The Morris County, N.J., board of county commissioners reaffirmed its support for the Jewish community on the last day of Chanukah, citing global antisemitism and recent violence targeting Jews.
In a Dec. 22 statement, the board sent “warmest wishes to our Jewish brothers and sisters throughout the world.”
Morris County’s Jewish population is roughly estimated to have more than 14,000 Jewish households, in key areas, including Morristown, Pine Brook and Mountain Lakes. Morristown is home to the Rabbinical College of America, the Chassidic academic institution run by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
“While terrorists marred the start of this year’s ‘Festival of Lights’ with the senseless and cowardly mass shooting of Jewish people celebrating in Australia, they failed to dim our resolve,” the statement said, adding “and the resolve of all decent people to rid this world of the disease of antisemitism.”
The board said the attack had strengthened its commitment to standing with the Jewish people. “These cowards have only emboldened us to further embrace the Jewish people, our shared values, and our mutual pursuit of peace and freedom.”
In the statement, the commissioners also said they were honored to attend multiple Chanukah events across Morris County during the holiday and pledged to “step united into a New Year committed to curing the world of hatred.”
