01/28/2025
Joint Statement of Solidarity from SOMA Jewish Clergy
The clergy of Oheb Shalom Congregation, Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, Congregation Beth El, and Maplewood Jewish Center stand together in denouncing, in the strongest possible terms, the abhorrent anti-Israel and
antisemitic protest that occurred yesterday morning in front of Oheb Shalom. We are grateful for the strength of our SOMA Jewish community, and for our collective resolve in demanding that Jew hate be expelled from our towns. The diversity of the SOMA community and of Essex County has always been our strength; this is our home and we will not allow those who seek to divide us to win. We are grateful to our South Orange and county police forces for their swift action to identify those involved in this incident and bring those who defaced property to justice. We are encouraged by the strong statements of support from our local elected officials in response to this incident, and for their invitations to meet and, together, chart a tangible course of action to ensure that our oft-embraced adage that āhate has no home hereā becomes our reality.
In Solidarity,
Rabbi Abby Treu and Cantor Eliana Kissner, Oheb Shalom Congregation
Rabbi Dan Cohen, Rabbi Alexandra Klein, and Cantor Rebecca Moses, Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel
Rabbi Jesse Olitzky and Rabbi Rachel Marder, Congregation Beth El
Rabbi Sholom Bogomilsky,
Maplewood Jewish Center
