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Boteach Invites Congressional Opponent to Shabbat Dinner

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Bill Pascrell received a Shabbat dinner invitation from his opponent in New Jersey’s 9th district’s upcoming congressional election, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, last week.Rabbi Shmuley Boteach—who dubs himself “America’s rabbi”—is running for Congress. And this past week, to demonstrate his sportsmanship, Boteach invited his congressional opponent to dine with the rabbi’s family.

At the Shabbat table.

Boteach is running as a Republican for the House seat in northern New Jersey’s 9th district, and he beckoned his Democratic opponent, Rep. Bill Pascrell, to join him in experiencing “the weekly Jewish tradition of a Shabbat meal.” “Every Friday night at our Sabbath table my wife and I host all kinds of people,” Boteach said in his letter, which was published in The Jewish Press, according to the Forward. “We love having guests and it would be my honor for us to host you and your family either this coming Friday night or whenever it may suit you, although sooner would be better than later.”

Ben Rich, Pascrell’s chief of staff, said his boss “would gladly accept an invitation to Shabbat dinner.”

The Forward said the Boteach-Pascrell battle is expected to center on Jewish and Israeli affairs in the months leading to the November election, as the 9th district is predominantly a Jewish one. Pascrell defeated Rep. Steve Rothman in a Democratic primary earlier this month.

“The Sabbath is a day of peace,” Boteach also wrote Pascrell in his dinner invitation. “We don’t argue about business, politics, or anything else contentious. It’s devoted to higher things. It’s the kind of setting where no matter how much you disagree, you never become disagreeable.”

“Our Friday night table is a place of warm conversation, spirited discussion, laughter, and inspiration,” Boteach added. “There would be nothing to separate us, only to unite us.”

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