(Courtesy of The Simon Wiesenthal Center) The Simon Wiesenthal Center was joined by an array of elected, religious and communal leadership of Ocean County, New Jersey at a press conference convened to address continued attacks against the Jewish community by Rise Up Ocean County and to thank Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal for their efforts combatting anti-Semitism in the state.
Joining in this event were Father Bambrick of St. Aloysius Church; Ada Gonzalez, a Lakewood community leader; Ocean County Historian Tim Hart; State Senator Robert Singer; Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari; Freeholder Virginia Haines; Freeholder Gary Quinn; representatives of State Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Andy Kim; Lakewood Township Committeeman Mike D’ Elia; Frank Holman, chair of Ocean County Republican Party and Yodef Herz, associate director of Agudath Israel of America.
RAC[1] thanked the powerful solidarity of communal, political and religious leaders, adding “We ask leaders across America to request that the president direct the FBI to create a special task force against anti-Semitism.”
During the press conference, Congressman Smith committed to introducing a resolution in the House of Representatives to that effect.
The leaders at the press conference spoke one by one of their support for the Jewish people and their opposition to anti-Semitism and bigotry.
“I am deeply opposed to hatred, violence, bigotry and racism,” Vicari said. “Whether written or spoken, there is no room in our county or our world for actions that are hurtful and harmful. Now is the time to stand together and in unity condemn antisemitism and intolerance to stop its growth. It’s time to embrace the importance of community.”
Rabbi Avi Schnall, director of the New Jersey office of Agudath Israel of America, echoed those sentiments.“When the promise of America is challenged, when misinformation is spread, either online or in op-eds, and hate begins to grow, it cannot go unchallenged,” he said. “Hate must be called out for what it is, and we are grateful to Governor Murphy and Attorney General Grewal for doing just that and encourage them to continue to foster the message that hate has no place in New Jersey.”
Father Bambrick expressed the responsiblity he felt to fight back against anti-Semitism and how important unity is amongst all of humankind.
“In November of 2019 on a cold foggy day I was crossing the threshold of Auschwitz, while in Rome Pope Francis denounced anti-Semitism, saying it is not Christian or human,” he said. “The Jewish people are the chosen people of God and God does not take back his promises. God himself says they are unique people holding their own and Christian’s must befriend and help them in their time of need. One cannot love God and hate the Jewish people, that is simply incompatible. We all have the obligation to fight against anti-Semitism in our community, state, and even within ourselves.”
Gonzales expressed her concern over how this bigotry might negatively affect her children.
“This craziness needs to stop,” she said. “I worry about my daughter’s future in this atmosphere, and I strongly believe us good people need to stand united and fight this. Today it is anti-Semitism, tomorrow it might be another race but we are all human beings.”
SWC was grateful for the support received by the representatives at the press conference.
“Jews across the county and throughout the region are inspired and reassured by the incredible display of unity in saying in one voice that hate will not be tolerated in their backyard,” he said.
The timing of this press conference was motivated by a recently published op-ed that both utilized anti-Semitic tropes against the county’s Jewish leadership while attacking the governor and attorney general for requesting that Facebook shut down hate sites such as Rise Up Ocean County.
