JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Law enforcement officials are investigating a possible hate crime at an Orthodox Jewish-operated cancer center in Jackson Township.
Chai Lifeline Center was tagged with anti-semitic messaging a day after an online chat group reportedly targeted the center with negative comments.
Mordechai Burnstein, a community leader with the Jackson Jewish Community Council condemned the attack and offered strong words of criticism for two groups operating in town he feels stoke the flames of anti-semitism on a regular basis.
“Sadly, this unfortunate incident did not occur in a vacuum. In the hours preceding the vandalism, agitators within our own Jackson community spewed hateful rhetoric across social media regarding this specific site,” Bernstein said. “Hateful rhetoric on online platforms has real-life ramifications, as we so tragically witnessed today. We must all do more to ensure that such bigotry is expunged to the fullest extent possible.”
A video of the incident was captured by a nearby security system and investigators are now looking to see if the perpetrator, suspected to be a male was seen in any other nearby surveillance video.
Mayor Michael Reina joined Burnstein in condemning the incident.
At this time, no arrests have been made and police are asking anyone with information to contact them.