Jewish Democrats ripped New York City Comptroller Brad Lander as “sick and hateful” for participating in a joint fundraiser with embattled anti-Israel “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman Thursday night — at the tony Manhattan home of a Columbia professor.
“Congressman Bowman’s proven himself to be a vile antisemite, but instead of separating from him, Comptroller Lander doubles down on his endorsement,” Councilman Kalman Yeger, a Brooklyn Democrat who represents a district with a heavy devout pro-Israel Jewish constituency, fumed.
“It’s sick and hateful, but New Yorkers have come to expect that from Brad. Anything for a checkmark on his woke card.”
Many pro-Israel Dems consider Bowman an enemy of the Jewish state.
He recently came under fire after video emerged showing the lawmaker calling Israel an “apartheid” state as he angrily claimed reported rapes and child murders during Hamas’ October terror attacks were a “lie” and “propaganda.”
The controversial congressman also denounced the mass arrests of violent pro-terror rioters at Columbia University Tuesday night and called on Americans to “stand with our students to demand liberation for Palestinians and everyone in this world.”
Lander has also hardened his criticism of Israel in recent years, even supporting ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s boycott of the Jewish state for its occupation of the West Bank.
He previously opposed such boycotts.
The joint fundraiser was held at the Upper West Side home of Jessica Hirsch, a professor at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and board member of the left-wing nonprofit Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.
Hirsch also publicly condemned the mass arrest last month of anti-Israel protesters who had set up an encampment on Columbia’s South Lawn.
“We will not tolerate this suppression of student speech, disregard of due process and governance, and spiteful student suspensions/ejection from the dorms,” she wrote on X.
The event at her home was co-hosted by former lefty Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger and donations will be split between Bowman’s re-election campaign and Lander’s 2025 re-election campaign for comptroller, according to the invitation.
“Lander is turning on the Jewish community by supporting someone who is not a supporter of Israel, not a friend of the Jewish community,” said Michael Nussbaum, former president of the Queens Jewish Community Council and a member of the board.
“Lander has crossed a red line,” he said.
Democrat Hank Sheinkopf, an Orthodox Jew, ordained rabbi and longtime political consultant, noted that Bowman also put convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard in his Bronx middle school’s hall of honor when he was principal — and recently defended the decision when confronted about it.
“Brad Lander is now a cop-hater and a Jew-hater — even though he’s a Jew,” Sheinkopf fumed.
The Post reached out to Democratic socialist Lander, the Bowman campaign and Hirsch for comment.
Read more about the many controversies of New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman:
- ‘Squad’ Rep. Jamaal Bowman had secret YouTube page subscribed to channels that shared antisemitic, flat Earth and Illuminati conspiracy videos: report
- Bowman hosted fundraiser with extremist Muslim leader who praised Oct. 7 attacks on Israel
- ‘Squad’ member Jamaal Bowman once put a convicted cop killer up on a middle school’s ‘Wall of Honor’ — and stands by move
- Unearthed blog posts reveal ‘Squad’ member Jamaal Bowman spread shocking 9/11 conspiracy theories while serving as NYC principal
- House censures Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling fire alarm during government shutdown vote
Bowman faces a tough Democratic primary battle in his bid for a third term in the 16th Congressional District that takes in southern Westchester County and parts of the northeastern Bronx.
He’s facing off against Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who has strong backing from pro-Israel groups and is well known in the county.
One recent poll claimed Latimer had a huge double-digit lead among likely Democratic voters in the June 25 primary.
But Bowman has the backing of fellow progressive Squad members — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and the Working Families Party.
Bowman also came under intense fire for pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building in order to delay a vote to avert a government shutdown last year.
He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count and was censured by the Republican-led House of Representatives.
