Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) today condemned the reported break-in and vandalism at the former Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Jackson, where swastikas, Nazi imagery and racist messages were discovered after individuals allegedly forced their way into the building.
The property was recently purchased by Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest yeshiva in the United States.
“A swastika painted inside a Jewish-owned building is not teenage mischief or ordinary vandalism. It is an unmistakable message of intimidation,” said Schnall. “Those responsible must be identified, prosecuted and held fully accountable.”
Assemblyman Schnall said the incident should also force a broader reckoning over the increasingly hostile political climate surrounding Orthodox Jewish residents in Jackson and neighboring communities.
“Hate does not begin with broken windows and spray paint,” Schnall said. “It begins when a community is repeatedly portrayed as a problem to be contained, a threat to be feared or an easy target for political resentment. It grows when inflammatory claims go unchallenged, when contempt is tolerated at public meetings and when elected officials discover that attacking Orthodox Jews is an effective way to win attention or applause.”
Although Jackson is outside the 30th Legislative District, Schnall said the incident carries consequences far beyond municipal boundaries.
“The individuals who entered that building are responsible for their actions. But elected officials are responsible for the climate they help create,” he said. “Politicians cannot spend months feeding suspicion of a religious community—or quietly benefiting from it—and then wash their hands of the consequences when that hostility turns dangerous.”
“A condemnation issued after a swastika appears is hollow if the same leaders remain silent while an entire community is demeaned day after day,” Schnall continued. “Leadership requires confronting hatred before it becomes vandalism and before vandalism.”
“This incident must be a turning point,” Schnall said. “Every elected official should ask whether their words are lowering the temperature or raising it. The public should expect more from those entrusted with authority. Words carry weight, silence sends a message, and neither is without consequence.”
The vandalism also included a racist slur against Black people.
And?
All I can say is AND check this out! Living Kiddush Hashem | Living Kiddush Hashem Worldwide Slichos Event
The perps should check this out too!
Basically, it’s a story about a guy who walked into a Jewish-owned used furniture store with Nazi tattoos on his arms and also written ‘Kill all Bl*cks and Jews’. The owner was clean shaven and wearing a baseball cap, but afterwards – and he had even given him a discount as he said he had a limited budget, he said to the fellow ‘you don’t really believe in that do you?’ And he said ‘yes I do, everyone knows they’re bad’. At that point the proprietor takes off his baseball cap and shows his yarmulka. The fellow was astounded, he said ‘but you were nice that makes no sense based on what I have heard!’ But it was his first personal encounter with a religious Jew.
The fellow agreed he has to think about it.
Half a year later, he walked back in, his tattoos were covered, and he said his relationship with his parents had improved too.
Interestingly, they couldn’t get a professional sticker from a company that produces them for actors, as they didn’t want to write that! They had to do it with a marker.
And if that wasn’t enough, the actor – whom they had gotten from a professional referral company – turned out to be Jewish, and they put him on tefillin right there – on the arm facing those tattoos! (This was in an article after the release of the vid.)
Why all the thumbs downs (without explanation, as is often the case)? It would be a good lesson for them! Please don’t thumbs-down if your reason is not obvious.
One Year Later: Former Anti-Semite Recalls First Interaction With New Jewish Friend [Watch] – 5 Towns Central
This is Amazing! The actor that was hired to be the neo Nazi for the Living Kiddush Hashem video in the remarkable true story, revealed at the end of the filming that he was Jewish and put on… | Shabsey Gartner | 14 comments
I don’t hear him condemning it.
Your reply speaks volumes and exposes your true nature.
Because G-D created everyone
Therefore it’s not about jews.
not *just about
Thank you for stating that very important fact which was very obviously disregarded by the rest of the commentators.
You’re welcome
Chris Pollak and Elliot Shem Tov are to blame for the dangerous divide in Jackson. Good people must rise up and say ENOUGH
Sadly, Mr Shem Tov is delusional to think he’s ‘one of them’. I’ve watched his posts, he’s a lost soul be used by the other side.
All Too often, when the likes of him wake up it’s too late. Ha mayvin ya vin.
Loshon hora
Theres no lashon harah on someone who is not shomer torah Umitzvos, in fact theres a mitzvah to hate them!
Maybe it’s the danger guys behind Rise Up Ocean County? Iykyk
It clearly looks like an attack against Blacks. Jumping in with “Anti-Orthodox” Shtick is a really bad look.