A South Jersey Congressional candidate says American Jews need to arm themselves and stop relying on others -- especially Democrats -- for their protection.

"Jews in America today are in danger of being beaten and killed for just being Jews just like my grandparents when they lived in Eastern Europe more than 100 years ago," Republican Seth Grossman said in a press release Wednesday. "That is because Democrats have fundamentally changed America during the past 30 years.

"During these years, radical leftists took control of our media, public schools, colleges, pop culture and the Democratic Party. They then used them to preach a dangerous doctrine that has divided America into groups who are always angry at each other," Grossman said.

Grossman's comments came just four days after a gunman burst into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed 11 people and wounded others.

President Donald Trump visited the synagogue Tuesday as the first funerals for those slain were being held, despite calls he stay away. In the statement, Grossman criticized the anti-Trump backlash that grew in the wake of the shooting.

American Jews again need to embrace the #SecondAmendment of our Constitution. Instead of becoming a burden on taxpayers & law enforcement by demanding special police protection, American Jews should form gun clubs, become proficient in firearms, & obtain legal permits to carry — Seth Grossman (@Grossman4NJ) October 31, 2018

Grossman, who is Jewish, the claims the "radical leftists...falsely tell everyone who faces failure or hardship that members of some other 'privileged' group are responsible. This is why Jews in America are now in such a dangerous position. When people start blaming others for their problems, the first people they think of are Jews."

Grossman is battling Democrat Jeff Van Drew to fill New Jersey's Second Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. They hope to succeed multi-term Republican Congressman Frank LoBiondo who is retiring from the House.

The release came out after Grossman went to Twitter Wednesday morning with a series of posts calling for Jews in the U.S. to arm themselves.

"American Jews should stop advertising that our places of worship are gun free zones and soft targets. We American Jews must make it as dangerous and difficult to kill a Jew in America as it is in Israel," he said on Twitter.

American Jews need to stop blindly believing and reciting the propaganda talking points of @DNC politicians. They should carefully think through the consequences of what they do and say. #MAGA — Seth Grossman (@Grossman4NJ) October 31, 2018

He pointed his finger at Democrats, saying they are the cause of America's troubles and "too many prominent Jews in America today rely too much on politicians, celebrities, & other political elites to advance their careers."

In his statement, Grossman condemned the mainstream news media for falsely accusing Trump supporters of instigating hate and violence in America today. Contrary to liberal claims, Grossman said, Trump has supported Israel and Jewish people, and condemned the Pittsburgh murders.

Jews' biggest supporters, he said, are "President Trump, his supporters and evangelical Christians."

"It is stupid and dangerous for Jewish leaders to systematically attack our friends and support our adversaries. If we do that, we should not blame Trump when we have more enemies and fewer friends."

Van Drew Wednesday reacted to Grossman's comments.

"I strongly condemn the anti-Semitic terrorist attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, and believe it is completely reprehensible that in the days after the tragedy that some are still launching overheated rhetoric dividing people even further," he said Wednesday.

"We must defeat radicalism, hate and the toxicity that has torn apart many communities by working together as Americans for the common good."

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips