New Jersey Community Stands Up to Hate Crimes

A New Jersey community is coming together in solidarity after a local rabbi was attacked in his home earlier this month. Rabbi Nosson Schuman lives on the second floor of an Orthodox synagogue in Rutherford and woke in the early morning hours of January 11 to the sounds of firebombs shattering his windows. The incident was the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks on synagogues in Bergen County.

Rather than sit by, the local community has responded. Rabbi Schuman told The Jewish Week that $2,000 has been raised toward the purchase and installation of security cameras and extra lighting with motion sensors. A website, donatebethel.org, has been set up for those wishing to make a contribution. And community gathered recently at an interfaith event to show support.

“We suffered 10 minutes of extreme hate and at least four days of love and solidarity,” Rabbi Schulman said. “We’re now going to try to do something else to promote understanding and unity in the community.”

Phyllis Goldstein, author of Facing History and Ourselves’ most recent publication, A Convenient Hatred: The History of Antisemitism, told The Jewish Week that tense political and financial times such as these often lead to spikes in hatred against Jews. “But whenever people feel uneasy about their situation and aren’t comfortable for one reason or another, it’s pretty easy to look for someone else to blame,” she said. “The perception someone else is to blame for my problems is easier to digest than to sort of face up to whatever reality is causing my problem.”

Read “Bergen Shuls On Edge As Security Beefs Up,” by Stewart Ain in The Jewish Week.

Learn more about A Convenient Hatred: The History of Antisemitism.