releases: http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406137
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| http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406137 | <span class ="kicker">APP Editorial on Anti-Semitism, Spec. Envoy Post Created by Smith law</span>'Anti-Semitism: Shame those who need to be shamed' | 2019-09-15 | 2019 | 2019-09 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | legacy | BY RANDY BERGMANN - APP Editor & Columnist In what was a particularly timely appearance, Elan Carr, special U.S. envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism,came to Lakewood Tuesday to talk about growing anti-Semitism and how to combat itin the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. While he talked mostly in broad strokes about the rise ofanti-Semitism throughout the world, locally he singled out the Rise Up Ocean County Facebook page as a scourge and noted with disgusthow some local politicians had used anti-Semitism to advance their election prospects. Carr'stalk, sponsored by Lakewood Neighbors and attended by about 80 people, mostly Orthodox Jews, came close on the heels of an incident in which the car tires of more than 100Lakewood residents wereslashed and a news story about an Orthodox Jewish advocacy group askinga judge to stop Jacksonfrom enforcing ordinances it claims are anti-Semitic. As the head of the Asbury Park Press' Unity Project, which is aimed at improving relations and understanding between the Orthodox Jewish and non-Orthodox communities, I was anxiousto hear Carr's suggestions for dealing with anti-Semitism. Not surprisingly, educating people about the Jewish religion, culture and history, and the imperative of combating the "poison of evil and anti-Semitism" in all its forms wereat the top of Carr'slist. But he also underscoredthe need for people to condemn hateful rhetoric and actions. People give a standing ovation to US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism, Elan Carr, after his presentation at the Lakewood Township. Municipal Building on Sept. 9, 2019.(Photo: Gustavo Martnez Contreras) He spoke ofthe power of resounding consequence for those engaged in hate.We must be unequivocal in communicating that there is no place foritin a civil society. If enough people condemn hateful acts, behavior is likely tochange. Hateful behavior can't allowed to be normalized, he said. Carralso discussed the importance of dealing with the small stuff, such as hateful posts on social media, before behaviormorphs intoacts of violence. He cited RudyGiuliani's success in dramatically reducing crime in New York City in the 1980s by cracking downon graffiti, aggressive panhandling and other minor offenses. If you deal with the small stuff, the bad stuff is less likely to happen. RELATED: I am your Orthodox neighbor and want your understanding Unity Project in Lakewood and beyond: What you need to know Want to help combat hate? Here's how to get involved Carr, an Iraqi-born attorney, was alegal adviser to Israel's Ministry of Justice in the 1990s anddeputy district attorney in Los Angeles County prior to his recent appointment. He made anunsuccessful bidfor Congress as a Republican in 2014,He has been in the U.S.Army Reserve for 20 years, andwasdeployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he prosecuted terrorists who attacked U.S. troops. Carr's special envoy position was created under legislation drafted by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., in 2004. He was appointed to the job in February, after thepost was left unfilled for nearly two years under President Trump, much to the dismay of the Jewish community and many members of Congress. In January, the House of Representatives passed a bill setting a deadline for the appointment of an anti-Semitism envoy and elevating the position to an ambassadorship. The bill is pending in the Senate. In a teleconference with Carr later on Tuesday, I asked him how he was able to reconcile his missionwith some of the hateful rhetoric and attacks against minorities that havecome from Trump, who Carr praisedfor his strong defense of Israel during his talk. "I take exception to the way you have characterized him," hesaid. "He has talked about condemning hatred. Hehas been very strong about that." Be that as it may,Carr's speechwas timely andimportant. But he was largely preaching to the choir. His words, and those of people with similar messages,needto be shared more widely,in the Orthodox and non-Orthodox communities. Moremustbe done in Lakewood and surrounding townsto bring the Orthodox and non-Orthodox together, to meet face to face, to come to know each other as individuals, and to help shatter the stereotypes. That, along with education andshaming those who need to be shamed, will remain central to our Unity Project's mission. Randy Bergmann(Photo: Staff) Randy Bergmann, a Westfieldnative and lifelongresident of New Jersey, has been covering the state as a reporter, editor and opinion page editor for four decades. Contact Bergmannat rbergmann@app.com or 732-643-4034. This editorial originally ran on page 3 of the Sunday print edition of the Asbury Park Press ws published online at: https://www.app.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/09/12/anti-semitism-lakewood-orthodox-elan-carr/2281015001/ | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |