Photo: Gottheimer speaking at the Jewish Center of Teaneck.
In a shocking betrayal of Orthodox Jewish families struggling with rising tuition costs, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Josh Gottheimer cast a no vote on the Republican-backed “Big Beautiful Bill” — legislation that includes billions in federal school choice funding. The bill was recently touted as a “historic opportunity” by Agudath Israel’s Director of Federal Education Affairs Avi Schnall - who is also an assemblyman - for its proposal to provide unprecedented tuition relief for yeshiva families across New Jersey.
Gottheimer’s opposition places him squarely at odds with one of the most influential voices in Orthodox Jewish education and raises serious questions about where his loyalties lie.
While supporters celebrated the bill’s advancement as a victory for working-class families and religious school communities, Gottheimer voted against federal support for private school parents. Meanwhile, Schnall, who serves as Agudath Israel’s Director of Federal Education Affairs was all-in on the bill. He held insider briefings, rallied constituents, and praised the school choice provisions as “game-changing” and “transformational.” Schnall even urged voters to “keep the momentum going” to push the legislation across the finish line — a direct rebuke to Gottheimer.
The clash couldn’t be starker: on one side, a sitting congressman running to govern a state with one of the nation’s largest yeshiva populations — who just voted to block their tuition relief. On the other, an Orthodox Jewish lawmaker and national education advocate praising the very same bill as a lifeline. As the Democratic primary heats up, Gottheimer may find that voting against yeshiva families — and crossing Agudath Israel’s rising star — is a gamble he can’t afford.
Primary Election Day is next Tuesday June 10.
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