A Letter From New Jersey Rabbis To Senator Andrew Kim

Last week Senator Andrew Kim, our new junior senator from the State of New Jersey voted in support of two resolutions aiming to block $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel. While these two resolutions failed by a wide margin, it was a terrible disappointment to see Senator Kim vote in support of them.

In response, over 170 Rabbi’s endorsed a letter criticizing him for failing Israel and our community. I want our congregation to see the letter and the wide support it garnered among Conservative, Orthodox and Reform Rabbis throughout New Jersey. This letter received a great deal of media attention. I was proud to be among the Rabbis who signed it.  

You also can express your concern to Senator Kim and protest his vote to limit Israel’s ability to defend itself against regional enemies bent on its destruction. Many Jewish organizations, including our Jewish Federation of Northen New Jersey are encouraging every member of the community to do so.  Please click the following link for more information.

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In a critical first vote, Senator Kim failed our ally…and our community.

New Jersey’s elected officials have always been proud to support and strengthen the US-Israeli relationship. They understand the shared values and mutually beneficial relationship. Our Senators have always stood with our ally to ensure it has the resources it needs to defend itself—until today.

For the last 18 months, our ally Israel was forced to fight a war it did not want and did not start. A genocidal terrorist organization launched this war bent on killing Israelis and destroying the Jewish state. Iran and its terrorist proxies surrounding Israel have attacked Israeli families with onslaughts of mortars, drones, rockets, and missiles—their brutality on October 7th and since make clear that their threats are not merely words.

Israel continues to fight to defend its borders and prevent future attacks on its citizens. It has asked the United States to sell it the American-made weapons it needs to protect its people and defeat the forces of evil. The vast majority of our elected officials know how important these arms are to the threat Iran and her proxies pose.

Some of these weapons sales were initiated by President Biden. Others by President Trump. And the majority of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate approved the sales. They know how important the US-Israel relationship is and that Israel is the front line in confronting Iran’s hegemonic aspirations.

Sadly, a small minority in Congress do not understand the importance of the US-Israel relationship and seem to have accepted Hamas’ lies and propaganda. Now, knowingly or not, they are doing Hamas and Iran’s bidding and want America to abandon our ally and block these weapons sales. Bernie Sanders is the ringleader. Once again, while Hamas still holds hostages, including Americans, and Israel once again faces missile attacks on numerous fronts, he forced a vote on anti-Israel resolutions to prevent the sales from going through. It is shameful but sadly not surprising, given his record.

Despite numerous pledges that he would stand by our ally and by his Jewish constituents, in his first vote on an issue critical to Israel’s security, Senator Andy Kim voted with the anti-Israel fringe, against our ally, and our community.

We are shocked. We are dismayed. And we are angry.

As leaders in New Jersey’s Jewish community spanning religious denominations and political affiliations, we join together in our condemnation of Senator Kim’s irresponsible and misguided vote to undermine Israel’s security.

Each one of us wants to see this painful war come to an end, to see every hostage come home, and to see Hamas’ stranglehold on Gaza removed forever. We are grateful to Senator Cory Booker for once again showing true leadership in voting against Sanders’ anti-Israel resolutions and ensuring these weapons sales were approved.

With this vote to block weapons sales to Israel, Senator Kim ignored his pro-Israel constituents and Israeli leaders across the political spectrum – notably those who are most outspoken against the current government. He did so after meeting with numerous New Jersey Jewish community leaders and pledging his support.

Yair Golan, the leader of The Democrats party in Israel, said: "Withholding military support for Israel won't help bring the hostages home, reach a ceasefire, or move us any closer to security at home and regional stability."

Yair Lapid, Israel’s Opposition Leader, called Sanders’ resolutions “a call to abandon the people of Israel in the face of Iranian-sponsored Islamic terrorism…Whatever you think of the Israeli government, calling to abandon the people of Israel is irresponsible and dangerous.”

Yet that is exactly what Senator Kim has done with this vote.

The overwhelming majority of senators rejected this anti-Israel campaign. But Senator Kim’s deliberate choice to side with Israel’s loudest opponents is an affront to our values, our strategic interests, and our community.

Senator Kim: You are on the wrong side of this issue. Your constituents are outraged. Listen to them. Stop siding with anti-Israel extremists. Stand with Israel.

 Signed,

1.   Rabbi Daniel M. Cohen, South Orange, New Jersey

2.   Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner, Closter, New Jersey

3.   Rabbi E. Samuel Klibano, Livingston, New Jersey

4.   Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz, Short Hills, New Jersey

5.   Rabbi Elliot Schrier, Teaneck, New Jersey

6.   Rabbi Inna Serebro-Litvak, Succasunna, New Jersey

7.   Rabbi William Gershon, Toms River, New Jersey

8.   Rabbi Shalom Baum, New Milford, New Jersey

9.   Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman, West Orange, New Jersey

10.                Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Englewood , New Jersey

11.                Rabbi David Vaisberg, Livingston, New Jersey

12.                Rabbi Leana Moritt, Jersey City, New Jersey

13.                Rabbi Joshua Hess, East Brunswick, New Jersey

14.                Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Teaneck, New Jersey

15.                Rabbi Dr. David J. Fine, Ridgewood, New Jersey

16.                Rabbi Ellie Miller, Morristown, New Jersey

17.                Rabbi James Proops, Livingston, New Jersey

18.                Rabbi Andrew Markowitz , Fair lawn, New Jersey

19.                Rabbi Loren Monosov, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

20.                Rabbi Aryeh Stechler, Teaneck, New Jersey

21.                Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, West Orange, New Jersey

22.                Rabbi Ian Silverman, Margate, New Jersey

23.                Rabbi Sharon Litwin, Teaneck, New Jersey

24.                Rabbi Eliezer E. Rubin, Livingston, New Jersey

25.                Rabbi Zev Goldberg, Bergenfield, New Jersey

26.                Rabbi Ned Soltz, Teaneck, New Jersey

27.                Cantor Israel Singer, Closter, New Jersey

28.                Rabbi Willie Balk, Englewood, New Jersey

29.                Rabbi Howard Jachter, Teaneck, New Jersey

30.                Rabbi Marc Spivak, West Orange, New Jersey

31.                Rabbi Steven Kushner, Jersey City, New Jersey

32.                Cantor Alan Sokoloff , Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

33.                Rabbi Michael Davies, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

34.                Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold, East Windsor, New Jersey

35.                Rabbi Dr. Robert Wolkoff, North Brunswick , New Jersey

36.                Rabbi Robert Rubin, Brick, New Jersey

37.                Rabbi Rebecca Pomerantz, Closter, New Jersey

38.                Rabbi Howard Tilman, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

39.                Rabbi Ethan Prosnit, Westfield, New Jersey

40.                Rabbi Dr. Cantor Sam Josephson, Fair Lawn, New Jersey

41.                Rabbi Eli Garfinkel, Somerset, New Jersey

42.                Rabbi Jonathan Knapp, Bergenfield, New Jersey

43.                Rabbi Stephen Wylen, Bound Brook, New Jersey

44.                Rabbi Robert Tobin, West Orange, New Jersey

45.                Rabbi Robert Mark, Clifton, New Jersey

46.                Rabbi Nasanayl Braun, Long Branch, New Jersey

47.                Rabbi Abigail Treu, South Orange, New Jersey

48.                Rabbi Barry Schwartz, Leonia, New Jersey

49.                Rabbi Arthur Weiner, Paramus, New Jersey

50.                Rabbi Laurence Groffman, Montclair, New Jersey

51.                Rabbi Chaim Marcus, Springfield, New Jersey

52.                Rabbi Ronald Roth, Fair Lawn, New Jersey

53.                Rabbi Neal Borovitz, River Edge/Oradell, New Jersey

54.                Rabbi Andrea Merow, Princeton, New Jersey

55.                Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg, Closter, New Jersey

56.                Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, North Brunswick, New Jersey

57.                Rabbi Rachel Steiner, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

58.                Rabbi Bryan Wexler, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

59.                Rabbi Yishai Abrams, Livingston, New Jersey

60.                Rabbi David Englander, Voorhees, New Jersey

61.                Rabbi Zev Reichman, Englewood, New Jersey

62.                Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot, Teaneck, New Jersey

63.                Rabbi-Cantor Colman Reaboi, Cinnaminson, New Jersey

64.                Cantor Jana Schachter, Voorhees, New Jersey

65.                Rabbi Ari Lucas, Caldwell, New Jersey

66.                Rabbi Aaron Krupnick, Voorhees, New Jersey

67.                Rabbi Dr. Robert Scheinberg, Hoboken, New Jersey

68.                Rabbi Richard Kirsch , Livingston, New Jersey

69.                Rabbi Avraham Wein, Bergenfield, New Jersey

70.                Rabbi Micah Peltz, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

71.                Rabbi Gabe Cohen, Closter, New Jersey

72.                Rabbi Netanel Reed, Jersey City, New Jersey

73.                Rabbi Randi Musnitsky, Warren, New Jersey

74.                Rabbi Eliza Scheffler, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

75.                Rabbi David Weis, Northfield, New Jersey

76.                Rabbi Ari Zahtz, Teaneck, New Jersey

77.                Rabbi Jesse Olitzky, South Orange, New Jersey

78.                Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky, Bergenfield, New Jersey

79.                Rabbi Marc Katz, Montclair, New Jersey

80.                Rabbi Laurence Malinger, Aberdeen, New Jersey

81.                Rabbi Joshua Greenbaum, Warren, New Jersey

82.                Rabbi Leah Sternberg, Summit, New Jersey

83.                Rabbi Erin Glazer, Summit, New Jersey

84.                Rabbi Simeon Cohen, Livingston , New Jersey

85.                Rabbi Joel Seltzer, Cherry Hill, New Jersey

86.                Rabbi Steven Burg, Bergenfield, New Jersey

87.                Rabbi Adena Blum, Robbinsville, New Jersey

88.                Rabbi Yitzchok Bogomilsky, Maplewood, New Jersey

89.                Rabbi Justin Pines, Englewood, New Jersey

90.                Rabbi Elliot Mathias, Livingston, New Jersey

91.                Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, South Brunswick, New Jersey

92.                Rabbi Beni Krohn, Teaneck, New Jersey

93.                Rabbi Victor Appell, Westfield, New Jersey

94.                Rabbi David Tawil, West Long Branch, New Jersey

95.                Rabbi Yaakov Glasser, Passaic, New Jersey

96.                Rabbi Ike Hanon, Oakhurst, New Jersey

97.                Rabbi Daniel Goldberg, Englewood, New Jersey

98.                Rabbi Dan Selsberg, Bridgewater, New Jersey

99.                Rabbi Stephen Gold, Lakewood, New Jersey

100.            Rabbi Randall Mark, Wayne, New Jersey

101.            Rabbi Elliot Shestack, Fair Lawn/Glen Rock, New Jersey

102.            Rabbi Akiva Block, Englewood, New Jersey

103.            Rabbi Joshua Finkelstein, Springfield, New Jersey

104.            Rabbi Joshua Waxman, Wyckoff, New Jersey

105.            Rabbi Daniel Fridman, Teaneck, New Jersey

106.            Rabbi Joshua Lobel, New Brunswick , New Jersey

107.            Rabbi Esther Reed, Highland Park, New Jersey

108.            Rabbi Cecelia Beyer, Bridgewater, New Jersey

109.            Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Wildwood, New Jersey

110.            Rabbi Chaim Strauchler, Teaneck, New Jersey

111.            Rabbi Shelley Kniaz, Teaneck, New Jersey

112.            Rabbi Gerald Zelizer, Metuchen, New Jersey

113.            Rabbi Ari Zucker, Livingston, New Jersey

114.            Rabbi Joshua Kahn, Teaneck, New Jersey

115.            Rabbi Shmuel Bergman, Fort Lee, New Jersey

116.            Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, Voorhees, New Jersey

117.            Rabbi Eliot Malomet, Highland Park, New Jersey

118.            Rabbi Azriel C. Fellner, Livingston, New Jersey

119.            Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, Teaneck, New Jersey

120.            Rabbi Avi Schwartz, New Brunswick, New Jersey

121.            Rabbi Menashe East, Randolph, New Jersey

122.            Rabbi Michael Taubes, Teaneck, New Jersey

123.            Rabbi Laibel Schapiro, Long Branch, New Jersey

124.            Rabbi Aaron Schonbrun, Oakhurst, New Jersey

125.            Rabbi David Nesson, Morris Plains, New Jersey

126.            Rabbi Ilan Acoca, Fort Lee, New Jersey

127.            Rabbi Matthew Nover, East Windsor, New Jersey

128.            Rabbi Charles Popky, Rockaway, New Jersey

129.            Rabbi Sam Hollander, Voorhees, New Jersey

130.            Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein, Highland park, New Jersey

131.            Rabbi-Cantor Jessica Fox, Glen Ridge, New Jersey

132.            Rabbi Menachem Genack, Englewood , New Jersey

133.            Rabbi Keven Tzvi Friedman, Highland Park, New Jersey

134.            Rabbi-Cantor Larry Brandspiegel, East Brunswick, New Jersey

135.            Rabbi Jonathan Falco, Manalapan, New Jersey

136.            Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Parsippany, New Jersey

137.            Rabbi Chaim-Eliezer Edelstein, Aberdeen, New Jersey

138.            Rabbi Yehuda Halpert, Teaneck, New Jersey

139.            Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, Mahwah, New Jersey

140.            Rabbi Daniel Feldman, Teaneck, New Jersey

141.            Rabbi Daniel Nevins, West Orange, New Jersey

142.            Rabbi Avi Friedman, Summit, New Jersey

143.            Rabbi Alan Silverstein, Caldwell, New Jersey

144.            Rabbi Dr. Ronald William Kaplan, Warren, New Jersey

145.            Rabbi Moshe Jordan Yasgur, Teaneck, New Jersey

146.            Cantor Rebecca Moses, South Orange, New Jersey

147.            Rabbi Efrem Reis, Teaneck, New Jersey

148.            Rabbi Jennifer Schlosberg, Glen Rock, New Jersey

149.            Rabbi Paula Mack Drill, Caldwell, New Jersey

150.            Rabbi Aryeh Wielgus, Bergenfield , New Jersey

151.            Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields, Ocean Township, New Jersey

152.            Rabbi Mark Finkel, Pine Brook, New Jersey

153.            Rabbi Dr. Joel Roth, Englewood, New Jersey

154.            Rabbi Sammy Beckerman, Livingston, New Jersey

155.            Rabbi Benjamin Adler, Lawrenceville, New Jersey

156.            Rabbi Andrew Warmflash,West Orange, New Jersey

157.            Rabbi Paul Resnick, Teaneck, New Jersey

158.            Rabbi Amy Small, Morristown, New Jersey

159.            Rabbi Joseph Beyda, Allenhurst, New Jersey

160.            Rabbi Joseph Soffer, Allenhurst, New Jersey

161.            Rabbi Ronald Barry, Elberon, New Jersey

162.            Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary, Allenhurst, New Jersey

163.            Rabbi Joseph Mizrachi, Allenhurst, New Jersey

164.            Rabbi Avi Harari, Allenhurst, New Jersey

165.            Rabbi Alexandra Klein, South Orange, New Jersey

166.            Cantor Jacob Greenberg, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

167.            Rabbi Norman Patz, Cedar Grove, New Jersey

168.            Rabbi Michael Jay, Spray Beach, New Jersey

169.            Rabbi Yosef Sharbat , West Orange, New Jersey

170.            Rabbi Julie Roth, Montclair, New Jersey

171.            Rabbi Joel Mishkin, Old Bridge, New Jersey

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