Congressman Ritchie Torres Talks Antisemitism and Rising Above with Touro Students
The Bronx Representative Addresses Antisemitism on Campus, His Personal Struggles in Interview with Touro President
Congressman Ritchie Torres, a rising star in the Democratic Party and a stalwart supporter of Israel, spoke to students and alumni of Touro University in an interview with Touro President, Dr. Alan Kadish. The Bronx native spoke candidly about growing up in public housing, his struggles with mental health, his journey into politics, his support of Israel, and confronting his colleagues who seem to take every opportunity to speak out against the Jewish state.
Addressing an audience composed primarily of undergraduate students, Torres shared the pivotal moments that shaped his life, his political career and his vision for the future.
“I was raised by a single mother who had to raise three of us on minimum wage, which in the 1990s was $4.25 an hour,” Torres, 36, said, and credited his mother for instilling the virtues that have guided his career. “When I won my Democratic primary in June of 2020... I publicly said that before I’m a congressman or councilman, I’m first and foremost the son of my mother.”
An Early Start in Politics
Torres’ first job in politics was as an intern when he was 16. Almost a decade later, he took a “leap of faith” and ran for a seat in the New York City Council, winning and, at 25, becoming the youngest elected official in New York City. He told Dr. Kadish about the uphill battle of that first campaign, which was fueled entirely by grassroots door-to-door engagement.
“I spent a whole year doing nothing but knocking on doors,” Torres said. “I went into people’s homes, I heard their stories, and I won my first campaign on the strength of face-to-face campaigning.”
But his rise to political prominence wasn’t without personal struggles. In his early twenties, he said he battled depression and substance abuse after dropping out of college, and he was only able to overcome his problems after seeking help.
“I would not be in Congress and alive today were it not for the power of mental health treatment,” Torres said.
In 2020, Torres was elected to represent New York’s 15th congressional district in the House of Representatives. “I never thought, by the grace of G-d, I would have a fighting chance to rebuild my life, and then seven years later, become the youngest elected official in America's largest city, and then seven years later, become a member of the United States Congress,” Torres said. “And so for me, the lesson learned is, even in your moment of greatest darkness, never lose hope. And I feel like only in America is a story like mine possible.”
Connecting with Israel
Though Torres has established a reputation as a close friend of Israel, a sharp break from many young politicians in his party who veer to the left, he said that for most of his life he had almost no knowledge of Israel or the Jewish community. That all changed in 2014 when, after joining the City Council, he was invited on a trip to Israel by the Jewish Community Relations Council. It was transformative, he said.
“I came away from that first trip with a profound empathy, not only for the plight of the Jewish people, but for the complex security situation that Israel faces,” said Torres, who visited several historical sites, as well as Yad Vashem and the Gaza border. “Here you have Israel, a tiny democracy the size of New Jersey, surrounded by enemies that want to wipe it off the map.”
Dr. Kadish asked him how he addresses his colleagues in the Democratic Party who are critical of his pro-Israel stance. “I tell them, before you rush to judge Israel, you should actually go there.” Moreover, he said, he instructs them speak with Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians, and says, “If you have an open heart and open mind, I guarantee you that you will come to a view of Israel that’s far more nuanced than the caricature that percolates on social media platforms and on college campuses.”
A Message That Resonates with Students
The interview ended with Torres urging those in attendance to remain engaged in politics and civic life. Afterward, several students introduced themselves to the Congressman, and he took a few moments to speak to them individually before leaving campus.
Zippy Cywiak, who is in her last year at Touro’s Lander College for Women, said she particularly appreciated Torres’ spirited support of Israel. “I’m not sure exactly how the Democratic party feels about it, but it’s striking to see someone like the Congressman take a strong stance for Israel,” said Cywiak, a history major and political science minor living in Teaneck. “It takes a lot of courage. I don’t necessarily know if all Democrats have such courage, especially on such a public platform, to be pro-Israel in tumultuous times like these.”
Philadelphia native Simcha Kaplun, a poli-sci major in his second semester at Touro’s Lander College for Men, echoed Cywiak’s praise of Torres’ willingness to break with his party.
“I’m a Republican, and it was incredible to see a Democrat who shared so many of our values,” he said. “I really appreciated hearing his thoughts, especially since he’s such a strong supporter of the Jewish community and the State of Israel. My mother’s from the Bronx, so I was interested in hearing what he had to say, and it was great to have a representative of the Bronx speak on matters pertaining to so many of us. I thought it was really powerful.”
