Sullivan County leaders are speaking out forcefully against recent antisemitic incidents targeting Orthodox Jewish pedestrians in the towns of Woodbourne and South Fallsburg.
According to reports, eggs were thrown at multiple individuals walking along Route 42 on Sunday, June 29, prompting an ongoing investigation by the Town of Fallsburg Police Department. While no injuries were reported, at least one incident took place in front of a synagogue, and all the targets were visibly Orthodox Jewish residents or visitors.
The Sullivan County Legislature, along with the Executive Director of the County’s Human Rights Commission, joined the newly formed Sullivan County Coalition Against Antisemitism in condemning the attacks.
“These assaults were clearly antisemitic in nature, inexcusable in every way, and instilled fear in the Orthodox Jewish community, whom we are proud to call neighbors,” said Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz in a public statement. “This Legislature will not minimize, nor stand for, such displays of hate in Sullivan County, and we fully support local law enforcement’s efforts to expose and prosecute the perpetrators.”
Ramone Wilson, Executive Director of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission, also issued a written statement addressed to Coalition chair and local attorney Jacob Billig. “No one in our community should live in fear or be subjected to violence and harassment based on their faith,” Wilson said. “These violations of human dignity are wholly incompatible with the values we uphold as a County and as a Commission committed to justice, equality, and respect for all.”
District 7 Legislator Joseph Perrello and District 8 Legislator Amanda Ward, who represent the affected communities, added their support. “We are intent on protecting the rights of all our citizens, including those who year after year spend their summers with us,” they said in a joint statement. “We want our communities to be peaceful and welcoming, and we will continue to work with the Jewish community to ensure they feel safe and cared for wherever they are in Sullivan County.”
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact the Town of Fallsburg Police Department.
The Sullivan County Coalition Against Antisemitism, launched earlier this year, was formed in response to growing concerns about bias and harassment in the region.
Image: Residents listen to comments during a public hearing on a petition to create a village within the borders of the towns of Thompson and Fallsburg at Viznitz Institutions synagogue in Kiamesha Lake on Thursday, August 3, 2023 (Credit: John Meore/The Journal News)
When will people realize that people are people, and everyone regardless of what nationality, or religion or anything period, should only be LOVED and respected. Disrespect should only be given, when given to one.
Sullivan County, fallsburg and the human rights commission are full of it. They help the people that are building homes,because Sullivan County loves money .they sell out their residents and steal their water for profit. The people running fallsburg are criminals.
While not at all acceptable, this “egg throwing” incident should be the least of the Jewish people’s problems here in New York state. In fact, the problems the Jewish community are facing stems directly from the liberal democrats and their apparent turning against the Jews and Israel. This is a direct result of radical Islam’s encroachment onto college campuses and into the left-wing socialist media in our country. Right now, a communist pro HAMAS and IRAN antisemite is running for mayor of the city of New York. Which has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel in the United States. Zohran Mamdani is calling for a global intifada. If the Jewish community really wants to attack antisemitism, they should be going after Kathy Hochul and the democrat party in New York. Because it’s the liberal democrats, through their silence and deeds, who are allowing the hate to fester.
Being against a foreign government’s foreign policy actions is not anti-semetic. There are plenty of tolerant individuals who support all religious beliefs and the freedom to practice them. One can be against the actions of the Israeli government while being against intolerance in their own country.
Baloney spoken like a Republican and a loser.
In these times of division, acts of hatred and violence and seeming intolerance for anyone that’s ‘other’ in ANY way, I am so grateful and proud to live in a community and a county that aspires to and stands up for being ‘peaceful’, ‘welcoming’, ‘committed to justice, equality and respect’. When hate can find no home here, we are all not just safer but stronger. Thanks WJFF for keeping us in the loop, keeping us in the love.