Politics & Government

VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman Meets With Jewish Students in Paramus

U.S. Rep. Rothman (D) of Fair Lawn, who represents Fort Lee in Congress, spoke at Yavneh Academy in Paramus on Tuesday morning

The students of had many questions, especially about Jonathan Pollard and Gilad Shalit, for U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, who visited the school Tuesday.

Pollard and Shalit have both been imprisoned for aiding Israel in some way.

Pollard was convicted of spying for Israel, and Shalit was an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas. About 70 students in an advisory class on political action at Yavneh Academy have been studying the two, and grilled Rothman—a Fair Lawn resident—on efforts to free them.

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Rothman said while Pollard had committed a serious crime, he believed Pollard, sentenced to life in prison in 1987, had suffered enough.

"I believe that he has been punished more than those who have committed similar or even greater levels of treason against the United States and should be thus released," Rothman said.

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As for Shalit, many students asked what the United States could do to free him from his Hamas captors. Rothman said America had little negotiating power.

"They're not our friends," Rothman said. "They don't consider us friends, we don't consider them friends. We consider them terrorists and we don't give them aid so we have no leverage there."

Rothman, the first Jew to represent New Jersey's 9th Congressional District, told the students of the Jewish school that despite his religion, his job was to represent his entire district, 90 percent of which is not Jewish. To that end, he steered the conversation to topics not having to do with Israel, fielding questions on the environment, Libya and the state's anti-bullying law.

Rothman said the anti-bullying law would help stop bullying, but told the seventh graders they had to do their part.

"Whenever you see injustice, you only have two choices. One, do nothing about it and walk away. Or two, do something about it!" he said, shouting into the microphone.

After the question-and-answer session, the students lined up to shake Rothman's hand. They gave the Congressman high marks afterward.

Jordan Soclof, 13, of Teaneck, said he was proud as a Jew to be represented by a Jewish congressman. 

"I thought he was full of good answers," he said of Rothman. "He was fun."

Another student, Ayalet Papier, of Teaneck, was grateful for Rothman's thoughts on Pollard and Shalit. 

"I think it's important that he came to talk to us today," she said. "Because it helps us put more pressure on Hamas to release Gilad Shalit and America to release Jonathan Pollard."


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