BCJAC

BCJAC News & Updates

Teaneck Town Council Questionnaires And Clean Campaign Pledges

October 18, 2026

Teaneck Town Council Questionnaires And Clean Campaign Pledges

In advance of this year’s upcoming council election, BCJAC prepared a list of relevant and timely questions pertaining to local issues, which were submitted to the email addresses each candidate has on file with the Teaneck town clerk. They also informed each candidate that in order to be considered for our endorsement, they would need to sign a Clean Campaign Pledge pertaining to their conduct during the campaign season.

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BCJAC 2026 Teaneck Municipal Endorsements

October 18, 2026

BCJAC 2026 Teaneck Municipal Endorsements

BCJAC is pleased to endorse the following candidates in Teaneck’s nonpartisan municipal elections. All endorsed candidates completed BCJAC’s candidate questionnaire and signed BCJAC’s Clean Campaign Pledge as prerequisites to being considered for endorsement. We encourage voters to visit bcjac.org.org to review the questionnaire responses and learn more about the endorsement process.

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Our Community’s Voice Matters

October 18, 2026

Our Community’s Voice Matters

The November 3 general election includes U.S. Senate and congressional races, but our focus remains on the local races where our votes can have an especially direct impact: school boards and town councils. BCJAC has been busy meeting with candidates, developing questionnaires, and reviewing responses, compiling information to help voters learn about local issues and candidates’ positions. Local elections can be decided by a surprisingly small number of votes. In Teaneck last year, for example, the school board race was decided by fewer than 100 votes.

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2026 Teaneck Board of Education Candidate BCJAC Fact Sheet

October 12, 2026

2026 Teaneck Board of Education Candidate BCJAC Fact Sheet

Teaneck residents are voting to fill three seats on the Board of Education (BOE) this year. BCJAC sent a questionnaire to the five candidates in the race. Two candidates completed the questionnaire and gave permission for their responses to be published.

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Our Community's Voice Matters - Make Sure You're Ready to Vote

September 28, 2026

Our Community's Voice Matters - Make Sure You're Ready to Vote

Local elections can be decided by a surprisingly small number of votes. In Teaneck last year, for example, the school board race was decided by fewer than 100 votes. That is why it is critical that every eligible voter is registered and that every vote is counted.

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It’s Time to Vote in Bergen County Primary Elections

June 11, 2026

It’s Time to Vote in Bergen County Primary Elections

It’s election season again! Participating in elections helps ensure our community’s voice is represented on issues that matter to us, from public safety to education to support for Israel. Consistent participation helps demonstrate that we are an engaged and reliable constituency.

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May 28, 2026

BCJAC’s New Jersey Primary Endorsement

The New Jersey primary is rapidly approaching. Early voting began on May 26 and Election Day is June 2. While many races are uncontested, it is still critically important that Jewish community members, from every city and town, show up and vote in strong numbers.

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Electoral Participation Is Essential

May 14, 2026

Electoral Participation Is Essential

As we approach the June 2 primary election, let us reflect on what it means to be a community that shows up, not only when the stakes feel highest, but every single time.

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Bergen County Jewish Action Committee Hosts ‘Meet the Mayors’ At Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck

April 30, 2026

Bergen County Jewish Action Committee Hosts ‘Meet the Mayors’ At Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck

On Sunday night, April 26, the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC) co-sponsored a “Meet the Mayors” forum at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck. Chana Shields, representing the BCJAC, opened the event with a brief review of the committee’s goals and roles.

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BCJAC Presents Panel on Advocating For NJ Jewish Community

March 26, 2026

BCJAC Presents Panel on Advocating For NJ Jewish Community

Last Wednesday, March 11, the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC) hosted a panel of local organizational and political leaders for a discussion and Q&A on “Setbacks, Success and Strategy,” with topics ranging from antisemitism to political action to Jewish advocacy.

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‘Fighting Antisemitism’: What Does It Mean and What Can It Achieve?

March 5, 2026

‘Fighting Antisemitism’: What Does It Mean and What Can It Achieve?

A recent hot topic has been New York Times columnist Bret Stephens’ contention that philanthropists should stop supporting organizations that “fight antisemitism” and redirect their giving to causes that enhance Jewish life, such as schools, shuls and summer camps. Stephens’ argument prompted some introspection, and we wanted to share our thoughts on this pressing topic and propose an alternative position.

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Understanding the ‘Protest Ordinance’: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It’s Working

February 5, 2026

Understanding the ‘Protest Ordinance’: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It’s Working

In early 2025, the Teaneck and Bergenfield Councils adopted ordinances known as “time, place and manner” regulations. The ordinances (Ordinance No. 20-2025 in Teaneck; 25-2641 in Bergenfield) went through different processes in each municipality. Both ordinances were vetted by constitutional law experts and reviewed extensively by council members and township attorneys before adoption. The Bergenfield ordinance was approved unanimously on March 4, 2025, and the Teaneck ordinance was approved in a 5-2 vote on April 22, 2025. The goal of these ordinances is straightforward: to ensure that the right to demonstrate is safeguarded, while also providing meaningful protection for those who seek to assemble, as well as to allow residents the quiet enjoyment of their homes (a right courts have long recognized). Additionally, the ordinances are intended to provide specific guidance to the police, eliminating guesswork and subjectivity from enforcement.

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NJ Rock-Thrower Behind Bars; Student Is Recuperating

January 15, 2026

NJ Rock-Thrower Behind Bars; Student Is Recuperating

On Jan. 9, Hernando Garciamorales, a 40-year-old male from Palisades Park, New Jersey, was arrested in connection with the Jan. 7 rock-throwing attack on the New Jersey Turnpike northbound, before Exit 70 A/B, which broke a school bus window and fractured the skull of a third-grade student returning from a Yeshivat Noam field trip to the Liberty Science Center.

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December 31, 2025

Looking Back at Teaneck’s Board of Education 2025 Race

Welcome back to BCJAC’s monthly column. Last month, we discussed the importance of voting in local elections. This month, we will take a deeper dive into Teaneck’s November 2025 board of education race within the context of the increasingly extreme rhetoric and political polarization sweeping across Western democracies. Our local Jewish communities have not been immune from this appalling trend, which has already led to violent threats, serious attacks and national tragedies across the country.

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We Can’t Sit Out the Next Election

November 13, 2025

We Can’t Sit Out the Next Election

The results of the 2025 general and school board elections should serve as a wake-up call for our community. This year’s Teaneck school board race was decided by only a few dozen votes. Yet, across districts 9, 10, 11, and 12 —areas with large Jewish populations—over 40% of registered voters did not vote, and approximately 1,200 people who voted just last year stayed home this time.

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October 30, 2025

2025 Teaneck Board of Education Candidate BCJAC Fact Sheet

Teaneck residents are voting to fill three seats on the Board of Education (BOE) this election. BCJAC has endorsed both Democratic and Republican candidates based on their position and record on issues important to the local Jewish community. BCJAC sent a questionnaire to the six candidates in the race. Four candidates completed the questionnaire and gave permission for their responses to be published. Based on their responses (below), additional candidate meetings, and information in the public domain, BCJAC is endorsing Maxine Angel, Latisha Garcia Isley-Robinson, and Eddie Laners III for BOE. As a condition of our endorsement, these candidates have committed to abide by a pledge to run a clean, respectful campaign that focuses on issues and refrains from personal or ad hominem attacks.

BCJAC Hosts NJ Gov. Candidate Gottheimer/NY’s Torres in Teaneck

June 5, 2025

BCJAC Hosts NJ Gov. Candidate Gottheimer/NY’s Torres in Teaneck

This past Sunday, the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC) hosted New Jersey Democratic Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and New York Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) in Teaneck for a meet-and-greet event to discuss issues related to the upcoming campaign for governor of New Jersey, as well as the rise of antisemitism, support for Israel, and the current state of the Democratic Party. The event was moderated by Ma’ayanot High School senior Nesya Bayewitz and the congressmen were introduced by Teaneck Mayor and Jewish Link Co-Publisher Mark (Mendy) Schwartz. In his introductions, Schwartz referred to both of them as future governors of their respective states.

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The Jewish Link: An Interview with Emma Horowitz, President, Bergen County Jewish Action Committee

May 15, 2025

The Jewish Link: An Interview with Emma Horowitz, President, Bergen County Jewish Action Committee

It’s election season in New Jersey with primaries coming up on June 10. To learn more about what’s at stake, Ma’ayanot senior Nesya Bayewitz sat down with Emma Horowitz, president of the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee and beloved English teacher at Ma’ayanot to discuss civic engagement, issues that matter to the Jewish community, and how everyone can help.

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BCJAC gets involved

May 8, 2025

BCJAC gets involved

Emma Horowitz of Teaneck got involved in local politics a few years ago, when she heard about the possibility of a space on Cedar Lane being leased to proprietors of a cannabis dispensary. “I was very upset about it,” she said. “My children often walk around that area. I realized that I had not paid any attention to local politics. I was always pretty well informed about state level and federal politics, but I was really uninformed about local politics, and I realized that the decisions that are made on the local level have a real impact on your day-to-day life. That was not really something I had ever given much thought to before.

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April 24, 2025

BCJAC Endorses Gottheimer, Ciattarelli for Governor; Stern, Hernandez Carroll for State Assembly

The Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC) was founded in the aftermath of Oct. 7 to organize and advocate on behalf of our local Jewish community. We are a volunteer-led initiative, with an advisory board of community leaders, supported by an amazing network of volunteers and our local rabbis. Our advocacy takes numerous forms as issues arise, but it must necessarily include politics since the actions of our elected officials impact our daily lives in ways that few of us fully appreciated before Oct. 2023.

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Bergen County Jewish Action Committee Backs Gottheimer for Guv

March 11, 2025

Bergen County Jewish Action Committee Backs Gottheimer for Guv

“Josh has been a clear and consistent voice against antisemitism, and he has been a champion when it comes to protecting Jewish students in schools and on campus,” said BCJAC in a statement. “His unshakable support for Israel and his efforts on behalf of the hostages are a testament to his deep loyalty to the Jewish community in New Jersey and the values that bind us together.”

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Teaneck Must Act: Protest Ordinance Is Essential for Community Safety

February 27, 2025

Teaneck Must Act: Protest Ordinance Is Essential for Community Safety

Opponents of the ordinance are not fighting for free speech—they are fighting to preserve their ability to harass communities based on their identity. As Shields powerfully stated: “If they are allowed to continue, this puts every community at risk. It puts every minority group at risk. It puts you at risk.”Teaneck has a responsibility to protect all its residents. The council must move swiftly to pass this ordinance, just as other jurisdictions have done without controversy. The electorate is watching, and failure to act will not be forgotten.

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BCJAC and Rep. Gottheimer Advocate for NJ IHRA Bill

January 1, 2025

BCJAC and Rep. Gottheimer Advocate for NJ IHRA Bill

On Friday, December 13, the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee held a press conference at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls regarding a bill defining antisemitism that is currently pending in the New Jersey State Assembly. This bill uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Act (IHRA) definition, which has been adopted in 37 states and 45 different countries. New Jersey, with over 600,000 Jews, however, has been slow to adopt this definition, which helps law enforcement determine what may constitute a hate crime or a bias incident.

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Teaneck Election Recap 2024: BCJAC’s Endorsements Show Strong Community Support

November 14, 2024

Teaneck Election Recap 2024: BCJAC’s Endorsements Show Strong Community Support

While the world has been digesting and analyzing the presidential election, many here in Teaneck have been focused on the results of our local elections. The 2024 general elections concluded on November 5, and Teaneck’s voter turnout reached 68.23% with 22,079 votes cast. While this turnout marks a slight decrease from 2020, it’s worth noting that inaccuracies in voter rolls impacted this percentage, and the actual turnout percentage is likely significantly higher.

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In Gratitude to BCJAC, And the Road Ahead in Confronting Antisemitism

November 14, 2024

In Gratitude to BCJAC, And the Road Ahead in Confronting Antisemitism

In the pressure cauldron of two critical election cycles in 13 months, BCJAC has helped ensure that our local elected officials take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism. While there is often much fixation at the national and state level, BCJAC makes an enormous difference for all of us at the most local levels, touching our lives intimately and directly.

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BCJAC's Emma Horowitz and Chana Shields on the Jewish Link Podcast

April 8, 2024

BCJAC's Emma Horowitz and Chana Shields on the Jewish Link Podcast

BCJAC representatives discuss their advocacy efforts on behalf of the community and their initiatives to combat antisemitism in our community, with Moshe and Elizabeth at the Jewish link.

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What is going on in Teaneck?

April 4, 2024

What is going on in Teaneck?

October 7 seems to have changed everything, not only in Israel, but here as well. Suddenly, Teaneck went from being the Emerald City for Jews to a showcase for Jew-hatred. Pro-Palestinian protestors (who maybe know which river and what sea, but maybe just are propelled by pure hate) show up to scream vitriol outside synagogues. What’s going on here? What does such a drastic change, made so quickly, mean?

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Huge counter-protest for Israel drowns out ‘intifada revolution’ calls in Teaneck

April 2, 2024

Huge counter-protest for Israel drowns out ‘intifada revolution’ calls in Teaneck

While organizations including AMP (American Muslims for Palestine) and WOL (Within Our Lifetime) were involved in planning and executing the protest outside of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, publicity from the perspective of the Palestinian protesters served an opposing purpose; it galvanized the local Jewish community into action. The Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC) teamed up with the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC) to encourage residents to show up to support and protect the community event. Chana Shields of BCJAC said “these attacks on our synagogues have to end. Full stop.” She added that they “are nothing more than an attack on Jews and our religious freedoms. ZAKA is a humanitarian organization that collects body parts and human remains after terror attacks and disasters, composed of Jewish and Muslim volunteers who make sure burial is handled according to religious practices. What kind of person opposes that?”

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‘There’s no normal anymore’

March 21, 2024

‘There’s no normal anymore’

“I cannot help but look at that playground over there, and I see children playing,” Ed Stelzer of Teaneck told the crowd gathered at the township’s Votee Park on Sunday. “And the only thought that comes to my mind is the town that my father lived in in Poland in 1938. I don’t know whether Jaroslaw, Poland, was like Teaneck, New Jersey, but I’ve seen books and I’ve seen pictures, and there were schools, and there were places where people went to pray, and there were places where people got together, and they convened in town squares.” Mr. Stelzer was addressing a rally organized only hours before by the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee, an organization formed by a group of Teaneck residents after October 7 in response to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel speeches at town council and board of education meetings. The group’s goal is to fight antisemitism and foster harmony within the local community.

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December 28, 2023

Calming tension while promoting unity

As the Jewish Standard reported on December 22, Teaneck School Superintendent Dr. Andre Spencer failed to condemn an antisemitic speech delivered during a public comment session at the Board of Education’s meeting on December 13. The meeting came in the aftermath of Dr. Spencer’s decision to host a pro-Palestinian rally at Teaneck High School during school hours on November 29. At that rally, students chanted “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” — code words for the destruction of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of its Jewish citizens. Many Jewish attendees walked out of the school board meeting during a two-minute antisemitic rant by a speaker from Englewood — which the board president did not curtail or condemn — accusing Jews of perpetrating a genocide in the Caribbean and referring to Jews as members of the “synagogue of Satan.” To say the least, this was not the outcome for which members of the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee had hoped. This social welfare organization was formed by Teaneck residents after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and the consequent war sparked anti-Jewish and anti-Israel outbursts by attendees of meetings at the town council and board of education.

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December 14, 2023

‘Peaceful Walkout’ Speaker, Flinging Antisemitic Tropes, Upends Teaneck Board of Education Meeting

On Wednesday, December 13, the Teaneck Board of Education held its first public meeting since its decision to allow students at Teaneck High School to hold a walkout in support of Palestine on November 29. Community members seized this opportunity to both voice their support for this decision and to express concerns about its implications for the Jewish students in the district — even two weeks after the walkout.

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December 7, 2023

Bergen County Jews Unite For Communal Advocacy

In the immediate weeks following the October 7 Hamas attack, Jews in America began to feel attacked on a clear and local level.

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Teaneck and County Jewish Leaders Join Bergen County Jewish Action Committee to Promote Civic Engagement

November 2, 2023

Teaneck and County Jewish Leaders Join Bergen County Jewish Action Committee to Promote Civic Engagement

About 150 community members gathered at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun Sunday night for a forum by the Bergen County Jewish Action Committee (BCJAC), Teaneck Township Council members and other township municipal officials. The spotlight on civic engagement was front and center, piloted by Councilwoman Karen Orgen, flanked by longtime township government leader, former deputy mayor and current Teaneck Planning Board member Yitz Stern. A former assistant district attorney/criminal prosecutor and current English teacher at one of the day schools spoke representing the BCJAC.

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