For anyone who has ever vacationed and wished life could stay that way, the members of Florida’s Young Israel of Hollywood Beach feel like they hit the jackpot. It started in the 1980s, formed by survivors of the Holocaust in a small room in a hotel. Over time, others flocked to the shul, drawn in by its welcoming nature, as well as the beautiful scenery, and when the congregation eventually grew out of that space, they bought the location where the shul currently resides.

If real estate is all about the ubiquitous phrase “location, location, location,” then this shul has found prime land. Hollywood Beach is actually on a barrier island, not the mainland. What this means is that the shul overlooks the beach, and nothing in the community is far from the coast. And while Florida is known for hot, humid summers, this is only referring to mainland areas, and not to the islands. Hollywood Beach has a year-round breeze, keeping the weather cooler and more moderate throughout the year.

Of course, everyone always needs kosher amenities too, and Hollywood Beach is not far from any of these necessities either. Sunny Isles, Aventura, Hallandale and Hollywood are all just a short drive away with plenty of kosher shopping and restaurants there as well.

The Young Israel of Hollywood Beach is a fully functional shul year round. Winter is a popular time for people to visit, and the shul is particularly robust this time of year, but even during quieter seasons, the shul has minyanim daily.

Year-round residents live in nearby housing. The shul is also conveniently located near hotels and motels for those visitors who wish to stay for Shabbat, and their weekly Shabbat kiddush gives guests a chance to get to know the locals.

For Thomas Langer of Teaneck, Hollywood Beach provides the perfect getaway for his family during the long, cold winters of the northeast. His wife Anne spends winter there, and he flies back and forth over the course of the season. (A quick Florida commuter vocab lesson: While a snowbird is someone who leaves the cold and spends winter in Florida, a snowflake is someone who commutes over weekends but still spends most of their time in the cold community.) Langer’s four children and their families benefit from their Florida condo as well, visiting their parents during school vacations.

“It is truly a vacation spot as much as a place to live,” Langer said. He explained that while shopping of all types is easily accessible by car, the fact that Hollywood Beach itself does not have highrises or congested shopping malls really keeps the environment peaceful.

Though they chose Hollywood Beach largely for the physical comfort, the Langers have fallen in love with the shul and the families who regularly daven there. “There is a special type of warmth generated by the type of people here,” he explained. “People of all backgrounds can walk in and feel comfortable.”

For questions or to check out the community, visit http://www.beachshul.org.

By Jenny Gans