Gottheimer announces bipartisan bill to teach students about Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and combat antisemitism
NEW JERSEY – U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined local and state leaders Monday at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey to unveil bipartisan legislation that would educate students about the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel and address the rise of antisemitism nationwide. The announcement comes one day before the second anniversary of the deadly assault.
The proposed October 7th Remembrance Education Act would direct the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to develop a model curriculum for schools across the country. The program would cover the heinous attacks committed on October 7, the history of antisemitism and its role in the violence, and how denial and distortion contribute to antisemitism today.
Gottheimer’s co-lead on the legislation is Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). The bill has received endorsements from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Jewish Federations of North America.
Gottheimer also called on the New Jersey Legislature to introduce a state version of the bill to bring the curriculum to New Jersey schools. He said he plans to send a letter urging legislative leaders to act quickly.
“To combat the surging tide of hate and antisemitism in New Jersey and across our country, we must ensure future American generations understand the truth about October 7 and its aftermath,” Gottheimer said. “Only by equipping our students and educators with the knowledge of what happened can we hope to stop hate in all forms. Just like with the Holocaust, we teach our children that we must never forget — the same goes for the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
“With so much mis- and dis-information out there driving the rise of antisemitic hate, from pro-Hamas content on social media to biased anti-Israel reports, the bipartisan legislation I’m announcing today will be critical to teaching our children the truth about the tragic events of October 7th. We cannot afford for our children to be ignorant. We can’t afford for them to learn history from TikTok, one of the largest single social media purveyors of antisemitic tropes. Education must be part of our response,” Gottheimer added.
“I want to express my gratitude to Congressman Gottheimer for introducing this legislation. Time and again, he has led the way in ensuring that the Jewish community has a strong and passionate voice in the halls of Congress,” said NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer (LD-36). “Combating bigotry begins in the classroom. It is essential that we educate the next generation about the events that took place two years ago on October 7th and the rise in antisemitism that followed, so that we can prevent hatred from taking root. That’s why both of these bills, at the state and federal levels, are so critically important.”
“It is deeply meaningful that this bill is being filed now — on the eve of the second anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks. That day marked the darkest moment in Jewish history since the Holocaust, and its echoes continue to reverberate here in the United States and in our own community,” said Jason Shames, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. “This legislation is about more than remembrance. It is about education and action — equipping future generations to understand the deadly consequences of antisemitism, to recognize how it mutates and spreads, and to build resilience against it.”
Gottheimer was joined by Shames, Assemblyman Schaer, members of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, and other community leaders.
According to the ADL, antisemitic incidents have surged 200% since the Oct. 7 attacks, with 2024 marking the highest number of such incidents in more than four decades. New Jersey ranks third nationwide for antisemitic activity.
