“When I’m governor, New Jersey will stand in solidarity with Israel”

PHOTO: BRETTIZEISEN

Jack Ciattarelli has gone all in on getting Republicans back into the win column in the New Jersey governor’s race. It’s not the long shot you might think it is: The GOP has won six of the last 11 gubernatorial elections in the Garden State. He himself came close in 2021, narrowly losing to incumbent Phil Murphy. The Real Clear Politics polling average at press time put Ciattarelli within striking distance behind north Jersey congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, 46% to 37%. There is still plenty of time left, and he is closing the gap. He opens our conversation with confidence: “We’re going to win this time.”

Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey legislator, enjoys popularity in the frum communities of Lakewood and the rest of the state. In the middle of his intense campaign, he took the time last week to make his second trip to Israel, visiting with the country’s business, innovation, and political leadership.

Mishpacha chatted with Jack Ciattarelli for insight into his trip and perspective on the situation on the ground in the Holy Land.

You’re in the middle of a hard-fought campaign. Why was it important to take time to visit Israel?

My visit had a dual purpose — to grow New Jersey’s economy, and to express solidarity with the Israeli people and their struggle.

My job as governor is to grow our state economy. [Current governor] Phil Murphy is trying to tax his way out of the fiscal calamity we face in Trenton. I’ll reduce the size and cost of our state government to cut taxes for businesses and individuals. But let me be clear, we can’t cut our way out.

We have to grow our economy, and one great way to grow our economy is by increasing bilateral trade with some of our allies around the globe. Israel provides a phenomenal opportunity to do just that. It does $14 billion a year in bilateral trade with New York, but less than $2 billion a year with New Jersey. There’s nothing that New York has that New Jersey doesn’t.

Whom did you meet while you were there?

My first day and a half there, I met with business leaders planning to expand their business operations in the United States. We carried the message that when I’m governor, we’ll be open for business and happy to partner with them, to make sure that the best place for their center of US operations is right here in New Jersey.

On the political side, we met with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The objective in meeting with political leadership is to let them know that when I’m governor, New Jersey will stand in solidarity with Israel in its right as a sovereign nation to protect its citizens and to rid the region of terrorists.

Can you tell me a little bit about your conversation with the prime minister?

My message was to reinforce that when I’m governor, we will stand with Israel economically and certainly support their fight to keep their country and their citizens safe.

What do you make of some of the right-wing leadership or media that are shifting away from supporting Israel, like the isolationist wing of the Republican Party or individuals like Tucker Carlson who are turning their backs? Where do you think that’s coming from?

I can only speak to the undeniable fact that thousands of lives were lost on October 7 in an unprovoked attack on Israel and its people. Every sovereign nation should be expected to respond as it feels it needs to, in order to keep its solemn responsibility to protect its citizens.

What’s your impression of how the war is going and the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza?

I support Israel in doing whatever it has to do to rid the region of terrorists. I made that message clear to the prime minister, as well as to the speaker of the Knesset, the Minister of Strategic Affairs and Ambassador Huckabee.

We’re getting a lot of conflicting reports over whether there is a famine, there isn’t a famine... Were you able to see anything?

We could not see what’s taking place in Gaza. War isn’t pretty. But again, Israel has a right to defend its citizens and rid the region of terrorists.

What did you see when you were there? Were there any specific sites of interest?

Certainly, Tel Aviv is a vibrant city that’s on the rise — there are cranes everywhere. Jerusalem is a phenomenal experience in every way, culturally, historically, spiritually. We also visited some of the sites of the horrors that took place on October 7, including Kibbutz Be’eri and the park where the Nova festival was held and over a thousand people were murdered.

What role does New Jersey have specifically as regards Israel? Why is it important for the governor to have a good relationship with Israeli leaders?

The trip to Israel is an invaluable learning experience, as well as a very important trip for the 600,000 Jews who call New Jersey home. They want to know that their governor supports Israel.

Specific to business, Israel’s most innovative companies should see New Jersey as their US base of choice. We need to do a better job of recruiting these companies. A lot of people are not aware of all that New Jersey has to offer for young companies and startups

There’s no reason we shouldn’t be leading the nation in bilateral trade with Israel.

There’s a township in New Jersey whose mayor defines it as the “Palestine of America” or “Little Palestine.” Do you understand what he’s trying to say? What’s your opinion of that?

I think all elected officials need to be sensitive to their rhetoric. [Zohran] Mamdani is an example of someone who’s not at all sensitive to his rhetoric, having made numerous anti-Semitic remarks, anti-Italian remarks, and anti-police remarks. Today more than ever, given the divisions that are taking place in the community and the rise in anti-Semitism, public officials need to be extremely sensitive to their rhetoric.

When you look at our neighbors across the river, are you concerned about the direction New York City is taking, and how that affects New Jersey?

I’m very concerned, because the rhetoric of Mamdani fuels hate. I care greatly for the 400,000 New Jerseyans that work in New York City each and every day, as well as every Jew that calls New Jersey home.

Do you think his socialist agenda will be successful? How will it affect New Jersey’s economy?

The way to give everyone equal economic opportunity is to create a dynamic economy. It’s up to individuals to take advantage of it by way of their work ethic. You cannot create a dynamic economy with socialistic policies.

Mamdami’s socialistic agenda will have no effect on New Jersey as long as I’m governor. My opponent has endorsed Mamdani and his policies, and he has endorsed her. Every New Jerseyan should be greatly concerned about that.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1076)