There has been a troubling rise in anti-Semitic statements and activities globally, nationally, and locally of late.From shameful anti-Semitic comments and behaviors from celebrities Kanye West and Kyrie Irving (a West Orange native), to hateful words and drawings found in our schools, and now threats to New Jersey synagogues, this cannot simply be brushed off as an aberration. The influx of anti-Semitic activity our community is dealing with is undeniable, upsetting, and unsettling.Many in this community met just a few short weeks ago to discuss this issue, and we believe that our police department and school officials are taking the matter very seriously. While these are important measures to take, it is clear that those actions alone are not enough on their own to stop more hate-related incidents from occurring in the future.Given these mounting occurrences, we feel compelled to state what we hope is already obvious: The Tribune condemns anti-Semitism in all its forms, and stands with Livingston’s Jewish community.
