US Messianic Congregation Vandalized

By Stefan J. Bos and George Whitten

JACKSON, NJ, USA (Worthy News) – Messianic Jewish believers in New Jersey were searching for answers after their congregation’s property was attacked and turned into “a war zone.”

Damage suffered by Beth Zion, a Messianic Jewish congregation, is the worst in their three-decade history, said Rabbi Jan Rosenberg after seeing the vandalism.

Local media described his congregation’s property on West Veterans Highway in the municipality of Jackson as “a war zone” with as many as 60 broken double-pane windows, including the two tempered glass front doors. Rabbi Rosenberg estimated that the cost of repairs alone would likely reach tens of thousands of dollars.

Rosenberg also noticed the distinct smell of fireworks someone had shot off indoors.

While Jackson has a growing Orthodox Jewish community, Beth Zion has been an active Messianic Jewish synagogue in the area for many years.

Messianic Judaism is a faith where individuals of Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds maintain their Jewish identity while embracing the belief in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Jewish New Testament.

While many Jews reject the Messianic faith due to misconceptions concerning similar teachings in many Christian groups and churches, Rabbi Rosenberg told Worthy News that the congregation has good relations with many individuals in all Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

HATE CRIMES BEING INVESTIGATED

While police investigate the incident, Rabbi Rosenberg told Worthy News that local media confirmed a town hall meeting that was conducted just two days before the incident.

“At the town hall meeting, many residents were upset that their taxes were being raised,” Rosenberg told Worthy News. A large number of residents vocally blamed the rising taxes on the services being proposed for the Orthodox Jewish community. The last few years have seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic activity, as well as increased public, hateful, and vitriolic statements in Jackson and throughout central Jersey. In fact, last year, hateful antisemitic words were scrawled on the building when windows were also broken. Rabbi Rosenberg told Worthy News,

“Though it cannot be verified at the moment, it seems like more than a coincidence that there would be a connection between the events that took place at the Town Hall meeting and the vandalism that occurred at our building.”

Jackson Police Chief Matthew Kunz views the bias case as an incident of “adolescent-type criminal mischief.” Police haven’t made any arrests yet, but Kunz said it was likely juveniles.

“We’ve been in Jackson for around 30 years and never really imagined being a victim of this kind of hate crime,” Rosenberg told the media. “But even if it turns out to just be ‘juveniles,’ the hate connection has been clearly made.”

Since earlier incidents occurred, Jackson police officers have routinely patrolled the premises. While this is helpful, it has not been able to stop the violence or catch the perpetrators thus far as the investigation continues.

The building is set back a few hundred feet from West Veterans Highway in a dimly lit and rural area. “I believe it’s simply a crime of opportunity,” Kunz said. “But there’s no way to know until we actually identify an offender.”

Despite the setbacks, and with building site plans already approved for many years, Rabbi Rosenberg seeks to turn the site, purchased in 2001, into a Messianic synagogue one day.

But it’s an expensive undertaking, and “while we have been viewed as a welcome addition to the region over the years, apparently a few are not pleased with our presence in Jackson,” said Rabbi Rosenberg.

But the Messianic believers haven’t given up. For now, they gather at the nearby Hope Cathedral for their Shabbat service every Saturday morning.

If you wish to help contribute to the restoration of the building, Rabbi Rosenberg suggested donating through PayPal on their website at BethZion.org or by mail to: Beth Zion, PO Box 807, Jackson, NJ 08527.

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