Agudath Israel of America is shocked and horrified by the brutal attacks on Orthodox Jewish victims in Lakewood and Jackson, New Jersey, over the weekend. We commend the swift and bold response by law enforcement and are particularly grateful to the Lakewood Police Department and those of the surrounding municipalities, the Ocean County Prosecutor, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, Governor Murphy, and the FBI who have all committed the necessary resources to investigate these alleged hate crimes and secure our community.

We pray for the speedy recovery of all the victims and ask the public to keep Tzvi Aryeh ben Rivka Leah and Moshe Yigal ben Brunyah in their prayers.

During these difficult times, it is incumbent upon us all to turn in prayer to Avinu Shebashamayim, our Father in Heaven, the ultimate protector of the Jewish Nation, to keep us safe and secure.