Jared Kinches (YC '27) reflects on his summer internships with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). 

This past summer I had the great honor of spending three months in our nation’s Capitol interning first with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and then with Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). The experience fulfilled a goal I’ve had since eighth grade, when I first became interested in politics by watching Ben Shapiro passionately debate while proudly wearing his kippah. For many Jewish men, wearing a kippah in the workplace can be a difficult decision because of concerns about how others may perceive them. For me this was never a question. This wasn’t necessarily about proving that I’m not afraid to be a proud Jew, but rather a belief that it matters, now more than ever, that visibly religious Jews are present in the halls of government.

This belief only became stronger throughout the summer. Antisemitism in 2026 is no longer something that is simply an occasional headline. It is increasingly visible, both in person and online. According to the NYPD, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for nearly 60% of confirmed hate crimes since the start of 2026, despite Jews accounting for just 10% of the city’s population. At the same time, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly used rhetoric about Israel and its supporters that is incredibly dangerous, and I believe is openly inviting these attacks. In June, he called AIPAC, an organization of Americans advocating for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, “monsters.” It’s no question why there’s a surge in antisemitic hate crimes; the mayor welcomes it with a duplicitous smile and violent rhetoric. Words have consequences, especially when everything an elected leader says can be spread around the world in seconds. The mayor understands the environment he has created in NYC, but still chooses to vilify Israel and its supporters rather than protect the Jewish community.

I am a Republican, and I was fortunate to spend the summer working for Members of Congress who never had to be convinced to stand with the Jewish community or with Israel. But my concern about antisemitism extends beyond party politics. I am just as concerned about the extreme right as I am of the left, and maybe more. We have to be willing to call out Jew-hatred wherever it appears. Our ability to practice our religion openly and safely has to come first. The mainstream Democratic Party has increasingly made room for elected officials whose rhetoric and platforms are deeply antagonistic toward Jews and Israel, but the extreme right, especially the online right, has also normalized open Jew-hatred.

This summer provided a particularly disturbing example of why we cannot dismiss what happens on social media platforms. Austin Franco, a student at Cornell, applied for a job with Gabe Einhorn, a Yeshiva University graduate and entrepreneur. After being offered a job, Franco responded that he was “not interested in working for a Jew.” Gabe shared the exchange publicly, but what happened next was even more disturbing. Rather than being condemned, Franco became a hero for the online far right, even raising tens of thousands of dollars through a GiveSendGo campaign.

For some reason, many people like to pretend that the stupidity of social media does not matter. I believe that it does, and failing to accept this reality is dangerous. This story about Franco is exactly why. He is a college student whose views almost certainly come from Nick Fuentes’ vile Jew-hatred mixed with the poison being taught on “elite college campuses.” His views are reinforced by an online echo chamber that treats Jew-hatred as something worthy of attention and praise. We need to understand where this hatred is coming from and the spaces where it gains momentum. This is where young people like Franco and his fellow travelers get their information. If we refuse to take these spaces seriously, we are only hurting ourselves. What happens online does not necessarily stay online.

This realization made my time in D.C. all the more meaningful. I was no longer just following politics from afar; I was getting to participate in it. During my time with Congresswoman Stefanik’s office, I had the opportunity to work on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act and help prepare for hearings and markups on portions of the bill. I also helped prepare for hearings on legislation aimed at combating antisemitism, particularly in higher education. Although I played a small role in a much larger process, I saw how the work of even a junior staff member contributes to legislation that can have an incredible impact on the country.

I also had the opportunity to attend several memorable hearings. At the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I heard Ambassador Mike Waltz testify about the United Nations, where he addressed the UN’s anti-Israel bias and the reform he and his team are pushing for. At the House Judiciary Committee I attended a hearing on the future of college athletics featuring Clay Travis, and watched as Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) pressed the head of the Southern Poverty Law Center about Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and his Nazi tattoo. Being able to sit in those rooms and watch these debates was a unique experience you can’t get from just watching the hearings on C-SPAN.

However, the most important part of my summer was my meetings and coffee chats with the people I met in D.C. I met people at nearly every level of Washington politics: young staffers, chiefs of staff, lawyers, and lobbyists. We discussed the state of American politics, the Jewish community and Israel, and what had brought us to Washington and what our goals were in politics. Many were Jewish or Christian and shared my commitment to the protection of Jewish people and our homeland of Israel. Meeting some of these senior advisers and top officials was especially meaningful because they shared my values while offering perspectives I could learn from. Just as importantly, I received advice about building a career in politics and public service. The relationships I built this summer will be an important foundation for my future career, and I am confident many of these people will remain mentors and friends in the future.

I am deeply grateful to the Straus Center and Yeshiva University for making this experience possible and for providing opportunities like mine to students who want to pursue careers in public service and make a difference on behalf of our community. As a Lieberman-Mitzner Scholar, I hope to carry the relationships, lessons, and experiences from Washington with me throughout the rest of my time at YU and into my career.