Morris County shines a blue light on antisemitism
County Commissioners Support Local Campaign Against Hate
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – The Morris County Board of County Commissioners applauded a campaign to end hate against Jews and bring awareness to heightened antisemitism as a result of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel that claimed the lives of more than 1,400 innocent people.
The program was detailed by Commissioner Deborah Smith during last night’s work session meeting after she learned of the “Stand Against Jewish Hate Blue Light Campaign.” It was initiated by local Jewish residents in Randolph, where it was unanimously supported by the Randolph Township Council.
“At Hanukkah, Jews everywhere light their menorahs to increase the light in the world and pray that light, goodness and love will defeat the darkness,” said Commissioner Smith. “In the Blue light campaign, we join in solidarity with our Jewish residents to increase light in the world and stand for Israel. In the face of uncertainty, the collective illumination of compassion and resilience can heighten awareness of antisemitism and guide us through this terrible time.”
The “Stand Against Jewish Hate Blue Light Campaign” was created to build awareness and rally support against the rise of antisemitism in the United States. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, there has been a nearly 400 percent increase in antisemitic incidents reported year over-year, according to report from the Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism. The charged rhetoric has led to many attacks on Jewish people, both in person and on social media.
The “Blue Light Campaign” is intended to coincide with Hanukkah; and the grassroots group in Randolph will be assembling packages with a single blue light, a single blue ribbon and a fact card containing ideas to stand up to hatred of Jews and increase “light at a time of immense darkness.” The group will be offering these packages to anyone wishing to be an ally to the Jewish community in Morris County this holiday season.
Supporters can show solidarity with the Jewish community by displaying a blue light in a window or by affixing a blue ribbon around a tree in their yard. Everyone is urged to speak out against antisemitism and pray for the hostages, many of them women and children, who are still being held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and their terrorist allies.
For more information, or to receive a Blue Light Campaign package, click here.
