Anti-Semitism in Great Neck, New York

I've known Great Neck for almost half a century.  Yes, it's almot fifty years since we moved there.  I left it in 1970, but my parents still live there.  It has changed a lot over the years I've known it.  The first Jews to move to Great Neck in large numbers, post-World War Two, did their best to fit in.  Until the 1970's, there were very, very few truly Orthodox, Torah-observant Jews.  Today, Great Neck is a bastion of Modern Orthodoxy, with a great (enviable according to some) number and variety of kosher stores and restaurants.  But ironically, being that it's strongly Modern Orthodox, people, especially the women, don't dress the way you'd find in Boropark or other "frum" areas.

As far as I know, antisemitism hasn't been a real issue there, besides complaints by some non-Sabbath observant Jews, and non-Jews about the inconvenience when certain stores are closed on Friday night and Saturday.  The proliferation of Orthodox synagogues keep property values high in their vacinities, which is good for Great Neck.

I don't know why the antisemitic Westboro Baptist Church members from Kansas chose Great Neck as the venue for their anti-Semitic march.  But once they did, it's no surprise that they chose to march on Old Mill Road.  Old Mill Road is a relatively short street, going east-west, between Middleneck Road (Great Neck's main street) and Baysview to the west.  On Old Mill Road, are three of the four most veteran Great Neck synagogues, the Reform Temple Beth-El, the Orthodox Great Neck Synagogue and the Conservative Temple Israel.

The police haven't banned the march.  What truly shocks me is the passivity of the Jewish community.  The rabbis are instructing their congregants to be quiet, accept the outrage and don't fight it.  In response other organizations are stepping in.

Despite pleas from officials to ignore a planned protest in Great Neck by a self-described anti-Semitic and anti-gay group from Kansas, an anti-Nazi group says it plans a counter demonstration.
The latter group, Militant Jewish Defense, has obtained a permit to protest outside the Chabad of Great Neck synagogue Friday morning, said Lt. Kevin Smith of the Nassau County Police Department.
Militant Jewish Defense says in a phone recording at its office that it plans an "organized anti-Nazi rally" Friday outside the synagogue to protest Westboro Baptist Church members from Kansas who also plan to be there. "The rally will be loud, legal and lawful," Manhattan-based Militant Jewish Defense says.

Racism, antisemitism etc don't just fade away. They must be fought in every way possible.