The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep concern over an anti-Semitic incident that targeted a Lakewood, New Jersey synagogue’s Holocaust memorial. A banner with anti-Jewish slurs was hung in front of the memorial on July 2 with the words “(((Heebs))) will not divide us.”
According to ADL’s Center on Extremism, a website included on the banner belongs to Vanguard America, a known white supremacist group that has distributed hate fliers across the county. The use of the triple parentheses – or stylized (((echo))) symbol, is also a gimmick used by white supremacists and anti-Semites to single out Jews on Twitter and other social media, which was added last year to the ADL “Hate on Display” online hate symbols database.
“Community leaders, religious clergy and elected officials must offer a full throated condemnation of this brazen anti-Semitic incident, which has left town residents feeling vulnerable,” said Joshua Cohen, ADL New Jersey Regional Director. “An attack on the Jewish community in Lakewood is an attack on the entire community.”
“Unfortunately, anti-Semitism is not now a new phenomenon in New Jersey towns and cities,” Mr. Cohen added. “Our state ranked third in the nation for anti-Semitic incidents last year which shows us that we – as a community at large – must utilize our full span of resources to combat this growing problem.”
According to ADL’s Annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, New Jersey suffered a total of 157 anti-Semitic incidents in 2016, representing a 14 percent increase from the 137 incidents in 2015. In the first quarter of this year, ADL’s Audit tallied 24 incidents, including nine incidents of vandalism and 15 under the harassment, threats, and events category.
ADL praised the Lakewood Township Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and the state Attorney General, for investigating this act of hate. The Attorney General’s office has offered a reward of $10,000 for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. Anyone with tips and information is asked to call the Bias Crime Toll Free Hotline at 1-877-277-2427.
It’s bad! I was amongst goyim yesterday and when I walked by a group of approximately 5 guys, they purposely started talking loud how these guys don’t need to work because they take all our programs. Today, I walked into a bank and felt a similar hatred. It can really felt on the streets. So sad….
Jackson sprinkler park:”oh look another one is coming… using our park after we pay taxes! Stay in lakewood….”
I’ll spare you the rest of the speech! No other words but calling it anti-semitism!
Hate is not strong enough! Sad and scary!
I don’t understand why there are no asifas we must get together urgently. Where are the askanim???
Can you blame them? When one of us does something wrong… we all do something wrong… We should all look at ourselves and see how we can improve…
Just to throw out some ideas; build smaller (read – more normal size) houses, not mansions, greet people, use common courtesy when shopping or in any public area (e.g. hold open doors, don’t block isles, don’t talk loud/scream or otherwise act like you own the place and last but not least, drive courtiously!
Lakewood doesn’t have a unified leadership structure that deals with these issues, we get stepped on all the time and people cry fowl yet don’t act. It’s time to act now as a unified community
@Rina – stop justifying hate and anti semitism. No excuse for hate. Just because someone didn’t hold open a door for someone, is a reason to tell an entire community to drop dead etc. ?
Is that the “courteous ” behavior you are saying we should learn?
Wake up! No excuse for this hate.
Your right, @my2cents, but such behavior simply antagonizes the buried hate. It brings it to the front.
Oy! These people make me plotz. Maybe they should be thanking us for bringing industry to the least desirable part of New Jersey. It would be trailer parks and Wawas if it weren’t for Frum Yidden.
The Jewish community has brought Lakewood to a flourishing, low crime, high value town. The sorrounding townships are jealous of pur prosperity. That being said we cannot tolerate anti-Semitism and I believe we should be standing strong and proud against it. Loud and clear!