On Monday night, the community hall of Temple Emeth was filled with local elected leaders and community members, with about 100 in attendance, to join a meet and greet event with Rep. Josh Gottheimer. The event was hosted by Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Teaneck Council Members Elie Y. Katz, Karen Orgen, Mark J. Schwartz and Hillary Goldberg, Rabbi Steven Sirbu and Temple Emeth, Former Township Manager Dean Kazinci, and Teaneck Planning Board Member Darryl Greene. Mayor Mark Zinna of Tenafly was also in attendance.

Gottheimer’s opening remarks expressed appreciation for the U.S. veterans present who have defended our country and to the spectrum of first responders who protect and defend their neighbors, and were followed by a warm reception of applause. Teaneck Deputy Mayor Elie Y. Katz also thanked CSS (Community Security Service) for their hard work in securing the event and for Chaverim who assisted CSS with traffic control and attendance at the front.

Congressman Gottheimer shared thoughts on his recent visit to Columbia University and the sentiments he heard there. He noted that the students expressed more than anything that, “They want Columbia to be healed. Wounds have been exposed and need to be healed.”

Speaking of how to heal, he held up the community of Teaneck as “having a history so rich, and if anyone can do it, it’s Teaneck!” He further expressed his inspiration about the township saying, “When Teaneck stands together, nothing can stop us. It is a huge gift and honor to serve; if we don’t get stuff done, throw us out!”

Gottheimer also added thoughts about the reality of serving in Washington, as opposed to the “television image” that is far from reality. His recent appointment to the Congressional Intelligence Committee was an eye opener, both literally and figuratively. He described significant sleep disturbance during his initial month of daily briefings. He notes proudly that by the second month he was sleeping better because he realized the briefings also reported that all of the threats from the previous month had been aborted. Among other topics, the congressman shared his view on the subversive role that China is playing to sow divisiveness in the U.S.. Since they know they can’t rival this country in military might, they seek to undermine the unity of the citizenry and are using their government-sponsored technology via TikTok. TikTok employs technology that can track keystrokes from any device that opens a browser from the TikTok app. All kinds of data about Americans can then be shared with the Chinese government with the potential of weaponizing it, though TikTok denies the allegations. Congress is currently addressing the issue, but Gottheimer is emphatic about not using the app.

He implored everyone to focus on opportunities, saying that, “Teaneck is great not by accident but by phenomenal local government and management and the resident credo of ‘Love thy neighbor.’”

Councilman Mark Schwartz closed the event by thanking Congressman Gottheimer for “turning the tide.” He said that Teaneck is not a homogenous community like some others, and that has its challenges, but working together can continue to make Teaneck a better place.

Ellie Wolf is a seasoned writer with The Jewish Link, having also published prolifically in the areas of sports medicine, health, fitness and biofeedback. She also serves as the Biofeedback therapist in two local Psychology practices and directs training and workshops for adults who are afraid of the water.