The history of Antisemitism in New Jersey dates to the establishment of the Province of New Jersey. Prior to the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, Jewish people were excluded from living in many white Christian neighborhoods throughout New Jersey due to the use of restrictive covenants and quotas. Between the 1920s and 1950s, quota systems were instituted at universities in New Jersey to limit the number of Jewish people, including at Rutgers University and Princeton University. During the 2010s and 2020s, New Jersey has seen an increase in reported incidents of antisemitic vandalism and violence.
History[edit]
17th century[edit]
The Province of New Jersey granted religious tolerance under law in 1665.[1]
19th century[edit]
In 1844, the Constitution of New Jersey abolished all religious tests for holding public office and voting.[1]
20th century[edit]
Residential segregation[edit]
In 1956, the Anti-Defamation League issued a "call to action" to end ethnic and religious discrimination in real estate that excluded Jews as well as Catholics of Irish and Italian descent from owning houses in white Protestant neighborhoods.[2]
In March, 1967, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey State Superior Court ruled that a country club in Wayne Township was violating the law by using restrictive covenants to exclude Jews and African-Americans.[3]
Antisemitic quotas[edit]
In 1924, Princeton University had an "under the table" Jewish quota that limited Jewish admission to around 3%.[4]
In October, 1930, Jewish students called attention to a numerus clausus at Rutgers University that limited the number of Jews. Only 33 Jewish students were admitted to the Rutgers freshman class of that year. The New Jersey branches of B’nai Brith, the Independent Order Brith Sholom, and the Order Sons of Zion, announced an investigation.[5][6]
21st century[edit]
In 2017 and 2018, there was a controversy over the construction of an eruv in Bergen County, when several municipalities opposed its construction. Supporters of the eruv alleged antisemitic discrimination and a lawsuits were settled in favor of the eruv association.[7]
In 2019, a shooting occurred at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City. New Jersey authorities have described the attack as domestic terrorism motivated by antisemitism.[8]
In 2023, a state lawsuit against Jackson Township was settled alleging discrimination against Orthodox Jews. The township was ordered to pay $575,000 for allegedly using local ordinances to keep out Orthodox Jewish residents.[9]
See also[edit]
- Antisemitism in Connecticut
- Antisemitism in Florida
- Antisemitism in Maryland
- Antisemitism in Virginia
- Antisemitism in the United States
- History of antisemitism in the United States
- History of the Jews in New Jersey
- History of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Virtual Jewish World: New Jersey, United States". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "A.d.l. Asks New Jersey to Halt Discrimination in Sale of Homes". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "New Jersey Court Bars Property Pact Directed Against Jews, Negroes". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "The truth behind Einstein 'folklore': Uncovering the origins of Jewish community on campus". The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Charges of Anti-semitism at Rutgers University Stirs Demand for Investigation". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Alumnus Charges Rutgers University Has "numerus Clausus" for Jewish Students". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Eruv is live in Upper Saddle River". Jewish Standard. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ Adely, Hannan; Barchenger, Stacey (12 December 2019). "Jersey City shooting follows a rise in hate crimes, frightening pattern of attacks on Jewish sites". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "NJ township to pay $575,000 in suit alleging discrimination against Orthodox Jews". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
External links[edit]
- Combating Antisemitism in Virginia, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia