Officials, faith leaders condemn anti-Semitism

Top officials in state government and a swath of faith leaders announced the formation of a new group to denounce anti-Semitism Thursday.

“In recent weeks, our area has witnessed an alarming rise in antisemitic attacks — physical and verbal, in-person and online. Antisemitism, like any kind of hate, is unacceptable in any form,” New Jersey Against Anti-Semitism said in a statement. “There must be no caveats and no qualifiers when condemning anti-Jewish hate, violence against Jews, and antisemitism in all spaces. We unequivocally condemn these attacks, reaffirm our solidarity with the Jewish community, and call on all community leaders to join us.”

The group includes Gov. Phil Murphy, the state’s entire congressional delegation and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, along with NJ NAACP President Richard Smith and Newark Archdiocese Cardinal Joseph Tobin, among others.

“We are proud to stand with our Jewish allies, brothers, and sisters against hatred of all kinds,” Smith said. “No one deserves to be afraid, threatened, or harassed in their home, workplace, or going about their lives. Bigotry of any kind has no place in New Jersey.”