PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Speaks with Students at Rutgers Hillel and Rutgers University Chabad to Discuss Combatting Antisemitism on Campus

Above: Gottheimer speaks at Rutgers University Hillel.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited Rutgers Hillel and Rutgers University Chabad House on campus to speak with students about the alarming rise in antisemitism on college campuses across the country. Rutgers University is home to more than 6,400 Jewish undergraduate students — the second largest Jewish student population in the country.

“With so much hate and antisemitism across our country and our state, and even here on our college campuses — it’s more important than ever before that we remain united as one community to support each other,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), the only Jewish member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation. “Let me be as clear as I can be: No student deserves to be targeted because of who they are or what they believe — here or anywhere. When the Jewish community at Rutgers is confronted by hate or intolerance, this is an attack on all of us, regardless of background, regardless of faith. I will continue to fight antisemitism and hate against anyone on this campus and around our state every single day.”

Gottheimer’s visit follows the release of the ADL’s 2025 Campus Report Card, which gave Rutgers a grade of D for combating antisemitism on campus. The report documented nearly 300 reports of antisemitic discrimination at Rutgers between 2023 and 2024. Last week, the ADL also published its 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which documented the worst year on record for antisemitic incidents since the ADL began tracking these incidents more than four decades ago. New Jersey experienced the third-highest number of incidents nationwide.

In Congress, Gottheimer is championing several efforts to combat antisemitism, including leading the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. Gottheimer also introduced the bipartisan HEAL Act to strengthen Holocaust education efforts in public schools nationwide.

Gottheimer was joined by Rutgers Hillel Chief Experience Officer Rabbi Esther Reed, Rutgers Hillel Chief Experience Officer Lisa Glass, Chabad of Central New Jersey Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, and Rutgers students from across the community.

Below: Gottheimer meets with Rutgers University students at Rutgers Hillel and Chabad.

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