This past Sunday, Beth Israel congregation in Colleyville, Texas was the site of another assault on our religious freedoms when a crazed individual took four people hostage in an 11-hour ordeal.

As noted by Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life Synagogue in an article covering the shooting, “While everyone is physically safe, they are also forever changed”.

Sadly, Rabbi Myers is an expert in such matters as a result of an attack on his synagogue in 2018 located outside of Pittsburgh, where a gunman opened fire killing 11 and wounding 6 congregants. The victims included holocaust survivors and was the deadliest attack on the Jewish Community in the United States.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the National Director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was interviewed on Deadline White House and indicated that although Jews represent only 2 % of the population of the United States, they are subject to 60% of the hate crimes based on religion. To put faces to these statistics, Mr. Greenblatt reminded viewers of other offenses against fellow Americans of Jewish faith in recent years; which resulted in their deaths.

In a separate television interview with Jose Diaz-Belart, Rabbi Myers said that America “has to step up big, to be able to say that we are a place that does value, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the expressions of religious freedoms, and so far, America is not succeeding in those promises in our sacred documents.”

In his interview, Mr. Greenblatt predicted that, “you are going to see a massive participation in Shabbat services this coming Saturday in synagogues across the country, because Jews have learned for thousands of years not to be afraid”. He then added, “this is not a Jewish problem, it is an American problem”.

To this point, I was heartened that Beth Israel and its congregation was immediately and fully supported by the Muslim American community as well as leaders of all religions in the Dallas area.

It is beyond comprehension that places of worship, which literally call their most solemn places, “sanctuaries” have become locations where worshippers cannot feel safe.

I have enjoyed decades of friendships with Jewish friends from high school, college, law school and in my career. One of the great joys of being a local elected official is that you get invited to community events. In that capacity I went to literally hundreds of events involving the Jewish community, which only strengthened those relationships. I came to love and respect everything about the Jewish religion and culture. My experience was not unique as New Jersey residents celebrate the diversity of our neighbors.

Which brings me to the point of this column. I am confident that Mr. Greenblatt’s prediction will be validated and that synagogues will be full of Jews fearlessly celebrating their religion this coming Saturday. However, when our friends and neighbors are demonstrating their faith and resilience, they should not be alone. Part of America “stepping up big” would be for men and women of all religious beliefs joining our Jewish brothers and sisters in Shabbat services on Saturday morning. To that end, this Saturday I will be joining my friends at the similarly named Beth Israel synagogue located in Vineland. Due to COVID, like many places of worship, Beth Israel will be operating virtually and I look forward to joining my friends via the internet. If you want to join us, please call the synagogue at 856.691.0852.

If I was still a county official with access to the state and national bi-partisan relationships I once enjoyed I would be sending this suggestion to my colleagues. Without that platform, I am using this medium to suggest that elected officials, business people and community leaders from throughout our state “adopt a synagogue” this coming Saturday or another Saturday in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbors. What better way to show them that they are not alone and that we are truly, “one nation, under God”? Call your local synagogue and inquire if they are meeting live or virtually. I am sure they will be delighted with this support.

I dedicate this column to my friend of 50 years and former law partner of ten years Charles J. Indyg who passed away at the age of 64 on December 1, 2021. I learned so much from Charlie and his parents who were survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and who lost nearly all of their loved ones to the Treblika death camps. May their memory be a blessing.

Lou Magazzu was a County Commissioner (formerly named Freeholder) in Cumberland County NJ from 1998-2011 and the longest continuous serving Freeholder in that county in the last 50 years. He also served as Freeholder Director as well as County Democratic Chairman. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties, was the Chairman of the National Democratic County Officials as well as President of the New Jersey Association of Counties. He can be reached at Lmagazzu@aol.com.