JUPITER — Gov. Charlie Crist briefly addressed a crowd of about 200 people at Temple Beth Am tonight, calling the relationship between Israel and the United States “special.”
Crist, a Methodist, told the crowd at Friday night’s Shabbat services about his 2007 trip to Israel to encourage trade with Florida.
During the trip, Crist said former Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler encouraged him to insert a note with a prayer at the Western Wall, a holy site in Jerusalem where prayers are traditionally placed. The note asked, “Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties.”
There was no hurricane that year.
“I thought, ‘this is good,’” Crist told the crowd.
In the two years since his trip, Crist has asked friends traveling to Israel to place similar notes at the wall.
And still no hurricanes.
“God is good,” Crist said to the crowd.
Crist also paused to remember the four people, including a 6-year-old girl, killed by gunman in Jupiter on Thanksgiving Day.
“We pray for those who have left us,” he said.
Crist’s address was part of the temple’s “community leaders forum,” a monthly series.
Next month, Congressman Alcee Hastings is scheduled to address the congregation about Israel and the Jewish community.