Political Quotes

“today I would like to applaud the Senate's passage of S. Res. 203, a resolution recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. This resolution is an important reminder of the numerous contributions of Jewish Americans to our society. I have long felt connected to the Jewish values of ``tzedakah'' and ``chesed,'' values that, at their core, speak about justice, decency, kindness, and mercy. I would not be where I am today if it were not for the Jewish Americans who embodied these values, people like Rabbi Heschel, who marched side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and demanded equality and justice, or leaders like Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who fled Berlin in 1937, moved to Newark, NJ, and was one of five people who spoke before Dr. King at the March on Washington. Rabbi Prinz's entire speech was focused on helping people understand that one of the most urgent challenges we face in society is silence, silence in the face of injustice. Because of the leadership of so many Jewish Americans, who refused to be silent and decided to act, we were able to move the moral arc of this Nation towards justice. So I stand here in the Senate incredibly proud to represent vibrant Jewish communities across New Jersey. And I stand here, at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise, to speak out against this hate that violates our most commonly held values.…”