Surfside, with a man accused of punching the husband in the head, threatening to kill him, and directing antisemitic remarks at the couple. Local rabbonim condemned the attack while stressing that it appeared to be an isolated incident that does not reflect the broader Surfside community.
Rabbi Gavriel Koskas of Magen David Congregation of Surfside-Bal Harbour described the alleged attack as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable” but said it appears to have been “an isolated incident.”
“It is important to put it in perspective,” the rabbi of the shul said. “This appears to have been an isolated incident involving individuals who are not Surfside residents, and it does not reflect the community we live in.”
The incident reportedly occurred on the night of Aug. 16 as the Jewish man and his wife were visiting the area from New York. According to news reports citing a police report, the man was struck in the head and threatened during the confrontation. JNS requested an incident report from local police.
The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jorden Stephen Perozo, allegedly approached the couple while riding an electric scooter. News accounts citing police said he began cursing at the husband, his wife, and other members of the Jewish community before allegedly punching the man.
“Now you’re going to die,” Perozo allegedly told the man, per the report. “Walk away before I kill you.”
Perozo allegedly continued directing antisemitic comments at the couple while also making statements about Israel and “Palestine.” The victim’s wife reportedly captured part of the encounter on her cellphone.
Police reportedly located and arrested Perozo on Wednesday at Flanigan’s Bar & Grill, where he was employed. He faces one count of battery with prejudice and another count of harassing or intimidating a person based on religious or ethnic heritage.
As of Thursday, Perozo was reportedly being held on $6,000 bond.
Rabbi Zalman Lipskar of the Shul of Bal Harbour, a Chabad synagogue, praised law enforcement agencies in the area for maintaining a close relationship with the local Jewish population and working to protect residents.
The local police departments “work very closely with the Jewish community and are doing an amazing job ensuring the safety of all our residents.”
“We are very grateful to them for their tireless efforts to protect our community,” he said.
Koskas noted the particularly prominent Jewish presence in Surfside and said the proper reaction to incidents of antisemitism is increased awareness and preparation rather than allowing fear to take hold.
“Surfside has a very visible and vibrant Jewish population” and “we should respond with preparedness, vigilance and confidence, not fear.”
Koskas said Jewish institutions must recognize the importance of establishing serious and organized security systems rather than relying on informal precautions.
“At our synagogue, we have developed a comprehensive security team, both inside and outside, working alongside professional security and law enforcement,” he told JNS. “I would urge synagogues and Jewish institutions everywhere to develop similarly strong security protocols appropriate to their circumstances.”
He cautioned that the mere presence of armed security personnel does not, by itself, constitute an adequate security strategy.
“Simply having armed people present is not a security plan,” Koskas said. “Anyone entrusted with protecting a congregation must be properly trained, coordinated, disciplined, and know exactly how to respond in an emergency.”
Despite the alleged assault, Koskas said Surfside’s Jewish community is not living in fear. He credited state and local authorities in Florida with consistently supporting and protecting Jewish residents.
“We are extremely fortunate that in Florida, our state and local leaders and law-enforcement agencies have consistently been vigilant, responsive and strongly supportive of the Jewish community,” he told JNS.
Koskas said antisemitic incidents must be treated with seriousness but cautioned against allowing a single attack to characterize an entire community.
“Antisemitism is something we must always take seriously and condemn unequivocally,” Koskas said. “But we should respond with preparedness, vigilance and confidence, not fear. One isolated incident should not define Surfside.”
“This remains a community where Jewish families feel safe and supported,” he added.
Perozo reportedly had another encounter with law enforcement earlier this summer. On June 15, Miami Beach police arrested him after accusing him of slashing a large inflatable FIFA World Cup soccer ball that was on display in Miami Beach.
“This appears to have been an isolated incident involving individuals who are not Surfside residents, and it does not reflect the community we live in.”
With all due respect to the rav, it seems like the perpetrator was a local resident, and the fact that the victims were visiting from out of town is entirely irrelevant, being that they were targeted for being Jewish and the perpetrator probably didn’t know or care whether they were local residents. I understand the desire to avoid panic, but downplaying the problem isn’t going to make it disappear.