Jewish leaders in Northern New Jersey business and politics along with several area rabbanim gathered at Dougie’s restaurant in Teaneck to meet the Honorable Steve Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City, who is considering a run for governor of New Jersey. Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of kashrus for the Orthodox Union and spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Emunah of Englewood, began the program with accolades for the mayor’s accomplishments.
“If Steve does for New Jersey what he did for Jersey City, that would be an extraordinary success.”
Rabbi Genack said that Fulop cares about things that are important to the Jewish community, like getting state resources to help with the cost of day school tuition, and he has a track record in making improvements in areas of concern to everyone: state finances, funding infrastructure and improving commerce.
Tracy Zur, a Democratic County Freeholder, introduced Fulop, telling the gathering that he shared many issues in common with them like putting a high priority on education, services for the community and support for Israel.
“Steve has been a tremendous asset to Jersey City and he will be a wonderful governor one day,” she said.
Fulop spoke about his Jewish background, the events that led him into politics, and his philosophy of government. His parents owned a deli and sent him to a Jewish day school for his elementary schooling.
“My parents thought nothing was more important than a Jewish foundation,” he said.
After graduating from college, he worked for Goldman Sachs and was one block away from the twin towers on 9/11 when they were hit. After that, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. “It was one of the best things I ever did,” he said, “a partial payment for citizenship.”
He saw combat in Iraq but also saw how the military accommodated his religious practice. When he learned of a Passover Seder in Kuwait, his commanding officer not only gave him permission to go, he assigned a convoy to get him there. Fulop said no other country in the world would go to those lengths to accommodate a person’s religion.
In contrast to many of today’s national politicians, Fulop sees a natural symbiosis between left and right wing positions.
“If you’re left-leaning, you’re socially compassionate,” he said. “If you’re on the right, you’re strong on business. I have tried to show in Jersey City that they are not mutually exclusive. I have pushed the local economy, we are leading in construction and job creation, and we are building more affordable housing.” He closed with an invitation to everyone present to visit Jersey City.
The event, called the North Jersey Jewish Leadership Conference, was organized by Teaneck Deputy Mayor Elie Katz. In an interview following the event Katz said he wants to encourage more people in the Jewish community to get involved in politics.
“People generally don’t get involved until something important happens or it is too late to have an impact,” he said. “Involvement in the political world is early intervention. I’m recommending that the Jewish community give a serious look at the people who are running for office who will be representing their interests. The governor’s race is still early. We showed Mayor Fulop that the Jewish Community matters”.
Katz hopes to organize additional meetings with candidates for elective office. “Politics is the way of the world,” he said. “If we want positive outcomes, we have to be engaged.”
