People trying to describe New Paltz in just a few words often use words like “liberal,” “hippy” and “accepting.” While some recognize that the town is liberal leaning, too many people erroneously believe New Paltz is a utopia, almost immune to hate or discrimination — a belief that doesn’t actually help anyone. Of the communities this ideology fails, Jewish people are heavily impacted. At both a national and local level, the plight of the Jewish community is often considered unimportant activism, even as rates of anti-semitism across America increase. Antisemitic attacks have been increasing since 2020, but many across the...