BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ (Essex County) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Monday, visited Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield following this past weekend’s early morning Molotov cocktail attack.
Gottheimer met with Rabbi Marc Katz and temple leadership this morning to show support for the congregation and religious freedom — and to let them know they are not alone in their fight against hate and antisemitism. Gottheimer, the only Jewish member of the New Jersey congressional delegation, has been at the forefront of combating antisemitism.
“I’m outraged by this attack on New Jersey’s Jewish community. We must remember that it is the strength of our community and our enduring faith that will guide us through these difficult times. In the greatest country in the world, religious freedom will win and antisemitism and hate will lose,” Gottheimer said. “I want to thank local, state, and federal law enforcement for their fast response and the incredible community leaders from many different denominations for reaching out with offers of support. I ask everyone to please stay vigilant and continue to look out for one another. It’s up to us to stand up and fight back against this drastic and dangerous rise in antisemitism.”
Through his membership on the Homeland Security Committee, Gottheimer has been at the forefront of combating antisemitism and hate. That includes helping get a 22% increase for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program signed into law — to protect New Jersey houses of worship, schools, and local community organizations. Gottheimer has helped claw back more than $7.7 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program investment to the Fifth District since 2016.
Last week, Gottheimer introduced new bipartisan legislation — the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act of 2023 — to require the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to conduct a study on Holocaust education efforts in public elementary and secondary schools.
Antisemitism continues to be on the rise in the United States. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2021 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents captured more than 2,700 incidents throughout the U.S., a 34% increase from 2020 and the highest number on record since ADL began tracking these events in 1979.
