RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan Legislation & NJ State Push for October 7th Remembrance Curriculum in Schools

Above: Gottheimer joins local and state leaders to announce new action to implement October 7 remembrance curriculum in schools to combat antisemitism.

PARAMUS, NJ - Today, October 6, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined local and state leaders at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey to announce new bipartisan legislation to educate students about the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and combat rising antisemitism across the country. Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of the tragic attack.

Gottheimer's bipartisan October 7th Remembrance Education Act will instruct the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to build a model curriculum for schools to teach the heinous and brutal attacks committed on October 7th, the history of antisemitism and how it played a role in the attacks, and denial and distortion as a form of antisemitism in the wake of the attacks.

Gottheimer's co-lead on this bipartisan legislation is Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and the legislation is endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Jewish Federations of North America.

Gottheimer is also calling on the New Jersey state legislature to introduce and pass a New Jersey version of the October 7th Remembrance Education Act, so that this vital curriculum can be taught in Jersey schools. Gottheimer will be sending a letter to New Jersey General Assembly and Senate leadership urging swift action.

"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. 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," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "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."

"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 Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey (JFNNJ). "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 today by the Jewish Federation of Northern-NJ President and CEO Jason Shames, NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer, members of the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ, and members of the community.

Rise of Antisemitism in the Wake of October 7th:

• On October 7th, Hamas terrorists murdered, raped, burned alive, and tortured more than 1,200 innocent men, women, children, and elderly in Israel, including dozens of Americans. It was the most devastating attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
• In the year following the attacks on October 7th, antisemitic hate spiked 200%.
• 2024 saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents since ADL began recording them more than four decades ago.
• New Jersey ranked third highest for antisemitic incidents in the entire country.
• Antisemitic tropes, conspiracies, and misinformation have also flooded social media platforms like TikTok.

Watch today's announcement here.

Below: Gottheimer with NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer and JFNNJ President Jason Shames.

Gottheimer's remarks as prepared for delivery below:

Thank you all for joining us as we mark two years since October 7th - the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Yes, it's hard to believe, but tomorrow will be two years since Hamas terrorists brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, decapitated, and kidnapped more than a twelve hundred innocent babies, children, women, men, and elderly, including dozens of Americans. It's unfathomable.

Forty-eight people remain hostage, including 20 we believe are still alive. The remains of two Americans are still in the hands of Hamas terrorists. What's worse is that, ironically, since Hamas's devastating attack on Israel, we've actually witnessed a tidal wave of antisemitism that seems to only grow more persistent. And that surge in antisemitism started just hours after the terrorists attacked Israel. Instead of empathy from people and organizations around the globe, there was a flood of criticism and blame - and that hasn't stopped.

In the year following the attacks on the 7th, antisemitic hate spiked 200 percent. Last year, we saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents since ADL began recording them more than four decades ago. And, our state ranked third highest for antisemitic incidents in the entire country.

That's why we must turn toward the promise of peace. As it's said in Scripture, "Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect peace in your gates."

Now, we must speak the truth about what happened nearly two years ago and combat the storm of hate rampaging through our community. This is especially true as we see skies of peace in the distance, with the potential for a new hostage deal and peace in Gaza, with the terrorists laying down their arms and governing power, and Israel pulling back to their borders. But, we must remain vigilant and stand together to see those rays of hope fully shine through.

So many in our community have not only carried the pain and anger of these past two years - but so many have also felt so alone. Where were all those people and causes we helped? Why didn't they reach out? Instead, people began almost immediately protesting against Israel - calling Jews dirty Zionists, the new word for Jew, because when being called a dirty Jew became unacceptable, they just disguised it as Zionist.

During the "Day of Rage" in New York City, someone shouted at a group of Jewish people: "I wish Hitler was still here, he would've wiped all of you out." Other protestors in New York said: "Say it loud, say it clear, we don't want Zionists here!" They called them dirty Jews.

And then came the online disinformation campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Outside my office in Congress, I have pictures of all the hostages and have all along. I cannot tell you how many weeks we've had to replace the pictures because they have been defaced - inside the Capitol.

It had spread to college campuses, where the seeds of antisemitism had been planted and nourished decades ago. At Columbia University, Jewish students were chased out of their dorms, received death threats, spat upon, stalked, and pinned against walls. People in masks screamed, "Go back to Poland!" and "We are all Hamas."

On October 8th, the day after the largest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust, without missing a beat, a faculty member at Rutgers declared October 7 "awesome." In a single year, 2023-24, the Department of Education documented nearly 300 reports of antisemitic discrimination on Rutgers' campus.

The ADL, which grades antisemitism on our nation's college campuses, gave more than 20 universities a rank of D, including Columbia. Here in New Jersey, both Princeton and Rutgers received a D. Far too many in Jewish communities across the state no longer feel safe in their own homes or even in their classrooms. Yesterday, a Rabbi in Bergenfield was brutally attacked at his home. I say this not only as the only Jewish member of Jersey's congressional delegation, or as the only Jewish member of the House Intelligence Committee, or your Congressman, but also as a member of the Jewish community - this is deeply personal for me.

And yet, even through this dark period, we've also seen moments that give us hope, like the peace talks that begin today in Egypt. Another moment of great hope: After being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and enduring 584 days of relentless torture and suffering, 21-year-old Edan Alexander - my constituent from Tenafly - was finally brought home. While Edan endured the unimaginable, his family, and our whole community never - for a single moment - surrendered hope. Even after Edan was brought home, his remarkable courage continues as he returns to serve in the Israel Defense Forces - because he refuses to let evil triumph. So neither can we.

Last week, Tenafly named a street Edan Alexander Way, so that every parent can tell their children not just about Edan's heroism, but also about October 7. About the actual facts - not some fiction spread on social media.

That's why education must be part of our response. To combat this 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. Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are not "freedom fighters" - they are terrorists and enemies of the United States of America.

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.

That's why I'm proud to announce the bipartisan October 7th Remembrance Education Act, which will direct the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to build a model curriculum for schools to teach the heinous and brutal attacks committed on October 7th … the history of antisemitism and how it played a role in the attacks … and denial and distortion as a form of antisemitism in the wake of such attacks. With so much mis-and-disinformation out there driving the rise of antisemitic hate, from pro-Hamas content on social media to biased anti-Israel reports, this bipartisan legislation will be critical to teaching our children the truth about the tragic events of October 7th.

This is not a red or blue issue, it's about the safety of our families - and I know there's a lot of support in our state, with tireless advocates like those here today, who are ready to fight to get this done. And I want to make something very clear: we can and must lead right here in Jersey. That's why I'm also calling on the state legislature to introduce and pass a New Jersey version of the October 7th Remembrance Education Act, so that this vital curriculum is taught in our amazing schools. I plan to send the leadership on both sides in the state a letter on October 7th urging swift action.

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. Not to mention a site that praises Osama bin Laden and ignores the Tiananmen Square massacre. Twitter, or X, can't be where our children get their facts - it should be in the classroom, and this legislation will help.

We must do this now to protect our community. Not only as the greatest country in the world, but also as the greatest state in the country.

And this builds on the work we've been doing before and since the attack. I'm very proud to have introduced the HEAL Act - to promote the fact-based Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide. I've also been working across the aisle to boost funding for the critical Nonprofit Security Grant Program to help get synagogues, churches, mosques, and temples the resources they need to protect themselves against threats and violence.

I'm fighting to pass my bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act to give schools the tools they need to confront antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head. This will codify into law the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism - the most widely recognized definition of antisemitism in the world. The bill will also require the Department of Education to apply the IHRA's definition of antisemitism when carrying out Title VI investigations. And, I've also called for our state legislature to adopt similar legislation to codify IHRA here in Jersey. They've been dragging their feet for way too long.

We can't sit around and wait as our Jewish residents continue to face threats, intimidation, and calls for the annihilation of the State of Israel. We cannot stay silent in the face of hate and bigotry online, on our college campuses, or anywhere in our nation. Our Jersey Values mean that we don't allow our communities to be torn apart; we stand together and protect one another. That's exactly what we are doing here today.

We must remember that we cannot do this alone. The fight against extremism is a long fight. It will take every single one of us coming together as a community. As President Abraham Lincoln said, "Let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation's wounds."

If we do that, I know that here, in the greatest country in the world, antisemitism and hate will lose, and our best days will be ahead of us. Thank you. God bless.

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