Jared Evan Moskowitz is a Jewish U.S. Representative for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. He was born in Coral Springs, Florida, on December 18, 1980. Moskowitz’s early life was marked by his father’s involvement in Democratic politics as a Democratic Party Committeeman. His father’s influence instilled in him a commitment to the Democratic Party’s values and principles.

Moskowitz pursued his passion for politics and public service at George Washington University, earning a degree in political science focusing on public policy. He then attended Nova Southeastern University, receiving his law degree in 2007. While attending law school, Moskowitz was elected to the Parkland City Commission, marking the beginning of his career in public service. During his six years on the commission, he focused on public safety and environmental issues.

Moskowitz’s commitment to public service led him to run for the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. He won the election and served as a State Representative for six years. During his time in the legislature, Moskowitz worked on various issues, including school safety, climate change, animal welfare, and support for Israel.

After the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, his alma mater, Moskowitz, worked closely with the families of the victims to pass the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. This bill is considered the most comprehensive gun violence prevention, school safety, and mental health legislation ever enacted in Florida.

In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Moskowitz to serve as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management. In this role, he led the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Michael. Moskowitz focused on implementing science-based strategies to combat the pandemic and oversaw the distribution of vaccines across the state. He prioritized vaccine access for Holocaust survivors and collaborated with African American churches to offer vaccines to their congregations. He also worked with the Biden Administration to establish COVID-19 testing sites in Florida.

In 2022, Moskowitz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. He sat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Oversight Committee.

Moskowitz’s Jewish identity and his support for Israel are deeply intertwined with his family history and political beliefs. His great-grandparents were murdered at Auschwitz, and his grandparents narrowly escaped Europe before the war. His grandmother was a Kindertransport participant, an organized effort to rescue children from Nazi-controlled territory before the outbreak of World War II.

Moskowitz strongly advocates for strengthening the relationship between the United States and Israel. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he worked to enhance strategic relationships globally and ensure Israel’s recognition as a legitimate and democratic ally of the United States. He supports continued U.S. military assistance to Israel and maintaining the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

Moskowitz is a vocal opponent of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to exert economic and political pressure on Israel. He works to combat anti-Semitism in all its forms and actively promotes educational initiatives to raise awareness about the rise of anti-Semitism and the historical context of the Holocaust.

Moskowitz has introduced legislation that rejects the United Nations’ decision to list the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) as child abusers. He sees this move by the UN as an example of the anti-Semitic double standard that Israel faces.

Moskowitz is married and has two sons.

Sources: “Jared Moskowitz,” Ballotpedia.
“MOSKOWITZ, Jared,” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
“Meet Jared Moskowitz,” jaredforflorida.com.
“About Jared - Biography,” moskowitz.house.gov.
“Israel,” moskowitz.house.gov.
“Jared Moskowitz,” Pro Israel America.
“Jared Moskowitz’s Biography,” Vote Smart.
“Moskowitz Leads Bipartisan Resolution Rejecting United Nations Decision to List Israeli Defense Forces as Child Abusers,” moskowitz.house.gov, (June 27, 2024).
David Spector, Ryan King, “Dem Rep. Jared Moskowitz slams ‘dozens of members’ of his own party over antisemitism: : You ‘don’t get a pass,’” New York Post, (November 20, 2024).

Photo: Ike Hayman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.