Yesterday, the FBI issued a security warning for all synagogues in NJ, stating they received “credible information about a broad threat” against them. Thankfully, the threat has since been mitigated as the FBI located the source.
However, this threat comes amid a month-long period of outrageous Anti-Semitic hate speech from prominent people with large influence. It comes at a time when anti-Black hate speech jumped 500% in a single day on a social media platform. It comes at a time when the family member of a political leader was attacked in their home.
Greater Bergen Community Action loudly and proudly denounces Anti-Semitism and the historic “othering” of the Jewish people.
Hate speech is not Free Speech.
Violence has no place in our political discourse.
Greater Bergen Community Action envisions a United States in which all neighborhoods are thriving, all families are economically stable, and all individuals are empowered to pursue their hopes and dreams.
Our vision cannot come to fruition if people do not feel safe to be, safe to hope, safe to dream.
And at Greater Bergen Community Action we know that none of us are safe unless all of us are safe.
As Martin Niemoller said of Nazi Germany:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
There are moments in history when each organization – when each of us – must decide who we will be, how history will remember us, and did we meet the challenge and stand firm for our beliefs.
Greater Bergen Community Action embraces and stands in solidarity with all those who are marginalized and find themselves under threat at this time. And we are speaking out because we want everyone who needs to know that someone is there for you, that we are here.
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work.
But neither are you free to abandon it.
*Quoted by Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Wisdom of the Jewish Sages of Rabbi Tarfon.
Greater Bergen Community is not daunted by the hate, violence, and grief of this moment. And though we may not be able to complete the work on our own, we will never abandon it.
Join us as an Upstander.
Lives Changed Here