Dear Editor, There have recently been serious credible allegations of antisemitic bias, harassment, death threats, and intimidation in the Ocean County Jail among both staff and inmates made in a lawsuit filed by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man from Jackson, who was held in the county jail for a short time as the result of an alleged marital dispute that resulted in a minor disorderly persons charge for harassment filed by his ex-wife.
In the lawsuit, the man noted antisemitic hate speech expressed by correctional staff, and threats made to his life by other inmates based on his religious affiliation.
But hey, who can really be surprised given the fact in 2015, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office refused to prosecute the Neo-Nazi daughter of a high-ranking New Jersey State Trooper Sgt. Steve McGuinness who discussed plots to murder members of the local Jewish community on Twitter, and even posted photos of herself, wearing her father’s police uniform with swastikas added saluting Hitler, and a photo of ultra-Orthodox Jews at a local Italian Ice restaurant with the terrifying caption, “perfect bombing time”? Law enforcement in Ocean County was sent the clear message that antisemitism, hate crimes, and even terrorism against Jews is of no concern to the authorities. Her name was Jill McGuiness for anyone interested. Jill McGuiness posted all of her garbage online identifying herself by name (okay it was the nickname “Jilly McGilly”, but she posted clear facial photographs of herself playing Nazi ), so even though she was a minor at the time of posting, no one owes her any right to anonymity as she chose to put herself out there. When Jill McGuinness (or her father, or one of his state police co-workers) goes and commits an atrocity, don’t say there weren’t warning signs. The apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Ocean County has a large Jewish community, with ultra-Orthodox movements well represented. While the ultra-Orthodox community likely has lower crime rates than the New Jersey average, given the size of the community, it is inevitable that at least occasionally, someone ultra-Orthodox will find themselves in the county jail.
In the Monmouth County jail, a young Jewish man named Amit Bornstein died after being beaten by correctional officers back in 2010. Had he not been Jewish would they have assaulted him? The authorities blamed his death on alleged steroid use, but Amit Bornstein was only 22 years of age. Perhaps it was antisemitism, and not steroids that prompted his premature death? Dr. Michael Baden, a famous pathologist classified the death as a homicide, yet Amit’s killers still walk free and continue to work at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, murderers protected by the state. I know personally of antisemitic comments being made by Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officers, so this would not be a surprise.
For far too long, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community of Ocean County has treated county and state politics as a spectator sport, but the answer to fighting antisemitism in our government is for ultra-Orthodox Jews to seek political office, to advocate civil rights for all, with a special understanding of the need for tolerance and respect of diversity, demonstrated by the historical Jewish experience of persecution and resilience. The ultra-Orthodox community must expand beyond generally only holding local offices in Lakewood.
In the meantime, the Israeli government should as a matter of policy refuse to extradite any Jews facing criminal charges in Ocean County, New Jersey, from Israel to the United States, as the Ocean County Jail is not a safe place for Jewish inmates.
Carol “Kitty” Hafner
Recent Candidate for U.S. Congress (D-Alaska) and retired NJEA/NEA union officer Higher Education Administrator at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ.
It’s a problem indeed.
I think what’s needed is NJ State oversight of ocean and mommoth counties.
Because right now the same people breaking the laws are the ones enforcing it.
These words ring a hollow sound, as a believing Jews, we know that our destiny in not guided by the might of our hand rather by the will of our creator. Attempting to chase a dream of security will not do us no good in the grand scheme of our divine plan.
In truth, you echo words written over a century ago by a non-Jew, one of great thought and profoundness. But it remains the view of a non-Jew, as it doesn’t take into account the hand of G-d.
Here I present the words of Mark Twain, a segment of his essay entitled “Concerning the Jews”, published in Harper’s Magazine in 1898:
“Can Jews do anything to improve the situation?”
I think so. If I may make a suggestion without seeming to be trying to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs, I will offer it. In our days we have learned the value of combination. We apply it everywhere — in railway systems, in trusts, in trade unions, in Salvation Armies, in minor politics, in major politics, in European Concerts. Whatever our strength may be, big or little, we organize it. We have found out that that is the only way to get the most out of it that is in it. We know the weakness of individual sticks, and the strength of the concentrated fagot.
Suppose you try a scheme like this, for instance. In England and America put every Jew on the census-book as a Jew (in case you have not been doing that). Get up volunteer regiments composed of Jews solely, and, when the drum beats, fall in and go to the front, so as to remove the reproach that you have few Massenas among you, and that you feed on a country but don’t like to fight for it. Next, in politics, organize you strength, band together, and deliver the casting vote where you can, and, where you can’t, compel as good terms as possible.
You huddle to yourselves already in all countries, but you huddle to no sufficient purpose, politically speaking. You do not seem to be organized, except for your charities. There you are omnipotent; there you compel your due of recognition — you do not have to beg for it. It shows what you can do when you band together for a definite purpose. And then from America and England you can encourage your race in Austria, France, and Germany, and materially help it.
It was a pathetic tale that was told by a poor Jew in Galicia a fortnight ago during the riots, after he had been raided by the Christian peasantry and despoiled of everything he had. He said his vote was of no value to him, and he wished he could be excused from casting it, for, indeed, casting it was a sure damage to him, since no matter which party he voted for, the other party would come straight and take its revenge out of him.
Nine per cent of the population of the empire, these Jews, and apparently they cannot put a plank into any candidate’s platform! If you will send our Irish lads over here I think they will organize your race and change the aspect of the Reichsrath.
You seem to think that the Jews take no hand in politics here, that they are “absolutely non-participants.” I am assured by men competent to speak that this is a very large error, that the Jews are exceedingly active in politics all over the empire, but that they scatter their work and their votes among the numerous parties, and thus lose the advantages to be had by concentration. I think that in America they scatter too, but you know more about that than I do.
Speaking of concentration, Dr. Herzl has a clear insight into the value of that. Have you heard of his plan? He wishes to gather the Jews of the world together in Palestine, with a government of their own — under the suzerainty of the Sultan, I suppose. At the Convention of Berne, last year, there were delegates from everywhere, and the proposal was received with decided favor.
I am not the Sultan, and I am not objecting; but if that concentration of the cunningest brains in the world were going to be made in a free country (bar Scotland), I think it would be politic to stop it. It will not be well to let the race find out its strength. If the horses knew theirs, we should not ride any more.
Carol; I don’t know if the idea’s you put forth are the answer or not. One thing is for sure. We commend you for standing up and taking the time to write a beautiful letter. Standing with us in these trying times means a lot and we appreciate that. We very much appreciate your concerns and your thoughtful ideas. May god bless you and your family.
Sure advocate to protect criminals from prosecution – that makes sense.
Good luck with your election plan – you will need more of a support base before entering the state or federal stage. And speaking of safe, exactly how safe is Israel. Rather be in the OC jail than having rockets falling out of the sky on my head. .