Gov. Phil Murphy (D) joined Hoboken officials and community members for a candlelight vigil for Israel at the Pier A gazebo, speaking out against the “brutality and carnage” that was initiated by Hamas terrorists.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“Tonight, we stand together in unwavering solidarity with the people of Israel who are facing the unimaginable in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks. It’s difficult to find the words to express the depth of our emotions,” community leader Karen Schmidt said in front of a crowd of about 1,200 people.
“Some that come to mind are shock, devastation, outrage, horrifying, and heartbroken. Many of us have been glued to the news, to our phones in the past few days. We remember the innocent lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to peace, justice, and the enduring strength of the Israeli spirit.”
Mayor Ravi Bhalla then spoke about showing clear and unequivocal support for the Jewish community in wake of the Hamas attacks.
He noted that the vigil went from a small community effort to “hundreds of people standing side by side supporting one another.”
“In recent days, we have witnessed horrifying attacks of terrorism attacks in Israel where innocent lives have been lost, and families have been shattered. These events remind us of the importance of standing together in times of adversity and extending our hand to those in need,” Bhalla explained.
“Tonight, we reaffirm our commitment to the Jewish community in Hoboken and around the world. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends in Israel as they face these senseless acts of violence.”
He noted he visited Israel last year with other American mayors.
“It was a remarkable experience that allowed me to witness the strength and, resilience and spirit of the Israeli people,” Bhalla noted.
He explained that they stopped at a kibbutz, an agricultural community near the border of the Gaza Strip, which Hamas controls. He said hearing about the massacre there left him “shaken to my core.”
“Over the past few days, the whole world has watched in horror as 1,000 innocent Israelis have been murdered in cold blood, and thousands more have been injured or taken hostage. That number includes at least 20 innocent Americans as well,” Murphy stated.
“We have watched in horror as barbaric Hamas terrorists have paraded dead bodies in streets of Gaza and as babies and grandparents have been ripped from their homes and families. And we have watched in horror as our Jewish brothers and sisters have endured the bloodiest of anti-Semitic violence since the Holocaust. So at this moment, the more than 5,700 miles that separate the people of New Jersey and Israel have all but vanished.”
He continued that this situation hits particularly hard in New Jersey since they have one of the largest Jewish and Israeli-American communities in the world, as well as that, like Bhalla, he had visited kibbutz with his wife back in 2016.
The governor added that he ordered all flags at half-staff in mourning this week in honor of the dead Israelis and Palestinians.
“We not only have one of the largest Jewish populations of any American state, we have one of the largest Palestinian populations,” Murphy said.
“We have seen a sickening tide of anti-Semitic hate sweep across our nation, and New Jersey is no exception, sadly. We are deploying every resource to keep members of our Jewish and Muslim communities safe.”
Murphy further stated that a 19-year-old Tenafly High School graduate who was serving in the Israeli Defense Forces and is now missing.
“The bloodshed has not come to an end. We pray for every innocent civilian, Israeli, Palestinian, and others … We must work with our allies or any party that has supported Hamas over the years, whether it be Iran, Syria, Russia or anyone else accountable. America’s continued resolve against terrorism is vital.”
Rabbi Moshe Shapiro encouraged people to donate to charities to ease suffering in Israel.
“Anyone with a little consciousness is crying in pain. Most of us can’t join the Israeli army to route out those terrorists,” he said.
“My heart is broken right now,” Acting Israel Consul General of New York Tsach Saar said.
He explained he was speaking to Israeli-American parents about their son whom Hamas captured.
“They have no idea what’s going on with him, whether he is dead or alive. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. My homeland is under attack, and we are fighting for our very existence,” Saar said.
He noted that the attack started on Saturday, which was a Jewish holiday.
“These atrocious actions were not just against Israel, but also acts against America, the free world, and against all of humanity.”
Rabbi Robert Scheinberg, of the United Synagogue of Hoboken, expressed thanks for the outpour of community support.
“We are so grateful to the organizers of this extraordinary event in solidarity with the people of Israel. May God who establishes peace in the heavens grant peace to us and to all the people of Israel. It has been the dream of Israel throughout history to co-exist. Israel has gone to such lengths to co-exist, even when its neighbors did not want to co-exist.”
 joined Hoboken officials and community members for a candlelight vigil for Israel at the Pier A gazebo last night.){kind=link}
Where were all the other county HCDO leaders?
Where was the Democratic county chairman?
Where was the local congressman?
Where were the mayors of Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, Weehawken, North Bergen, West New York, Secaucus, Guttenberg, Kearny, etc.?
You telling us you couldn’t find the time to stand next to the Governor?
And where were our U.S. Senators?
So ashamed to be a Democrat today.
How many Egyptian gold bars would it take for you to calm down?
Maybe these Democrats were “tied up” at BLM celebrations? BLM has been busy promoting their support of Hamas paragliders into an Israeli music festival.
They absolutely loved it!
A terrible situation. I believe there should be a comprehensive peace plan with an autonomous Palestinian state BUT what Hamas has done is beyond outrageous! Israel has no choice but to exact retribution. And BTW, just look at the Democrats and their support of Hamas!!! They try to portray Republicans as the racists and the terrorists, but they are the radicals and the racists. What’s going on at College campuses across the country is hideous. They are saying the Jews had this coming and deserve more of it. And the liberal media is hiding under a rock. If 3 KKK guys have a meeting in the woods in Georgia CNN reports it as being the biggest threat to this country.
Democrats created all of these Leftists here. Now their communist base is coming out in full view. They support seeing every Jew killed “from the river to the sea.” Quite illuminating as their Wall St. Democrat elites suck this nation dry. Inflation is how rich people push down the poor and pass them the bill.
Will Ravi be lecturing us how “Jihad” is about an inner struggle? Yeah, I believe that.
Try to sell that to AOC and Tlaib who can’t even condemn absolute barbarism with a slaughter of 1200 civilians.