Toms River mayor: Our cops don't show favoritism to Jews

TOMS RIVER - A letter township police sent to Toms River's Jewish community last week urging residents to inform police if they were going away for the Jewish New Year was not meant to show favoritism to Jewish homeowners, Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said Tuesday.

"Although well-intentioned, the announcement, as worded and publicized, raised concerns that public resources were being used to provide special treatment or a special service not generally available," Kelaher said in a prepared statement that was posted on the township's Facebook page. "That is categorically not the case."

The letter from Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco was sent Sept. 14, about a week before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which will be celebrated from the evening of Sept. 20 to the evening of Sept. 22.

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"I would like any residents who are going away for Rosh Hashanah to know that they can contact me through email to provide their name, address and cellphone number so that the police department can keep an eye on your house," Stocco wrote. "You should also make sure that you lock all doors and set your alarms. For the residents that are home for Rosh Hashanah we want you to know that we will be having additional patrols at the times of prayer services."

Stocco's letter created a firestorm among some residents, who called town hall and posted on Toms River-related Facebook pages, asking why the police department had not issued a similar letter before Christian holidays like Christmas or Easter, when many families also are away.

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Kelaher said Tuesday he issued his statement to assure residents that Toms River officials are not showing favoritism to Jewish residents. Police would perform similar home checks for any homeowner on vacation, the mayor said.

He added that police have always had additional patrols near local synagogues during the Jewish holidays because there have been threats made against the community in the past.

"We express regret that any township resident felt excluded or offended by this announcement and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to keep Toms River a strong, vibrant, and inclusive community," Kelaher said in a statement posted on the township's Facebook page.

The mayor said Stocco's letter was "released without the approval or input of the Mayor's Office or the Township Council. More scrutiny of such announcements is in order."

"Going forward, I have directed that any future announcements from any department be pre-approved by the Business Administrator and Division of Law to avoid another misunderstanding," the mayor said.

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Stocco referred all questions about the letter to Police Chief Mitchell A. Little. Little said in an email Tuesday that he would have no further comment on the letter.

Stocco's letter also explained the township's building code for temporary structures, such as the small buildings that Jews construct during Sukkot (or Sukkos), which will be held from Oct. 4 to 11 this year.

"I know that many of you are new to the area and will be celebrating Sukkos for the first time in Toms River," Stocco wrote.

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He said Toms River's building code allows temporary structures of up to 120 square feet, and advised families to use two separate structures if they need a larger space.

"Chief Mitchell Little and I would like to wish you a Shanah Tovah and a sweet new year," the letter concludes.

Sukkot commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and their journey into the wilderness. Sukkot buildings are meant to represent the tents, or "huts" that the Israelites lived in during their 40 years in the wilderness.

Families traditionally dine in the Sukkot hut and spend time there during the observance of the holiday.

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The flap over Stocco's letter is the latest sign of tensions in parts of the township –especially North Dover – as an increasing number of Orthodox Jewish residents have bought houses in the area.

Toms River last year issued a five-year ban on door-to-door real estate soliciting, following complaints from residents about aggressive real estate agents. Many of the agents were seeking to find homes in the area for growing Orthodox Jewish families.

Watch the video above to learn about the culture shock caused by increased home sales to Orthodox families in Jackson and Toms River.

The township is still in mediation with Rabbi Moshe Gourarie, who filed a lawsuit against Toms River in March 2016 charging that "anti-Semitic hostility" and local opposition to the township's ultra-Orthodox Jewish population are the reasons why his Chabad Jewish Center has been told it needs a variance to operate as a house of worship on Church Road.

The U.S. Justice Department also is investigating Toms River's zoning laws affecting religious land uses.

The mayor said Stocco's letter had initially been given to a rabbi who is a police chaplain and serves as an unofficial liaison to the township's growing Orthodox community.

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He said he believes the letter was distributed to several synagogues in the township, and was also sent to The Lakewood Scoop, an online news organization that focuses on Lakewood.

The letter was printed on the Scoop's website last week, drawing praise from commenters. Many Toms River residents probably saw the letter on the Scoop site, the mayor said.

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"The township has always and will steadfastly continue to provide its services and enforce its ordinances on an equal basis," Kelaher said. "The policies and procedures referenced in the announcement are applicable and available to all Township residents uniformly, without regard to color, creed, or heritage. That is our country’s way, and that is Toms River’s way."

Kelaher said that the township has long stationed a police car near at least one local synagogue during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur because of threats that have sometimes been made toward Jewish residents.

Jean Mikle: 732-643-4050, jmikle@gannettnj.com