Rabbi Criticizes Democrat for ‘Empowering Antisemites’ by Sharing Stage With Mahmoud Khalil at Yom Kippur Service

A Democratic House candidate, Brad Lander, is facing backlash for his decision to attend a Yom Kippur event with an anti-Israeli activist.Mr. Lander — who is running for New York’s 10th congressional, which covers parts of Brooklyn — appeared at the service at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza on Monday with Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who is facing deportation over his organization of anti-Israel protests at Columbia University.Addressing the small crowd, Mr. Khalil, who is not Jewish, said that it is “tough to repent at a time where our tuition fees, our tax dollars, our votes are being used to kill, to maim, to displace Palestinians.”Mr. Khalil said a prayer in which he asked God to “remember that Israel is committing genocide” and “hold Israel accountable.”Mr. Lander spoke to his “fellow liberal and progressive Zionists” about the “repentance that we must do today.” He said, “As someone who feels a connection to Israel, who cares about it, I feel so deeply … that my confession must center on my, on our, complicity in what I view as genocide in Gaza.”Rabbi and head of Combating Antisemitism at Defending Education, Jonathan Greenberg, criticized Mr. Lander for his appearance with “antisemites” on the holiest day of the year for Jews.“Brad Lander decided that the best way to win office for himself is to empower antisemites,” Mr. Greenberg told The New York Sun. “It’s fitting that he would spend the holiest day of the year wearing Jewish ritual garb like a costume, casting collective blame for a fictional crime on all Jews, and misusing the memorial service we recite for our deceased loved ones to weep for terrorists.””Mr. Lander said he is part of a group of Jews who “say no to war criminals in our city this holy week or any week” — an apparent reference to the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his upcoming speech at the United Nations.Representatives for Mr. Lander did not respond to the Sun’s request for comment by the time of publication. Mr. Lander defeated Congressman Dan Goldman in the June Democratic primary. Both men are Jewish, but during the race, Mr. Lander centered many of his attacks on Mr. Goldman’s support for Israel. Mr. Khalil’s comments come amid an ongoing legal fight over the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport him over his organization of anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Mr. Khalil, a Palestinian resident who was granted permanent resident status, plans to appeal a court ruling that paved the way for his deportation to the Supreme Court. Several other anti-Israel activists were present at the event including Aber Kawas, a state senate candidate. Two New York City Council members, Shahana Hanif and Alexa Avilés were also in attendance.

Rabbi Criticizes Democrat for ‘Empowering Antisemites’ by Sharing Stage With Mahmoud Khalil at Yom Kippur Service

Rabbi Criticizes Democrat for ‘Empowering Antisemites’ by Sharing Stage With Mahmoud Khalil at Yom Kippur Service

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