The Florida Senate observed a moment of silence after several members condemned recent antisemitic attacks and leaders offered a Jewish prayer on the Senate floor.

Senate leaders and members spoke directly about violent incidents outside Florida while opening the chamber’s business, calling on colleagues and the public to oppose hatred and support victims.

Leader Berman told colleagues the chamber was “gathered here this afternoon for the sacred responsibility of considering the budget for the state of Florida,” and framed recent events as requiring action and solidarity. “As we all know, this past Sunday in Colorado, a man attacked a weekly organized peaceful walk held in support of the remaining Israeli hostages with a makeshift flamethrower and 2 incendiary devices injuring 12,” Berman said. He urged members to keep the injured and affected communities in their prayers and remarked on the broader threat of antisemitic violence. “These heinous acts are stark reminders of the persistent threat and increasing level of antisemitism in our society,” he said.

Senator Polsky gave a Jewish healing prayer, reciting Mi Sheberech and asking the chamber to keep the victims and their families in their prayers. Polsky referenced specific victims mentioned in reporting about the attacks: “The oldest of the victims has been identified as Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, Holocaust survivor and Chabad director at the University of Colorado Boulder,” and asked colleagues to pray for the injured and the diplomatic staffers who were killed. After the remarks, the presiding officer directed the chamber to stand for a moment of silence honoring those harmed and killed.

The remarks noted recent incidents outside Florida but contained no legislative proposals or formal action instructing staff to pursue policy changes. The Senate’s observance was a unanimous, consensual recognition on the floor rather than a recorded legislative vote.

The floor remarks and the prayer preceded the Senate’s regular business and were followed by committee and legislative procedural actions later in the session.