Antisemitism In New Jersey

The history of Antisemitism in New Jersey dates to the establishment of the Province of New Jersey. Prior to the passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act, Jewish people were excluded from living in many white Christian neighborhoods throughout New Jersey due to the use of restrictive covenants and quotas. Between the 1920s and 1950s, quota systems were instituted at universities in New Jersey to limit the number of Jewish people, including at Rutgers University and Princeton University. During the 2010s and 2020s, New Jersey has seen an increase in reported incidents of antisemitic vandalism and violence.

History

17th century

The Province of New Jersey granted religious tolerance under law in 1665.

19th century

In 1844, the Constitution of New Jersey abolished all religious tests for holding public office and voting.

20th century

Residential segregation

In 1956, the Anti-Defamation League issued a "call to action" to end ethnic and religious discrimination in real estate that excluded Jews as well as Catholics of Irish and Italian descent from owning houses in white Protestant neighborhoods.

In March, 1967, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey State Superior Court ruled that a country club in Wayne Township was violating the law by using restrictive covenants to exclude Jews and African-Americans.

Antisemitic quotas

In 1924, Princeton University had an "under the table" Jewish quota that limited Jewish admission to around 3%.

In October, 1930, Jewish students called attention to a numerus clausus at Rutgers University that limited the number of Jews. Only 33 Jewish students were admitted to the Rutgers freshman class of that year. The New Jersey branches of B’nai Brith, the Independent Order Brith Sholom, and the Order Sons of Zion, announced an investigation.

21st century

In 2017 and 2018, there was a controversy over the construction of an eruv in Bergen County