The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Congress, an umbrella group for Jewish businesses, and the Morris Katz Foundation recently recognized Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) with its 2024 Morris Katz Award for his commitment to Holocaust education.
Katz was a painter and Holocaust survivor who was “deeply grateful to the United States for providing him with a safe haven and the opportunity to pursue his passion for art,” per the businesses group.
Gottheimer’s “tireless efforts in introducing the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act have not gone unnoticed, and this award is a testament to his dedication and commitment to educating the next generation about the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of combating antisemitism,” the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Congress stated.
The award “also acknowledges his leadership in promoting bipartisanship,” the group said, noting that the Jewish congressman “recently led a campaign for a bipartisan letter urging the State Department to call on U.N. and UNRWA officials to resign, thereby demonstrating his commitment to holding institutions accountable for promoting antisemitism and hate.”
“I will always stand up to bigotry in all forms and fight hard to protect our core Jersey value of freedom: freedom from fear, freedom from hate and freedom to worship, live and learn however you so choose,” the congressman stated.
Accepting the award, Gottheimer said he felt like Katz was a kindred spirit.
“Just like me, Morris worked at a breakneck pace. He used to paint two dozen canvases in an hour. In 1985, he went on to break Pablo Picasso’s record as the world’s most prolific artist just across the Hudson in New York City,” Gottheimer said. “I love his work and his philosophy; he liked to say, ‘painting is like schmearing a bagel.’ And Morris, no truer words have ever been spoken.”