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Jack Ciattarelli Pledges to Make Combating Antisemitism Central to His NJ Gubernatorial Campaign
By: Tzirel Rosenblatt
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli sharpened his message Tuesday, vowing that if elected, his administration would place combating antisemitism at the forefront of its priorities while also delivering sweeping reforms on taxes and education. Speaking at his campaign headquarters just weeks before the High Holidays, Ciattarelli addressed a gathering of Jewish community leaders, framing the fight against antisemitism as not only a moral obligation but also a test of leadership for New Jersey.
According to a report that appeared on Tuesday at VIN News, Ciattarelli told attendees that New Jersey has reached a dangerous crossroads. Antisemitism, he warned, is no longer confined to the margins of society but has seeped into mainstream politics, public discourse, and even some corridors of government. "My plan will make our state safer and more affordable for every family by cutting taxes, expanding school choice, and confronting antisemitism head-on," he declared, emphasizing that the challenge was both urgent and deeply personal.
While the former state assemblyman is best known for his relentless focus on affordability -- particularly through reducing New Jersey's notoriously high property taxes -- he presented a vision that wove economic and cultural security together. Ciattarelli argued that families must be able to thrive not only in terms of financial stability but also in an environment free of fear and hatred.
VIN News reported that the candidate's education proposals dovetail with his broader agenda. Ciattarelli reaffirmed his pledge to expand school choice, noting that Jewish day schools, yeshivas, and private institutions have long struggled under New Jersey's restrictive funding structures. "Parents should have the right to send their children to schools that reflect their values," Ciattarelli said, stressing that expanding options for families would also alleviate pressure on overburdened public systems.
In his remarks, Ciattarelli positioned the fight against antisemitism as inseparable from ensuring quality education. "Our schools must be places of learning, not incubators of hate," he said. He pledged to bolster Holocaust education, intensify efforts to combat antisemitic harassment on campuses, and support law enforcement with new tools to prosecute hate crimes.
Ciattarelli's rhetoric also served to draw a sharp contrast with the policies of the current Murphy administration, which he accused of being complacent in the face of rising antisemitism. "We need leadership that will stand up and fight back, not look the other way when antisemitic incidents multiply across our communities," Ciattarelli told community leaders, echoing concerns in the VIN News report.
In particular, Ciattarelli criticized his Democratic opponent's continued support for New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Labeling Mamdani a "socialist with an anti-Semitic record," Ciattarelli said the endorsement revealed a dangerous tolerance of extremist rhetoric within Democratic ranks. "Yet my opponent refuses to back down from her endorsement of socialist Zohran Mamdani, despite his anti-Semitic record. That says it all," Ciattarelli said, adding that voters deserved a governor who would be unequivocal in defending Jewish communities.
New Jersey has long been home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States, but recent years have seen a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the state. According to statistics referenced in the VIN News report, incidents range from synagogue vandalism and online harassment to threats on college campuses. Many Jewish leaders argue that the problem is compounded by a political climate in which some progressive activists use anti-Israel rhetoric as cover for overt antisemitism.
Ciattarelli's campaign has seized on these concerns, portraying him as a candidate willing to draw firm lines where others equivocate. "This is not a partisan issue; this is a human issue," Ciattarelli said. "When a Jewish student hides their identity on campus, or when a synagogue has to hire extra guards for the High Holidays, we all lose."
The Tuesday event also marked Ciattarelli's latest effort to solidify ties with Jewish voters, many of whom have expressed disillusionment with the Murphy administration. Ciattarelli praised Jewish communal resilience and reiterated his commitment to policies that would ease financial burdens on families, particularly those with multiple children in private or religious schools.
The VIN News report noted that his campaign is actively engaging Jewish leaders in discussions about public safety, education funding, and hate-crime enforcement. Ciattarelli pledged to establish a task force dedicated to monitoring antisemitism and ensuring that state agencies coordinate closely with federal authorities.
His tone throughout the meeting was one of urgency combined with pragmatism. "We cannot wait for the next attack, the next threat, the next hateful march to take action," he said. "We must act now to protect our neighbors and preserve the values that make New Jersey strong."
Although Tuesday's remarks centered on antisemitism, Ciattarelli emphasized that his campaign rests on three pillars: safety, affordability, and opportunity. By tying antisemitism to broader themes of governance, he framed the issue not as a niche concern but as emblematic of the state's broader failures under the Murphy administration.
He reiterated his commitment to tax cuts, arguing that New Jersey families are suffocating under the weight of the highest property taxes in the nation. Expanding school choice, he said, would relieve pressure on both parents and public schools. And by making antisemitism a core focus, Ciattarelli positioned himself as a candidate ready to confront cultural and moral challenges with the same energy he brings to fiscal matters.
As the gubernatorial race intensifies, Ciattarelli's positioning suggests a deliberate strategy: to capture voters' attention not only by addressing pocketbook issues but also by tackling moral and cultural questions head-on. His criticism of Mamdani's antisemitic record, amplified by his Democratic opponent's refusal to disavow the New York lawmaker, served as a powerful rhetorical pivot, highlighting what Ciattarelli sees as a stark moral divide between himself and his rivals.
VIN News captured the broader tone of Ciattarelli's message: that fighting antisemitism is not ancillary to governance but central to it. In linking this fight to education and affordability, Ciattarelli painted a picture of leadership that seeks to protect both the material and moral fabric of the state.
"New Jersey needs leaders who will fight for its families, its values, and its future," Ciattarelli concluded. "That means confronting antisemitism, making our state more affordable, and ensuring every child has access to an excellent education. Anything less is failure."