(Jewish Group) Coronavirus increases anti-Semitic activity in divided New Jersey town

[Behind the Aegis]

The coronavirus pandemic has spurred anti-Semitic chatter connected to Lakewood, a New Jersey township with a large Orthodox population, on social networks.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy responded by condemning racism connected to the coronavirus.

“Scapegoating, bullying, or vilification of any community is completely unacceptable – today or ever,” Murphy wrote on Twitter. “There is a special place in hell for the small minority that do this during this crisis.”

As of Thursday, Lakewood had 198 COVID-19 cases, by far the most in Ocean County, according to the county Health Department, the Asbury Park Press news site reported. Officials have not said which parts of town or particular communities are experiencing cases.

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[madaboutharry]

1. This was predictable.

There is often hardcore tension between religious communities and the secular communities that surround them. It doesn’t take much for it all to come to the surface in the ugliest of ways. Holding weddings in defiance of orders from the Governor is not an excuse for anti-Semitism, but it sure gives haters an opportunity to come out of the woodwork.