City Council denounces antisemitism, recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month

The Boston City Council passed a resolution Wednesday recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month and denouncing “all forms of antisemitism and hate.”

The vote comes a week after the body passed a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

“We voted for a cease-fire, a return of all the hostages, and a resumption of humanitarian aid last week because this body is able to hold in its heart the suffering of all the innocent people who are being killed in the Middle East,” Councilor Benjamin Weber, who filed the resolution, said during Wednesday’s meeting. “This is another opportunity to recognize that pain and do what we can for the people of Boston by not only calling for peace, but calling out hate.”

All 12 City Council members present voted in favor. Councilor Julia Mejia was absent. 

Ahead of the meeting, Councilor Ed Flynn filed a separate resolution to denounce acts of antisemitism. It was withdrawn during the meeting, with City Clerk Alex Geourntas citing a rule that concerns resolutions or other filings that are deemed to be too similar to measures that were filed first. That determination was made by Geourntas and Council President Ruthzee Louijeune. The two resolutions have a common theme and share some of the same language, leading to the determination. 

Flynn argued that his resolution was distinct enough to warrant a separate vote. The wording in his resolution was based on other measures concerning a rise in white supremecist actions and a variety of hate crimes in the region, he said. 

“I take those issues very seriously like my colleagues do. That’s why I think this issue of antisemitism and hate crimes is distinct from celebrating the enormous contributions and sacrifices of the Jewish community,” Flynn said, noting that he “respectfully disagrees” with the determination. 

Weber noted that he also found the two resolutions very similar, saying that he filed before Flynn by “happenstance” and that his resolution would likely have been subject to the rule about similar filings if the order had been reversed. Louijeune agreed. 

Flynn did speak in favor of Weber’s resolution and cast his vote in support of it. Last week’s cease-fire resolution received only two votes against: from Flynn and Councilor Erin Murphy. They both advocated for the preservation of human life, but argued that that resolution was irrelevant to city affairs. 

The cease-fire resolution passed by City Council was subject to some criticism from Jewish groups. Rabbi Ron Fish, interim regional director of the Anti-Defamation League New England, called it “one-sided” for not mentioning the attacks on Israel that Hamas orchestrated on Oct. 7. It did not paint a full picture of Hamas’s complicity in the war and the lack of a cease-fire, he said. 

Speaking on Wednesday, Weber, who is Jewish, referenced a speech President Joe Biden gave the day before in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Biden decried the antisemitism that has occurred at some of the student protests and lamented that too many are “denying, downplaying, rationalizing, [and] ignoring the horrors of the Holocaust and Oct. 7.”

In a notable move, Biden said he had paused some shipments of bombs to Israel over concerns that a full military operation in the city of Rafah could result in an even more catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The decision prompted some members of the Israeli government to say that Biden was sympathizing with Hamas. 

Weber echoed Biden’s message about a rise in antisemitism, saying that he had “no doubt” that hateful rhetoric and actions against Jews had risen since Oct. 7. However, he stressed that one can bring light to antisemitism while still criticizing the Israeli government 

“Jews have been greatly affected by the attack on Oct. 7 and its terrible aftermath. In great numbers, Jews have demonstrated for Israel and the return of hostages. Many have also joined encampments and marches in protest calling for an immediate cease-fire and calling for an end to the occupation by the Israeli government,” Weber said. 

Many City Council members spoke in favor of Weber’s resolution. This included Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who spearheaded the cease-fire resolution last week.

Fernandes Anderson, a Muslim who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinians, spoke about how both Judaism and Islam share fundamental teachings about the importance of being kind to others. She spoke glowingly about how Jewish leaders in Boston stood with Muslims in 2017 as former President Donald Trump attempted to enact a travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries. 

“One thing that I think is so special about the resolution is that it uplifts the spirit of advocacy and solidarity that is alive and well in today’s Jewish community,” Fernandes Anderson said.