By: Tzirel Rosenblatt

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli sharpened his message Tuesday, vowing that if elected, his administration would place combating antisemitism at the forefront of its priorities while also delivering sweeping reforms on taxes and education. Speaking at his campaign headquarters just weeks before the High Holidays, Ciattarelli addressed a gathering of Jewish community leaders, framing the fight against antisemitism as not only a moral obligation but also a test of leadership for New Jersey.

According to a report at VIN News, Ciattarelli told attendees that New Jersey has reached a dangerous crossroads. Antisemitism, he warned, is no longer confined to the margins of society but has seeped into mainstream politics, public discourse, and even some corridors of government. “My plan will make our state safer and more affordable for every family by cutting taxes, expanding school choice, and confronting antisemitism head-on,” he declared, emphasizing that the challenge was both urgent and deeply personal.

While the former state assemblyman is best known for his relentless focus on affordability—particularly through reducing New Jersey’s notoriously high property taxes—he presented a vision that wove economic and cultural security together. Ciattarelli argued that families must be able to thrive not only in terms of financial stability but also in an environment free of fear and hatred.

VIN News reported that the candidate’s education proposals dovetail with his broader agenda. Ciattarelli reaffirmed his pledge to expand school choice, noting that Jewish day schools, yeshivas, and private institutions have long struggled under New Jersey’s restrictive funding structures. “Parents should have the right to send their children to schools that reflect their values,” Ciattarelli said, stressing that expanding options for families would also alleviate pressure on overburdened public systems.

In his remarks, Ciattarelli positioned the fight against antisemitism as inseparable from ensuring quality education. “Our schools must be places of learning, not incubators of hate,” he said. He pledged to bolster Holocaust education, intensify efforts to combat antisemitic harassment on campuses, and support law enforcement with new tools to prosecute hate crimes.

Ciattarelli’s rhetoric also served to draw a sharp contrast with the policies of the current Murphy administration, which he accused of being complacent in the face of rising antisemitism. “We need leadership that will stand up and fight back, not look the other way when antisemitic incidents multiply across our communities,” Ciattarelli told community leaders, echoing concerns in the VIN News report.

In particular, Ciattarelli criticized his Democratic opponent’s continued support for New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Labeling Mamdani a “socialist with an anti-Semitic record,” Ciattarelli said the endorsement revealed a dangerous tolerance of extremist rhetoric within Democratic ranks. “Yet my opponent refuses to back down from her endorsement of socialist Zohran Mamdani, despite his anti-Semitic record. That says it all,” Ciattarelli said.

Ciattarelli’s campaign has seized on these concerns, portraying him as a candidate willing to draw firm lines where others equivocate. “This is not a partisan issue; this is a human issue,” Ciattarelli said. “When a Jewish student hides their identity on campus, or when a synagogue has to hire extra guards for the High Holidays, we all lose.”