As Shabbat approaches I am grateful for the sense of joy and solidarity with our people that Shabbat always brings. This Shabbat I am grateful as well for the notes of support and concern that you sent to me in response to my email message about the recent spate of anti-Semitic hate crimes in our county. One cannot underestimate the meaning and importance of this support and care. Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Ba’zeh, we are taught in the Talmud, “All Israel is connected to and responsible for one another.” This is a critical source of our strength, itself a reflection of the strength of the One we call Tzur Yisrael, “The Rock of Israel”.
A couple of you were kind enough to share words of concern for my safety and the safety of my family. I was very touched by your words. I cannot say that I am completely unconcerned. But, I think about all the generations of our people who lived in circumstances where the dangers were so much greater than anything we face and I realize how fortunate we are. So, too, are we blessed to live in a time when so many non-Jews are as outraged as we are at the attacks committed against our community and when police and government officials of every rank and background are doing everything they can to protect us and catch the perpetrators.
Last night there was a community-wide security meeting sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council. The meeting was attended by Jewish and community leaders and State, County, and local law enforcement and Homeland Security professionals. Chief Bruno of the Tenafly police was in attendance. After the meeting he spoke with our Temple Co-President Jack Reich, and Executive director, Jeff Katz, after the meeting, and indicated that he was coordinating his efforts with the other law enforcement officials and taking special care to look out for our safety at Temple Sinai.
Today, on a conference call for the leadership of Reform congregations, Michael Ward of the FBI said that his office has been involved in investigating these incidents from the beginning and that there were now six Bergen County law enforcement teams working on these crimes. They have leads but, of course, cannot discuss them at this time. He asked that anyone who has information about any anti-Semitic incidents, no matter how small they may seem, to report them to the local police and the FBI. Please call either 911 or 866-4SAFENJ (472-3365).
All members of the law enforcement community at these meetings say the same thing, “Stay alert; report any suspicious activity; but continue to live your normal lives.” This is what we must do. Tonight at Temple Sinai we have a wonderful dinner planned for our third graders and their families, followed by a service at which they will receive their first prayer books. We have taken precautions, including having our custodians and lay people at our doors letting people in. There are other security measures in place as well. But, we will not let the hatred of others stop us from the holy task of worshipping God, celebrating Shabbat and educating our children. Our ancestors who often faced far more perilous circumstances were not cowed by the threat of anti-Semitism, nor will we.
At the same time, we take heart from the knowledge that our struggle to eradicate anti-Semitism in America is part and parcel of a larger American struggle against bigotry and racism. As you know, this weekend we remember the remarkable leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King. I think of one of Dr. King’s more pithy statements, “A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.” We will not bend in the face of hatred, nor shrink from our holy tasks. We will do as we always do at this time, which is to come together as a community and offer our words of greeting and prayer, “Shabbat Shalom U’m’vorach,” “May you have a Sabbath of Peace and Blessing.”
Rabbi Jordan Millstein
p.s. Below is a statement issued today by the North Jersey Board of Rabbis Statement on the Anti-Semitic Acts in Bergen County:
“The recent rash of attacks on synagogues in Bergen County have reminded the Jewish community that Jews still live in the cross-hairs of hate. Regardless of denomination, affiliation or political stripe the faith communities have stood shoulder to shoulder in denouncing these baseless crimes of intolerance. After the attacks on Temple Beth Israel in Maywood, Temple Beth El in Hackensack and Congregation Khal Adath Jeshurun in Paramus. Now, these offenses have reached a new and more abhorrent level when not only a synagogue in Rutherford, NJ was targeted, but a rabbi, his wife and their children sleeping innocently in their beds were attacked by fire bombs and crude devices intended to maim and kill them.
The North Jersey Board of Rabbis unequivocally denounces all of these acts of anti-Semitism. Our members stand individually and collectively as a rabbinic board, united with our brothers and sisters and their communities that were targeted through these attacks. We send our prayers to Rabbi Nosson Schuman for a speedy recovery from the physical and emotional trauma he and his family endured. We share with them our outrage and send our love, commitment and support and are willing to help them find the resources to rebuild and afford them and their congregants the safety and security that every person in this country is to be afforded, regardless of their faith, creed or background.
The officers and members of the North Jersey Board of Rabbis wish to thank our local and regional law enforcement, fire fighters and elected officials for their outspoken support and diligent efforts in continuing to work tirelessly to find the perpetrator(s) of these heinous crimes. We applaud the leadership of the interfaith communities that are standing with us in what is another moment of challenge and attack on the Jewish community. Your friendship is invaluable.
For anyone with information on these crimes, please contact the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 201-226-5651 or Prosecutor@BCPO.net."
Last night there was a community-wide security meeting sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council. The meeting was attended by Jewish and community leaders and State, County, and local law enforcement and Homeland Security professionals. Chief Bruno of the Tenafly police was in attendance. After the meeting he spoke with our Temple Co-President Jack Reich, and Executive director, Jeff Katz, after the meeting, and indicated that he was coordinating his efforts with the other law enforcement officials and taking special care to look out for our safety at Temple Sinai.
Today, on a conference call for the leadership of Reform congregations, Michael Ward of the FBI said that his office has been involved in investigating these incidents from the beginning and that there were now six Bergen County law enforcement teams working on these crimes. They have leads but, of course, cannot discuss them at this time. He asked that anyone who has information about any anti-Semitic incidents, no matter how small they may seem, to report them to the local police and the FBI. Please call either 911 or 866-4SAFENJ (472-3365).
All members of the law enforcement community at these meetings say the same thing, “Stay alert; report any suspicious activity; but continue to live your normal lives.” This is what we must do. Tonight at Temple Sinai we have a wonderful dinner planned for our third graders and their families, followed by a service at which they will receive their first prayer books. We have taken precautions, including having our custodians and lay people at our doors letting people in. There are other security measures in place as well. But, we will not let the hatred of others stop us from the holy task of worshipping God, celebrating Shabbat and educating our children. Our ancestors who often faced far more perilous circumstances were not cowed by the threat of anti-Semitism, nor will we.
At the same time, we take heart from the knowledge that our struggle to eradicate anti-Semitism in America is part and parcel of a larger American struggle against bigotry and racism. As you know, this weekend we remember the remarkable leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King. I think of one of Dr. King’s more pithy statements, “A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.” We will not bend in the face of hatred, nor shrink from our holy tasks. We will do as we always do at this time, which is to come together as a community and offer our words of greeting and prayer, “Shabbat Shalom U’m’vorach,” “May you have a Sabbath of Peace and Blessing.”
Rabbi Jordan Millstein
p.s. Below is a statement issued today by the North Jersey Board of Rabbis Statement on the Anti-Semitic Acts in Bergen County:
“The recent rash of attacks on synagogues in Bergen County have reminded the Jewish community that Jews still live in the cross-hairs of hate. Regardless of denomination, affiliation or political stripe the faith communities have stood shoulder to shoulder in denouncing these baseless crimes of intolerance. After the attacks on Temple Beth Israel in Maywood, Temple Beth El in Hackensack and Congregation Khal Adath Jeshurun in Paramus. Now, these offenses have reached a new and more abhorrent level when not only a synagogue in Rutherford, NJ was targeted, but a rabbi, his wife and their children sleeping innocently in their beds were attacked by fire bombs and crude devices intended to maim and kill them.
The North Jersey Board of Rabbis unequivocally denounces all of these acts of anti-Semitism. Our members stand individually and collectively as a rabbinic board, united with our brothers and sisters and their communities that were targeted through these attacks. We send our prayers to Rabbi Nosson Schuman for a speedy recovery from the physical and emotional trauma he and his family endured. We share with them our outrage and send our love, commitment and support and are willing to help them find the resources to rebuild and afford them and their congregants the safety and security that every person in this country is to be afforded, regardless of their faith, creed or background.
The officers and members of the North Jersey Board of Rabbis wish to thank our local and regional law enforcement, fire fighters and elected officials for their outspoken support and diligent efforts in continuing to work tirelessly to find the perpetrator(s) of these heinous crimes. We applaud the leadership of the interfaith communities that are standing with us in what is another moment of challenge and attack on the Jewish community. Your friendship is invaluable.
For anyone with information on these crimes, please contact the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 201-226-5651 or Prosecutor@BCPO.net."
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