There are a small number of Jews who are thinking of voting for the Preserve Ramapo candidates in the upcoming election. This is a huge error. The membership of Preserve Ramapo includes the most virulent anti-Orthodox people who live in Ramapo. This includes elected officials in villages such as Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, Pomona and Wesley Hills, whose major policy goal is to prevent or slow the growth of the 'regular' Orthodox community in Ramapo. This should be abhorrent to Jews of any denomination."It will surprise no one to learn that along with Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Montebello, Pomona and Wesley Hills, the Town of Ramapo also consists of Kaiser, New Square and Monsey, all strongholds of Vishnitz and Square Hasidim, where dynastic rulers are often available to the highest bidder and bothersome chores like thinking for one's self are routinely outsourced to spiritual leaders.
Though the Journal News stops short of pointing fingers, I am not so prudent. That letter was wrritten and financed by developers who stand to prosper from clear-cutting Rockland County, and it was blessed by the Rabbis who cheerfully accept their donations. This isn't a case of Jew vs anti-Semite, but of rich developers vs homeowners who wish only to preserve their quality of life. And those who use the phrase "anti-Semite" as a political cudgel ought to remember the story of the boy who cried wolf.
