To the Editor:

It’s discouraging to read in Town Topics that Mercer County had so many documented instances of antisemitism in 2020 [“Combating Antisemitism is Goal of Campaign Across Mercer County,” page 1, May 4.] Those of us who are not Jewish, but who recognize antisemitism for the evil it is, need to speak up to try to create a “safer environment for Jewish individuals living in the region,” as members of The Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer Bucks suggest.

My recognition of the malicious harmfulness of antisemitism goes back to childhood. I was an Irish-American Catholic child living in an Irish-American Boston neighborhood. When a Jewish family moved across the street, the neighbors were outraged. “The nerve of them, ruining a Christian neighborhood,” they complained. No one spoke to the newcomers. Yet when my parents had to leave home unexpectedly, and I was alone, the only neighbor who invited me over for dinner was the Jewish woman across the street.

I was glad to escape the narrow thinking of that Boston neighborhood, and I eventually moved to Mercer County, New Jersey. I joined a Fair Housing group in Lawrence Township, organized by a Jewish scientist, with the goal of making housing available to everyone, without discrimination. When I moved to Princeton, I became involved in an educational program to help students with learning difficulties. We looked for space, and The Jewish Center Princeton gave us excellent, inexpensive space and helped us in kind and generous ways. None of the children we worked with were Jewish, nor were any staff members, yet we always felt welcome at The Jewish Center.

Years later, I was part of a local committee to create a support system for area community members as they age. We searched for a local agency which could help, and found Jewish Family and Children’s Services. JFCS created Secure@Home, which has offered a wonderful support system open to community members of every background. My husband and I benefited for years from this excellent program, as have many area seniors.

When my dear husband became very ill, I learned about Greenwood House Hospice, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer Bucks. Seniors of all faiths are welcome there, and we found attentive, healing care at home from this amazing agency in my husband’s final months.

All my life, I have been so very fortunate to have had dear friends and neighbors who are Jewish, who have cared about me, who have laughed with me, who have been there for me when I needed help. All of us have benefited from the dedication of Jewish representatives in local and state government. I’m glad to be able to express my appreciation of the many contributions of Jews to Mercer County life, and I invite others to do the same.

Francesca Benson
Bainbridge Street