Congressman Randy Fine joined local leaders Monday as the St. Johns County proclaimed Israel Friendship Day.
Commissioner Krista Joseph and County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller Brandon Patty signed the proclamation during a morning celebration with local Jewish leaders, and it was later presented at a Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Fine, the first Jewish Republican elected to Congress from Florida, spoke about the significance of the occasion at the meeting.
He also recounted a recent congressional trip to Israel, describing how his Christian colleagues were moved by their ability to worship at holy sites under Israeli governance.
“It matters because by protecting Israel, you’re protecting the sites that are not only important to the Jewish people, but to the Christian people from those who seek to destroy them,” he said.
He also shared a personal story about wearing a kippah during a congressional hearing on antisemitism.
Encouraged by his 17-year-old son, Fine said he wore it publicly to honor Jewish students who feel unsafe expressing their faith on college campuses.
That act later made him the first member of Congress in U.S. history to wear a kippah while presiding over the House of Representatives.
The proclamation also highlighted St. Augustine’s historical Jewish presence, dating to Spanish settlers in the 16th century, and celebrated local congregations that continue to operate within the county.
Fine praised the recognition, saying it affirms that Jewish neighbors are an integral part of the community.
The proclamation was read aloud prior to Fine’s comments.
“The relationship between the United States and Israel is based on the twin pillars of shared values and mutual interest, and Israel is a beacon of light as the only truly free democracy in the Middle East,” it states.
Separately on Tuesday, the board also adopted a new definition of antisemitism, with Judy Spiegel, a member of the Planning and Zoning Agency, addressing commissioners.
Spiegel decried antisemitism as “an anti-God spirit” and highlighted the biblical connection between Judaism and Christianity.
She cited passages from both the Old and New Testaments, and concluded by calling for unity and support for Israel and the Jewish community.
