May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time when Jewish contributions to American culture and history are honored, and News4JAX is highlighting the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA).

The Jacksonville Jewish Community is celebrating the second night of Hanukkah.

While warming up to the Village People singing “YMCA,” hundreds of people of all ages and races gathered outside of the Winston Family YMCA on Jacksonville’s Northbank Sunday afternoon to celebrate unity in the aptly named Unity Village before the start of the “Racing Against Hate 5k Run/Walk.”

Dozens came to pay their respect at the Jewish Community Alliance for the life of a veteran, who was loved by many.

After the body of a 46-year-old canoer who had been missing since Saturday was found Tuesday afternoon, his family and friends are left to mourn the veteran, who served as an Iraqi Christian interpreter with the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Volunteers will head back out on the water Tuesday to search for a missing canoer who was last seen Saturday morning.

A prayer vigil was held Monday for a missing 46-year-old canoer who was last seen on Saturday morning near the St. Augustine inlet.

A search is underway for a missing kayaker in the Vilano area in St. Johns County, according to the sheriff’s office.

An antisemitism event that was planned long before the Israel-Hamas war broke out was held Tuesday night with the First Coast YMCA.

Several local groups will hold their second “Together Against Hate” event at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Friday Musicale on Oak Street in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Two Jacksonville organizations paired together Thursday to take a stand against hate in the community.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a car crash into the Jewish Community Alliance building at 8505 San Jose Boulevard. It happened just before 1 p.m.

Ill admit masks are not comfortable, but the city that has encouraged their use to control the spread of coronavirus now says they are necessary. But the citys rule was a little vague at first, stating that masks be work in all public spaces when you cant socially distance. When Executive Proclamation 2020-005 came out at the end of the day, it addressed some of the confusion, including what age children needed to comply. We respect people coming in by wearing mask also, so we want to make sure we are all on the same page, Summey said. As long as my people are wearing a mask and were doing our preventative measures and we can also socially distance, we will take it case-by-case, he said.