United Jewish community shoots down city council resolution.
The unprovoked massacre of October 7 against innocent Israeli citizens and foreign nationals living in Israel and, in turn, Israel’s response has generated a flurry of left-wing, pro-Palestinian and antisemitic agitation throughout America. These organized efforts have been led by the Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish Voices for Peace, CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) and a host of other anti-Israel or antisemitic groups including the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta Jews.
These attempts include pressuring local city councils to demand a cease-fire in Gaza and to condemn so-called war crimes against Palestinians. Close to 100 U.S. cities have passed such resolutions, mostly in Democratic strongholds. Although Jersey City has been controlled for over a century by a Democratic political machine, Jersey City’s small but growing Jewish community, and in particular the Israeli emigres living there, is succeeding in developing appropriate support for their coreligionists in Israel by preventing adoption of such a resolution and by other caring actions.
To combat a proposed city council resolution which demanded a cease-fire in Gaza (that ironically was debated for passage during the week of the four-year anniversary of a religiously motivated antisemitic mass murder at a local Chasidic grocery store), Israeli emigres successfully organized a network of activists to lobby individual council members against the resolution. This campaign involved direct discussions with individual members. Not only did the Israeli activists visit the council members but they also methodically emailed, texted and called them.
Their efforts were aided by a unique coalition of local religious leaders, led by Rabbi Netanel Reed, spiritual leader of Congregation Mount Sinai of Jersey City Heights. Rabbi Reed instigated a statement representing the diverse group spanning all streams of American Jewry, urging the council not to approve the resolution. The statement respectfully requested the members of the Jersey City Council “permanently set aside the proposed extraordinary resolution concerning the situation in the Middle East” by arguing that “the correct venue for this complex and multifaceted issue to be addressed is not with a local government resolution that assigns blame or calls for outcomes.” By doing so, the united religious leaders argued, the council is detracting from the attention required to solve local issues. The proper forum for such discussion is at the national government level. Moreover, citing the vitriol and antisemitic comments at a previous council meeting on the subject, the statement pointed out that such antagonism demonstrated that this resolution is doing “the opposite of community-building in Jersey City.”
The proposed city council resolution was defeated. It did not garner the required majority of affirmative votes. The final vote was three in favor, none opposed, with five members abstaining.
Nevertheless, not being willing to concede defeat, one day after they successfully were able to get the neighboring town of Union City to approve a resolution supporting a Gaza cease-fire, the left-wing group renewed its calls for Jersey City council involvement. However, the Jewish activists were again present to oppose it. They continually attend council meetings, and several of their members address the city council during the public comment portion.
The activist Jewish community has not limited their activities to opposing city council resolutions. They actively search out where city or private property has been vandalized with antisemitic or pro-Palestinian graffiti and signage. On a daily basis, they report to local officials and in many cases remove the signs and graffiti.
In addition, the Jewish activists collect and send essential items to Israel for the soldiers and Israeli citizens. These efforts are illustrated by a member traveling to Israel to hand-deliver much-needed medical supplies, while a second example involves a member of Congregation Mount Sinai sending enough funds to purchase bullet-proof vests for an entire IDF reserve unit in which Rabbi Reed’s son serves.
Though relatively small for the New York City area, Jersey City’s united Jewish community has worked together effectively to defend not only its own members but the Jewish people at large.
Arthur Goldberg is president of Congregation Mount Sinai of Jersey City Heights, founder of the committee for the absorption of Soviet emigrees (CASE), president of the Hebrew Free Loan of New Jersey and the author of several books and articles, including “Light in the Closet.” He is a retired investment banker and can be reached at [email protected].
