The Chicago City Council’s lone Jewish alderman on Thursday said a colleague “crossed the line” and used antisemitic language in a social media post.
Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th, highlighted and harshly criticized a post recently made by Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, 33rd. It includes a photo of Rodriguez-Sanchez with her child and a request that Facebook friends share pediatrician recommendations.
“Looking for an anti Zionist pediatrician for this baby,” the caption reads.
Silverstein called the caption an attempt by Rodriguez-Sanchez to blacklist Jewish doctors. Rodriguez-Sanchez described the accusation as a bid to stifle her long-running criticism of Israel’s war effort in Gaza.
The two disagree over what the word “Zionist” really means in the caption. Silverstein called it a “dog whistle” used in place of “Jewish.”
“I just feel like now, especially with everything that’s going on in Israel, using that word ‘Zionist’ just automatically encompasses being Jewish,” Silverstein said. “It’s clear to us that antisemites use it to mean Jews.”
She called Zionism “building a strong relationship with Israel, and having a strong relationship with Israel.”
But Rodriguez-Sanchez argued that “anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.” It is criticism of the state of Israel, not Jewish people, she said. She referred to descriptions of Zionism made by pro-ceasefire group Jewish Voice for Peace that identify it as a political ideology that has created an apartheid in Israel.
Comrade Rodriguez-Sanchez sure doesn't like Jewish doctors!
