Washington - Concerned with the recent and persistent attacks against the Jewish Community in New Jersey that have now escalated to the level of attempted murder in the most recent incident involving Molotov cocktails being targeted at a Bergen County Rabbi and his family in aBergen County Synagogue, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez has written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder in the Department of Justice requesting a full investigation. Several Molotov cocktails were thrown through the windows of Congregation Beth El, one causing minor injuries to Rabbi Nosson Schuman. This violent incident is the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks that have taken place in New Jersey in the last month.

"I am horrified by the numerous and increasingly violent anti-Semitic attacks that have recently been committed against the Jewish community in New Jersey and I have supported the efforts of local law enforcement to stop them," said Senator Menendez."However, the escalation to attempted murder - an attack against a family while they were sleeping - calls for a stepped-up commitment to stop the violence immediately. I am pleased that the FBI is working with a law enforcement coalition to investigate this crime and I have urged the Attorney General to commit additional resources to this investigation. The repeated and dangerous attacks need to be addressed immediately so that families in New Jersey, regardless of their religious affiliation, can rest assured that they can be safe and thrive in the Garden State."

The full letter to Attorney General Holder is below:

January 12, 2011

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I write to urge you to fully investigate the horrendous recent attack on Rabbi Nosson Schuman and the Rutherford, New Jersey synagogue. As this attack represents the fourth anti-Semitic incident in less than a month, I am deeply concerned about the escalating threats against New Jersey's Jewish community. I understand that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined a coalition of law enforcement personnel to investigate this hate crime, and I urge the Department of Justice to take the necessary steps and commit the required resources to combat these acts of intolerance.

Yesterday morning, perpetrators threw several Molotov cocktails through the windows of a three story building that contained the Orthodox synagogue Congregation Beth El and the residence of Rabbi Nosson Schuman. Thankfully, the incendiary devices did not explode upon impact. The 4:30 a.m. attack awoke the Rabbi, and he successfully extinguished the fire resulting in burns to his hands. The Rabbi then led his wife, five children, and parents to safety. Authorities are now investigating this attack as an attempted murder.

This incident is consistent with a pattern of escalating violence against Bergen County's Jewish community. Authorities have also discovered anti-Semitic graffiti at synagogues in Hackensack and Maywood. On January 3rd, arsonists used an accelerant to start a fire at the Congregation K'Hal Adath Jeshuran in Paramus. No arrests have been made in these incidents.

It is my sincere hope that the perpetrators of these heinous acts will be quickly brought to justice. These attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on us all. I hope that the Department of Justice will commit all necessary resources to combat these vitriolic acts of hatred.

Sincerely,

ROBERT MENENDEZ

U.S. SENATE

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