When I spoke at a town council meeting last week, I stated that we need to stop using the term "tolerance." Our town is not tolerant. In Mahwah, our residents are a true community, that embraces and welcomes families from several socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds.

Our mayor wrote a brilliantly written article where he stated that in Mahwah, "all people, regardless of economic standing, religious belief or sexual orientation, are embraced in the community of Mahwah." I appreciate the fact that the mayor used the word "embraced" rather than tolerant, as they are not synonymous. Embracement is a two-way street and for those of us who live in Mahwah, we enjoy sharing in our lives together. However, other than good PR, what did the mayor's article achieve? Where is the article that proves he is fighting for us? Isn't he our leader? Where's the leadership? In Mahwah, NJ, we are fighting for the soul of our town. But what's more, almost every county/community in the immediate proximity to Mahwah (Rockland, Monroe, Lakewood, Upper Saddle River, Jersey City, etc.) is sharing in a similar struggle. After it was discovered that Eruvin(1) were installed in the town, residents were quick to come together in opposition, citing that they were (believed to be) installed illegally and should be taken down. However, some folks were quick to jump to false conclusions- that the objection from residents was not genuine and instead, was nothing more than an attempt to claim that the underlying issue was not one of enforcing existing town ordinances but rather, a demonstration of anti-Semitism.

Let's get this out of the way first: I 100% believe that the bigger concern is what the eruvin represent in the minds of residents - an unwelcome promise of what's to come. Despite this, it is outright and indisputably untrue to assert that this fear is the result of anti-Semitism. Political correctness achieves nothing and elected officials need to realize that they cannot legislate away hate. They need to stand up as leaders as it is to the detriment of society that folks are told they must walk around, pretending that events and changes aren't occurring in their communities (and elsewhere), simply because of the optics that might be projected. The result is an ill-informed public and incomplete or untrue information being spread around. Therefore, I wanted to share some history and facts to help draw clarity for these folks who may not realize what we are up against. I am not trying to sell anyone but rather defend the integrity of my town and its residents.



We must recall the famous quote "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana. In this case, we must go back to 1954, when the town of New Square (Rockland County) was first purchased. As this one population began to grow, they needed additional space to accommodate more families, houses of worship, private schools, and more. The following is a list of facts that summarize the steps this group has since taken and the impact on communities. After reviewing this list, please let me know how any item listed below even remotely implies an anti-Semitic sentiment. In the name of political correctness, are we to ignore history and allow it to repeat itself? I could easily spend days sharing examples of corruption, law breaking, and more. I can share examples of how, in Lakewood, NJ, there is a lawsuit which centers on how hidden income, fake applications and phony company owners were integral parts of a complex scheme several wealthy families used for years to fool the government into doling out nearly $2 million in aid reserved for the poorest citizens. Or in Rockland County, how a group used a 'Bloc Vote' to successfully influence the town's former supervisor, (who I call 'The Devil'), Christopher St. Lawrence to revise zoning, allowing for higher density residential development. This effort "paved the way for the operation of schools with temporary Building Department permits without planning and zoning approvals in single-family homes. Several neighborhoods have challenged the schools and other high-density housing developments(2)." But instead, I will focus on these examples, which I feel are most effective at demonstrating the overall concerns-