Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., was criticized this week for saying that by calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, he was "uplifting deeply what it actually means to be Jewish."
Rep. Bowman spoke at the Rabbis for Ceasefire event at the Capitol Monday night, along with Squad members Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley, and other lawmakers.
After noting that some rabbis in his own district had written a letter against his push for a cease-fire, he those who spoke and declared, "I've heard what was said here this evening before, that by me calling for a cease-fire with my colleagues and centering humanity, I am uplifting deeply what it actually means to be Jewish, because I'm centering the way in which God wants us to live with each other."
Commentators on social media condemned Bowman for his statement, which some interpreted as the congressman speaking for the Jewish people.
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"Please, go on congressman, do tell us what being Jewish really means…" columnist David Marcus posted.
"Sir, are you Gentilesplaining what it means to be Jewish…to Jews?" Fox News contributor Guy Benson wrote, then referenced Bowman infamously pulling the fire alarm during voting in September.
"Here comes Jamaal Bowman of the DSA, to tell America's Jews what it actually means to be Jewish," National Review writer Jeff Blehar posted.
"Taking cultural appropriation to a whole new level," media personality Tony Katz wrote. "Don't buy into this nonsense. A cease-fire supports Hamas. Bowman and the Squad support Hamas."
"The worst member of Congress, and it's a crowded field," columnist Phil Kerpen wrote.
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"Mr Fire Alarm guy has zero credibility on this issue. His pro-Hamas, anti-Semitic feelings ooze out," former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and retired Army colonel James Hutton wrote.
Podcaster Shaiel Ben-Ephraim posted, "If there are two things this guy understands, it’s Judaism and fire alarms."
"’I am uplifting deeply what it actually means to be Jewish,’" a Newsweek senior editor-at-large wrote. "AYFKM?"
Other commentators switched the emphasis and focused on how Bowman’s own identity plays into the incident.
National Review contributor Pradheep J. Shanker wrote, "This would be analogous to me lecturing @JamaalBowmanNY what it is like to be Black in America."
Bowman's office did not respond to a request for comment.
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