I want to commend you for your coverage of Linden over the past few weeks — and really, over the past few years. Linden is a diverse and vibrant Jewish community that has thrived for more than a century. Our shul, Anshe Chesed, founded in 1913, wasn’t even the beginning of Jewish presence in Linden. Generations of committed Jews have grown up here and called this community home.

Since welcoming our Chasidic brethren in 2017, Linden has only grown stronger. Our eruv has been expanded and improved. We now have new kosher establishments, including a pizza shop (The Corner Slice), a grocery store (Linden Food Basket), a fish market, and the Pappardello dairy restaurant (formerly Bakeristor), along with a minyan factory and many smaller shtiebels. Like any new endeavor, there have been challenges and growing pains but the reality is, we’ve all truly benefited from one another. Our diversity has enriched the community. On Shabbos, our parks are filled with Jewish children running and playing, as parents from across the community relax and schmooze together.

I’m writing to support your decision not to single out Chasidic Jews in your reporting and to refer to us simply as Jews. That is the correct approach, for three reasons:

1. Antisemitism doesn’t distinguish. To a bigot, it doesn’t matter what kind of Jew you are — we are all the same.
2. Spiritually, we are all the same. Whether you drive to our shul on Shabbos, whether you grew up religious, are newly religious or are Chasidic, before God we are all neshamas. We should not create artificial divides among ourselves.
3. Linden’s strength is in its integration. Our mikvah, built by my successor Rabbi Josh and Navah Hess, serves the entire community. Whether it’s a learning program, a challah bake or a fundraiser, our events bring Jews from all backgrounds together. Just before Pesach, our Kimcha D’Pischa initiative united the whole community to support those in need. With help from the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, matching donations from United Healthcare, and generous contributions from community members, we raised over $45,000. That money was used to purchase discounted gift cards at the Linden Food Basket so families could make Pesach. Were there Satmar, Bobov, Modern Orthodox, and non-religious recipients? Technically, yes. But that’s a superficial distinction. In truth, it was simply Jews helping Jews make Pesach. That’s how Hashem sees it, and that’s the truth.

Linden is a wonderful place of true unity, vibrancy and growth. I invite you to come visit and see it for yourself; we’re even hosting a Discover Linden Shabbaton on Shabbat, June 14. Please contact me if you are interested in joining us then or any other time

Thank you again.

Rabbi Yosef Katz
Rabbi, Anshe Chesed of Linden
www.anshechesed.org