Here are some of the questions and comments we have addressed recently: Q: "I read the comment last week from the person that said you were wasting your time. Not true! I am glad that at last someone is trying to do something about anti-Semitism in this town! I am also glad that you are talking about the importance of homeland security here. Keep up the good work!" "What is the matter with some people? How come they don’t 'get it'?" A: Thank you very much for your support. I really appreciate it. As for why some people don't "get it": I think I can see a few reasons. One, some people can’t deal with "bad news", especially regarding such heavy issues as ant-Semitism and the terror threat. They "play ostrich" and fool themselves into thinking that if they deny these dangers are there, the dangers do not exist. Other people know there is a problem, but feel powerless to do anything. They are overwhelmed and immobilized - they have no idea on how to get started. And, also, some people just don't care. I do not expect everybody to "get it". As this project grows and produces results - as more Jewish citizens and groups adopt the higher standards of safety and security that we need, and as we help the town promote community cooperation to do this - more people will support it. There will always be stragglers, however. Q: "I think you are over-reacting to a few isolated instances. You are on a wasted mission. This is a great town to live in. Please don't stir up any unnecessary trouble." A: Yes, indeed, Fair Lawn is a great town to live in. But let’s get past the idea of "unnecessary trouble". How much trouble is "necessary" for living here? Is a swastika on a bench necessary but on your front door unnecessary? Is a nail thrown in the back necessary, but in your face unnecessary? Is the price for living in a great town putting up with a certain amount of trouble? Let's not make ourselves martyrs for the sake of a nice home and attractive streets. Trouble has been coming our way long before I started labeling it as such. Nobody should have to take it - not even us Jews. Q: "You keep taking about fighting terrorism along with fighting local anti-Semitism. Are you serious? We can probably deal with bigoted neighbors and teenagers. How do you expect us to deal with terrorists?" A: The fact is that Fair Lawn could be a target of terrorism, and that many steps can be taken by local citizens to help our Homeland Security forces prevent it. Fair Lawn is a distinctly Jewish town right next to radical Muslim communities. A number of the 9/11 hijackers stayed in Paterson shortly before their attack. The Palestinian population there cheered in the streets when the Twin Towers were felled. We have synagogues that are easily accessible from major county and state roads. We have a railroad that moves right through town, and that is easily accessible from many streets. We are very close to major shopping centers in which hundred of thousands of people assemble. Think like a terrorist for minute and see how easy it could be. Fortunately, we have a first-rate Office of Emergency Management. However, they and our other security authorities need our help in protecting all of us. As we get more citizens involved in making the town more safe and secure, many anti-terrorist activities can be developed. They include looking for people "casing potential targets", suspicious trucks, and so on. We will identify these activities as we go. Remember that the 9/11 attackers marched into local banks and stores and did business. They did not behave as ordinary Americans citizens do, but nobody rang any alarms. The members of their local terror cells could very well pop up in our local hardware store or community bank. Would we recognize them? The Jewish community here can take the lead in helping all our town's citizens and workers become more vigilant. Q: "I have been reading your log of incidents. Not all of them seem to be Anti-Semitic. I do not want anyone to get hurt, but I do want to be fair. For example, why do you consider throwing those nails at those two poor boys to be anti-Semitic? No slurs were shouted." A: If people that are obviously Jewish in their dress are attacked, either verbally or physically, then it is clear to me that bias was involved. If theoretically people that are clearly not Jewish - for example, Seiks - are also attacked, then you could safely say the perpetrators hates both Jews and Seiks. The fact that they attacked others doesn't make them any less hateful of Jews. For the purpose of assessing the scope of this problem, it is reasonable to say that anti-Semitism is involved if the victim looks Jewish, is in or around a Jewish building such as a Synagogue, or is doing something Jewish such as carrying a Lulav. If when the police prosecute the crime they find that bias actually was not involved, so be it. Q: "I am so surprised to hear of these incidents! I have never experienced a problem myself. How could I not have heard of these things happening?" A: I think that several factors are at play here. First of all, many of the targets have been people that are visibly Jewish. They include boys and men wearing kippot, and women that are wearing long dresses and who have their hair covered. People that are not identified as being Jewish would not typically be targets. In addition, people have been attacked while walking to and from Shul. Those Jews that drive to Synagogue are simply not exposed to street harassment. And, many of the attacks about which I have heard have taken place on several specific streets, so Jews that don't frequent them on a regular basis will also escape trouble. At the same time, however, I think that many people are having trouble, but have not reported the incidents, even to their family or neighbors. Many have a tendency to shrug it off and not want to make trouble. - even if they have been the victims and would certainly be justified in their complaints. Incidents could be taking place in public schools, at the pools and in the parks. If this is the case, then there is a lot more going on than we know. Q: "Fair Lawn is a fine place to live. I am worried people will get the wrong idea and not want to move here!" A: My family has been here for 20 years. I run a business here, and have no intention of moving. We have had a tremendously positive experience in the school system. We have no worries about walking home from a Seder at 2 in the morning. Nonetheless, the anti-Semitism exists and is a constant factor. I don't like people honking at me or cursing me as I walk to Shul. I don't deserve that and should not have to take it. Anti-Semitism is one of those menaces for which zero-tolerance must be our only response. Any level of acceptance will allow it to breed like a virus. We have already seen this in that attack with the nails that were thrown at two boys. We can't afford to wait until someone loses an eye before we admit we have a problem. These problems can't be hidden or dismissed. If I had a friend that expressed an interest in moving here, I would whole-heartedly endorse the idea. I would also tell him about the problems, but in an encouraging way because we are focused on solving them. It would be far worse to not say anything and let him find the hard way. Q: "Are you going to invite the Rabbis of our synagogues to join the task force?" A: Absolutely. They are leaders of our community and should certainly support the cause. That will happen when their congregants emphasize how important this issue is to them. Halachic decisions will also have to be made. For example, a procedure for recording and reporting incidents on Shabbat and Yom Tov must be developed. I know that I personally would need the approval of my rabbi to make sure such a system is compliant with halacha. Q: "Who is the "we" I see in your emails? A: I am driving this project. To gain input, I am consulting with Dr. Michael Cohen of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and with Scott Reddin of the office of Congressman Steve Rothman, as well as with a number of lay citizens. Positions will be formalized at the Town Meeting. All who interested will have a role to play. Q: "Are your efforts being coordinated with town officials? Have you and reps of the shuls met with the municipal and police offices to discuss the issue? Have you arranged for any meetings with the shuls to discuss the issue?" A: The mayor has already been approached and advised that we want a meeting. It is very important that representatives from all the shuls be at that meeting, so we are going to spend the next few weeks reaching out. I am holding off on scheduling the Town Meeting until we get the representation we need from the Shuls. The Jewish community will be very involved in the design and implementation of any changes, so we need to get our collective act together. Q: "Several neighborhood Watches have been organized in town. Will the task force duplicate their efforts?" A: Not at all. We will reinforce their efforts and also supplement the work they do. For example, we can help publicize the Watches and coordinate their efforts. We can also take the themes of safety and security beyond the neighborhood and into other places where it must be stressed. It is important that we find out about anti-Semitic problems in schools, pools and parks so we can work with the town and the schools system to confront it. Q: "Why is the problem of anti-Semitism being tied to crime prevention and emergency preparedness? I don't get the links." A: It doesn't make sense to focus on bias crime to the exclusion of other crime. We want to combat anti-Semitism so we can be safe and secure in our own town. The overall system for crime prevention and prosecution has to be enhanced in order for specifically anti-Semitic attacks to be stopped. In the larger picture, we Jews must be concerned about global anti-Semitism. Al Qaeda and Hizballah target Jews world-wide. We must be concerned about terrorism coming to Fair Lawn. A terror attack is one of a number of catastrophes for which our law enforcement and emergency response departments must be prepared. Here again we need to make sure that our town's overall system for safety and security incorporates the concerns of its Jewish citizens and institutions that we could very well be prime targets, God forbid. Q: "My neighbors have told me about resentment towards Jews held by many people in town. There are perceived insensitivities related to the memorial service for slain police officer Mary Anne Collura. There are objections over how the Jewish community handled the controversy over the Drivers Ed fees. It seems there are two sides to this issue." A: Let's be certain what the issue is: it is verbal and physical assaults against Jewish citizens of this town. No amount of "perceived insensitivities" or "resentment" can justify this. Neighbors will have problems - no doubt about it. In a civil society these are resolved through non-violent means. That is what this is about. One by-product of our efforts should be the creation of forums for "airing this laundry". However, at no time should violence be tolerated, whether it be verbal or physical assaults, or desecration of property meant to intimidate. For talks to take place, civil rules have to be followed. Sound familiar? Hint: think "Middle East".