Reuel E. Topas

In all of William Shakespeare’s works, there is one explicitly Jewish character, Shylock. Typical of his time, Shakespeare cast him as an unmistakably anti-Semitic stereotype: money grubbing, conniving, even cruel.

Nevertheless, the playwright has him utter a moving plea for Christian understanding: Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1.

I am your (Orthodox) Jewish neighbor and I bleed just like anyone else. Which is why I write this plea for understanding and not to silence or intimidate or label anyone. With the spread of Orthodox Jews into towns neighboring Lakewood, there has been a loud public outcry (to put it politely) about the impact of that demographic change.

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Concerns include the installation of eruvs (strings or other lines meant to define a space where Jews can carry everyday items on Sabbath and holidays); synagogues in private homes not permitted by zoning laws; financial burdens on taxpayers for new infrastructure and welfare program expansion; attempts to intensify development in both quantity and density; and a large ethnic group that will not fully assimilate into the surrounding community.

Here is a surprise for some readers: I agree with every one of those concerns. They are perfectly legitimate and every person has the absolute right to express those concerns. In fact, it is due to some of the problems of overdevelopment in Lakewood that motivated my family to relocate to a beautiful, pastoral area of Toms River.

What I don’t agree with is the animosity, the rage that has accompanied and even characterized the response to Orthodox Jewish migration to surrounding towns. And, yes, sadly, some of the opposition has been expressed in unmistakably anti-Semitic terms, euphemisms and code words.

I’m not going to belabor the point. Anyone interested in seeing a few representative samples can read the lawsuit filed against Jackson due to discrimination against Orthodox Jews in zoning legislation. When I engaged in a Facebook debate on a “Jackson Strong” type website, I was treated to the actual phrase “Keep the Jews Out.” Notwithstanding that blatant hatred, I continued to plead with opponents of Jewish migration to separate their legitimate grievances from the white-hot anger.

In addition to the hateful tenor of the remarks, they are littered with wild conspiracy theories and bigoted stereotypes: “the Jews own the politicians,” “the Jews don’t pay taxes,” “the Jews are all ripping off Medicaid and other social programs,” “Jewish couples don’t legally marry so they can get more benefits for having 10 kids or more," “Jews don’t care about zoning laws.”

One final stereotype (meaning painting an entire group with a repulsive character trait or behavior) that I want to focus on is this: “Every time you speak up about the awful things the Jews are doing, they accuse you of anti-Semitism to shut you up.” I call this “Jew Jitsu," the rhetorical martial art where you use the accusation of anti-Semitism against the accuser, with towering indignation and no sense of the delicious irony: “How dare you call me an anti-Semite, just for expressing my opinion that you Jews don’t pay taxes, cheat to get government money, smell bad, have too many kids, don’t want to assimilate, flout zoning laws, bankrupt school districts, etc., etc.).”

This may or may not be accompanied by the inoculating phrase “some of my best friends are Jewish.”

To anyone who has the intellectual honesty and calm of mind to hear my words, I repeat: You have legitimate issues regarding significant demographic changes coming your way. Just remember, your new Jewish neighbors are human beings, not cartoon cut-out figures of evil, conniving villains.

The overwhelming majority of us are hard-working, decent people who pay taxes, and feel the cold of winter and the heat of summer just like you. Treat us the way you like to be treated. Don’t assume that someone with a skull cap and strings hanging outside their belt and a beard is some kind of weirdo cult follower. Smile and say hello if he doesn't first. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Reuel E. Topas lives in Toms River.