Gottheimer, Special Envoy Carr, Payne, Sires, Grewal Visit Jewish Community at Site of Deadly Anti-Semitic Attack

Standing in solidarity with Jersey City’s Jewish community and Greenville neighborhood

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Today, Monday, December 16, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, joined by U.S. Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10), U.S. Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-8), Elan Carr, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. State Department, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey CEO and Executive Vice President Jason Shames, and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Jared Maples, among others, visited with Jersey City’s Jewish community to stand in solidarity at the site of last week’s tragic anti-Semitic attack at JC Kosher Deli..

“This was a despicable act of hate against New Jersey’s Jewish community and our entire state. Violent anti-Semitism continues to threaten our country, including right in our backyard. We must stand together now — to denounce hate targeted at anyone and prevent more violence,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) today. “Today, with my fellow colleagues, Congressmen Payne and Sires, Special Envoy Carr, Attorney General Grewal, and so many other local leaders, we are standing together to combat this hate, which has no place in our community, in New Jersey, or in our country. We also mourn together for the families and loved ones of Leah Minda Ferencz, Moshe Hersh Deutsch, Douglas Miguel Rodriguez Barzola, and Detective Joseph Seals.”

Gottheimer also took part in a roundtable today with Jersey City faith leaders, Grewal, Payne, Sires, Carr, Shames, Maples, and others to discuss next steps in combating anti-Semitism in Jersey City and across the country.

Following the roundtable, officials visited JC Kosher Deli where the attacks occurred, paid respects to victims’ families, and attended the wake for Detective Joseph Seals, where thousands of community members gathered to honor his life.