Rabbi Joseph Raksin

What if a rabbi clad in black with a long beard and hat to match his identifiable Jewish appearance were executed on his way to synagogue at 9:00 AM on Saturday in front of his little grandchildren on a lovely Miami Beach street? Why, of course, the Jewish and non-Jewish outrage would be irrepressible, relentless, insatiable until justice was accomplished.

The Rabbi – Joseph Raksin His age – 60 His family – wife, six children, and seven grandchildren

Date of death – August 9, 2014

Murderers – two young Black men on foot and bicycle

Where is the Jewish outrage when Jewish blood is spilled? On the first anniversary of his cold-blooded murder, who will utter from the pulpit the name of “Joseph Raksin,” executed on his way to pray with his grandchildren on a perfect Miami Beach day in a perfect Florida neighborhood except for the relentless hate crimes numbering dozens and continuing?

Miami Beach anti-Semitic hate crimes involve numerous swastikas and hateful words and symbols spray-painted on Jewish buildings, a youth center and bus, neighborhood Publix, Jewish-owned cars, and synagogues. On July 28, 2014, during the Gaza War, a synagogue two blocks from Rabbi Raksin’s future place of death was defaced with swastikas painted in red across its stately white columns and front façade.

Where is the Jewish outrage when Jewish blood is spilled and synagogues are defaced with Nazi symbols and slogans? In one year’s time, who has made the Rabbi’s horrific broad-daylight execution a cause for speeches and news articles? Where are the suspects now?

Without your voice, our extended Jewish Florida family waits in fear of more crimes inflicted upon them and their property. Where is your voice? Where are the suspects, who could be planning more mayhem against the quiet Jews?

In honor of Rabbi Raksin, his family, the Jews of Miami Beach, and all the Martyrs of Israel, we ask you to observe this first anniversary of a Jewish death with words and deeds to protect all Jews from anti-Semitic hate crimes.

Please copy and paste the below petition and email it to: The AL KATZ Center at helpelders@hotmail.com.

May Rabbi Raksin’s memory be for blessing.

PETITION FOR HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS OF RABBI’S MURDERERS

We, the undersigned, strongly call upon all relevant authorities, including the U.S. Justice Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to conduct a thorough investigation of and to pursue prosecutions to the fullest extent of the law as a hate crime for the assassination of Rabbi Joseph Raksin.

Rabbi Raksin was identifiably Jewish by his manner of dress. While he was walking to synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath, Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 9:00 AM, he was shot dead. Prior to his cold-blooded murder and after, there was a continuing string of hate crimes against the Miami Beach Jewish community, including, among other crimes, defacings of synagogues with swastikas, carving Nazi symbols into Jewish-owned cars, defacings of other Jewish buildings and the Publix in the Jewish neighborhood, threats against Jews, and defacings of a school bus and youth center in the area.

At this time, no one has been arrested, and aggressive tireless investigations need to be conducted to find the perpetrators of this obvious anti-Semitic hate crime and the other associated anti-Semitic hate crimes in the area.