LAKEFRONT ESTATES, Fla. (VINnews) — Florida law enforcement and local government officials visited Lakefront Estates on Wednesday to show support for a newly established Orthodox Jewish community whose first families moved in just last week, following an online campaign targeting the development.

Rabbi Mark Rosenberg, chief chaplain of the Florida Highway Patrol and Miami sheriff’s office, was also present during the visit and addressed the reported antisemitic messages targeting the community.

The visit included Florida Highway Patrol Executive Director Dave Kerner, Chief Matt Williams, Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Glades County Sheriff David Hardin and County Manager Paul Carlisle, according to Rosenberg.

More than 100 families have already moved into the new community near Lake Okeechobee, according to community representatives. Schools are open, and dozens more families are expected to arrive as the development begins to take shape as a center of Orthodox Jewish life in rural Florida.

“These families are already home. They should not have to give up their Jewish identity to be accepted as neighbors,” Rosenberg said. He added that Jewish families moving into the area should be welcomed as neighbors, not viewed as a threat.

Rosenberg thanked Kerner for taking the concerns seriously and coming personally, alongside Williams and state troopers. He also thanked Hardin, the Glades County Sheriff’s Office and Carlisle for their presence and support.

“The Free State of Florida must be free for people of every faith,” Rosenberg said. “We came to listen, build relationships, and help address residents’ safety concerns.”

He said the message to the families was clear: They belong in the community and deserve to raise their children and practice their faith peacefully.

Rosenberg also thanked Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for his support of religious freedom. However, Uthmeier’s attendance at Wednesday’s visit has not been confirmed.

The visit came as the new residents begin establishing their homes, opening schools and building the educational and communal institutions needed to support the growing community.