By COLlive reporter
From Jersey with love.
The Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey Jack Ciattarelli recently traveled to the land of Israel to show support for the people and to explore commerce opinions between the country and the state should he win the incumbent Governor Phil Murphy.
The businessman and former Assemblyman traveled with his wife Melinda, and Rabbi Avi and Mina Richler, Directors Chabad of Gloucester County in Mullica Hill, New Jersey.
Ciattarelli met with political and business leaders who were interested in establishing companies in New Jersey. He said he wanted to learn what his future administration can do “to improve our business climate and ensure their success.”
A memorable part of the trip, in addition to praying at the Kotel in Jerusalem, was visiting the southern Israeli city of Sderot, located less than a mile from Gaza and notable for having been a major target of Qassam rocket attacks from Hamas terrorists in the Gaza.
Ciattarelli and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Rabbi Moshe Zev Pizem and his son Rabbi Osher Pizem of Chabad Sderot. Both have found themselves in recent years working under fire to uplift the spirits of local residents amid terror and loss.
Lubavitcher journalist Mendi Rizel, a local resident who leads tours for the local government, showed the New Jersey guests around the city, pointing out the damages seen clearly from the attacks. Rizel arrived wearing the Israel Defence Forces uniform having just participated in an army drill.
They visited the home of the Avigal family. In May 2021, a piece of shrapnel from a rocket fired killed their 5-year-old son Ido Avigal. The boy was in a fortified room but the shrapnel pierced through the protective metal plating used to cover the window.
He endured the cursed shrapnel for all of us, the mother Shani Avigal said in a eulogy, noting that there were 2 families hiding in the protected room and that the boy saved them. Ciattarelli heard from the mother and father Asaf Avigal about their efforts to memorialize their son.
“My trip to Sderot was all about solidarity with the people of Israel,” Ciattarelli told COLlive.com. “It was important for me to share with the parents of Ido that they are not alone and that we in New Jersey are mourning with them.”
Ciattarelli then met with Amir Peretz, a local resident who served as Israel’s defense minister and is considered the “father” of the Iron Dome air defense system.
“Seeing the Iron Dome in person and learning about it from Amir Peretz really gave me an appreciation for the necessary and unbreakable friendship that exists between the United States and Israel,” Ciattarelli said. “I look forward to continuing that friendship as Governor of New Jersey.” He also vowed to continue opposing the BDS movement.
Mr. Ciattarelli seems to care more for the people of Sdeeot than Naftali Bennett.