Yeshivat Frisch was honored to welcome back Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District this past Monday. Gottheimer spoke to the entire student body and faculty about bipartisan problem solving, his work in Congress and his path to politics.

In his speech, Gottheimer described what it is like trying to solve problems across party lines in Congress. Gottheimer co-chairs the House’s Problem Solvers Caucus, where 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans “sit around a table and talk about where we can agree,” said Gottheimer, emphasizing how critical it is to heal the deep political divide in our country.

“We’re the leader of the world,” said Gottheimer. “But we also know that if we can’t figure out how to heal our divides, it makes it very hard to be successful. We have got to stand up against division and hatred. We have got to heal the divide. We are Americans first.”

Gottheimer also emphasized the importance of making sure that issues that were once a given—like support for the U.S.-Israel relationship—remain bipartisan, and do not become a partisan issue. He also addressed the rise in antisemitic rhetoric, as well as antisemitic hate crimes in the U.S., which last year were highest in New Jersey than anywhere else in the nation.

“My one ask of you is to spend time educating people who may not get it, and pass on what you know to people who may not know as much,” said Gottheimer, who stressed that we must fight hate against every group.

After the speech and Q&A, which was greeted with warm applause from students across the political spectrum, students continued to speak with Gottheimer about politics, opportunities to get involved and more. Frisch students were deeply inspired by Congressman Gottheimer’s charge to go into public service and are grateful for his passionate representation of our district in Congress.