Rabbis debate settling for prayer at Kotel vs Har Habayit

 

A profound religious controversy is dividing Israel's Orthodox establishment as Jerusalem Day approaches, with influential rabbis publicly questioning whether Jews should continue the traditional practice of praying at the Kotel or embrace the more contentious path of ascending the Har Habayit for worship.

Monday's Jerusalem Day observances, commemorating Jerusalem's liberation, traditionally draw religious Zionist groups to the capital in celebration of the city's reunification and restored access to Judaism's holiest sites. These annual pilgrimages culminate in emotional prayer services at the Western Wall, where thousands gather for thanksgiving ceremonies.

Yet a growing chorus of religious voices now advocates moving beyond the Kotel entirely, urging Jews to pray directly on the Har Habayit itself. This unprecedented shift has ignited fierce debate within Orthodox circles, pitting traditionalists against those seeking to reclaim Judaism's most sacred space.

The controversy stems from a historical ruling by Israel's Chief Rabbinate, supported by the vast majority of the country's rabbis, prohibiting Jewish ascent to the Har Habayit altogether. However, mounting challenges to this decision in recent years have prompted renewed theological examination of the issue. We consulted several prominent rabbis to understand their positions on this divisive matter.

Rabbi David Stav, who leads the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization and serves as rabbi of Shoham, articulated fierce opposition to Har Habayit ascent during our discussion. "We believe the Temple can be rebuilt only when the people of Israel achieve unity and moral purity of the highest order, alongside adherence to specific purity laws governing the Mount. Currently, these essential conditions remain unfulfilled.

"This spiritual preparation is necessary to make us worthy even of Jerusalem itself. The notion of ascending the Mount for prayer in our current spiritual state represents a fundamentally flawed approach. Temple Mount ascent will become possible only when the people of Israel reach their complete spiritual state."

"Each person should act according to his rabbi"

Rabbi Hagai Lundin, who heads the Holon Hesder Yeshiva and directs the study hall at Ono Academic College, acknowledged that while he personally refrains from Temple Mount ascent, "each person should act according to his rabbi."

He elaborated, "The question of whether to pray at the Kotel versus the Har Habayit has generated years of controversy. Most religious authorities currently rule against Har Habayit ascent. Yet today, certain voices argue that the security situation and national considerations have strengthened the case for Har Habayit access. I personally choose not to ascend and believe we can strengthen our sovereignty and connection to the Har Habayit through alternative means."

"Prayer at the Har Habayit is preferable."

Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder and director of the Temple Institute and head of the Temple Yeshiva in Jerusalem's Old City, advocates the opposite approach entirely. "While the Kotel functions like an enormous synagogue with special sanctity for prayer within the ancient walls, Har Habayit prayer remains superior. This principle applies throughout the year and holds particular significance on Jerusalem Day.

"Har Habyit prayer carries a different meaning and receives greater heavenly acceptance. This concept appears in King Solomon's dedication prayer for the Temple, where he invokes the word 'prayer' in various forms 24 times. This emphasis demonstrates the paramount importance of prayer on the Mount – the actual Temple site."

"Clean hands and pure heart"

Rabbi and author Chaim Navon presents a nuanced middle position, arguing that Har Habayit ascent demands exceptional spiritual elevation. "My revered teacher, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein of blessed memory, believed certain areas remained halachically permissible to enter. When I once asked why he personally avoided Har Habayit ascent despite this ruling, he referenced Psalms: 'Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord?' The answer provided is 'Clean hands and pure heart.' Only someone achieving complete heart purity and entirely clean hands can ascend the Temple Mount and stand before the Divine. He concluded, 'I have not yet reached this level.'"

Rabbi Navon continued, "While I question whether such an elevated standard is truly required, hearing this from my teacher has left me emotionally unable to summon the spiritual courage for Temple Mount ascent. Those who have achieved greater spiritual completeness may ascend in sanctity and purity, but they must never disparage those who find fulfillment in Kotel prayer. The Kotel possesses inherent holiness, sanctified further by centuries of worship from countless Jewish faithful."

Record 2,139 Jews Ascend Temple Mount on Jerusalem Day

 

Four years after Hamas threats nearly forced the cancellation of Jerusalem Liberation Day celebrations, more than 2,000 Jews marked the occasion by ascending the Temple Mount, many waving Israeli flags and praying openly.

According to HaKol HaYehudi, 2,139 Jews visited the Temple Mount in honor of Jerusalem Liberation Day. The Temple Mount Authority reported that this figure represents a nearly 50% increase from last year.

Among those who ascended were prominent rabbis, yeshiva deans, government ministers, and MKs. Participants prayed, sang, recited the Hallel, and bowed in worship. Several individuals wore tefillin and prayer shawls, while dozens held aloft Israeli flags.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands took part in the traditional flag dance procession through the unified Jerusalem’s streets.

In a notable moment captured on video, MK Zvi Sukkot was seen waving an Israeli flag in front of the Golden Dome…

Many Hostage Families Work Only With Leftists that have Anti-Bibi Views

 

It is well-known in Israel that the Hostages and Missing Families Forum is run by leftists, and in many ways, the organization’s activities are a continuation of the pre-October 7 protests against the Netanyahu government and his so-called plan to “crush democracy.”

What is less well known is the extent of the organization’s politicization, which was recently revealed by one of the organization’s founders, Liat Bell Sommer, who has since left the organization.

Before October 7, Bell Sommer was a leftist herself, a self-described “Kaplanist who burned the Ayalon.” Following the massacre, she had a desire to help the families of the hostages, and she volunteered to work at the Hostages Forum. And as one may think, her desire to help was not related to her political views.

“I came to work with everybody,” she recently told 124 News [Hebrew]. “I didn’t care who they voted for. Hamas didn’t choose to abduct people according to whether they were right-wing, left-wing, religious, or non-religious.”

However, she described that she gradually realized that her fellow employees and volunteers were there to advance their own agendas and would even only work with families of hostages with left-wing political views.

She continued: “At one point, I realized that there’s a family there who had a huge story, the Samerano family. Their son Yonatan, H’yd, the son of Ayelet and Kobi, was murdered on October 7, and his body was abducted by a UNWRA social worker in a UN vehicle.”

“This story remained behind the scenes for months because of the political views of the Samerano family,” she said.

“At a certain point, we began to lose the international audience,” she said, meaning that the world was no longer siding with Israel against the UN’s complicity in the massacre. “Despite this fact, no one would agree to publicize the Samerano story,” she added.

“At a certain point, I decided that I, the Kaplanist, would take it upon myself. I held press conferences at the headquarters, and we publicized the story. We traveled all over the world with the story—to Switzerland,  to Paris, to the UN —to explain how guilty the UN was. If it wasn’t for me, this story would still be unknown due to the political views of the victim.”

The interviewer interjected: “So are you saying that the Hostages Forum operated out of political considerations?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” she replied. “Despite the fact that this issue involved saving people’s lives, they operated and are still operating out of personal political interests—until today.”

Bell Sommer added that the Samerano family was not the only one with whom the Forum refused to work. It should be noted that she explained in the interview that there was no official policy dictating this policy or overt statements about it, but in practice, that’s how it worked.

“We’ve turned into our own enemies,” she said sadly. “Already before October 7 but definitely after October 7.”

Watch Ayelet Samerano speak about the abduction of her son at the UN:

Ponovezh Rosh Yeshivas Oppose Prolonged Meetings Of Engaged Couples: ‘Frivolity’

 The Roshei Yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak (who are they? no names just "roshei Yeshiva") have established new guidelines regarding meetings between engaged yeshiva students and their fiancées during the period between engagement and marriage.

According to a report on the charedi news site Bechadrei Charedim, the decision comes in response to a growing trend in recent years of prolonged meetings, particularly what has become known as the “final meeting,” which often lasts for many hours.

A gathering was held at the home of one of the yeshiva heads, who emphasized that he views this trend as a serious halachic  issue.

“There is no permission to simply look at a woman. There is no allowance for frivolity. What is permitted is only to the extent of necessity. Beyond that, there is no permission at all,” he stated.

One of the rabbis shared: “A year and a half ago, someone told me there was a meeting that lasted more than two hours. Today I’m being told about 12-hour meetings. I said: ‘They’re lying.’ I couldn’t believe it. It never occurred to me that such a thing could exist. It’s insane. What is this?”

The yeshiva head also addressed another phenomenon that has developed in recent years: gifts from the groom to the bride during the engagement period.

“Why cram this short period with nonsense and things? Every time a different gift from (the groom). In our time, such a thing didn’t exist — a gift from the groom to the bride. It was forbidden. It had to go through the parents only.”

‘The 2,000 Kidnapped Jewish Children’ Links Jewish Hostages Across Generations

 

A powerful new documentary titled “The 2,000 Kidnapped Jewish Children” has been released for free on YouTube by the HispanoJewish Foundation of Madrid and the Jewish Community of Porto, Portugal. The 30-minute film sheds light on a little-known but haunting chapter of Jewish history and is dedicated to the families of those kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel.

The film recounts the story of 2,000 Jewish children—eight years old and younger—who were seized in 1493 by order of King João II of Portugal. Their parents, who had fled the 1492 expulsion from Spain, were unable to afford the ransom demanded by the Portuguese crown. As a result, their children were torn from them and deported to the remote and uninhabited island of São Tomé, 7,500 kilometers from home.

“When we hear European leaders rewarding terrorism and encouraging the killing of Jews and Israelis everywhere, it becomes imperative to remember what European Jewish life has been like for centuries,” said Gabriel Senderowicz, President of the Jewish Community of Oporto. “This film highlights one of many historical episodes ignored in European school curricula.”

David Hatchwell Altaras, President of the HispanoJewish Foundation, added: “The agony of having our children stolen is something Jews have suffered throughout history. We can only imagine the pain of the parents of those 2,000 children—just as we empathize with the anguish of today’s families whose loved ones were taken on October 7. This film connects those past horrors with our present grief.”

The story is drawn from historical accounts by Portuguese chroniclers and leading Jewish figures such as Isaac Abravanel, Samuel Usque, and Shlomo Ibn Verga. It also depicts the brutal conditions on São Tomé—described by 16th-century physician Amato Lusitano—where toxic gases, wild animals, and massive crocodiles made survival perilous. In Jewish memory, the island came to be known as “Crocodile Island.”

Despite the unimaginable suffering, some children survived. Their descendants later helped establish successful industries in sugar, wine, meat, and cheese—testifying to the enduring strength and resilience of the Jewish people.

Michael Rothwell, director of the Jewish and Holocaust Museums of Porto, said: “Each generation of Jews has the responsibility to preserve our history. The 1493 tragedy has been forgotten, but its echoes are heard in the trauma we endure today. By remembering and sharing these stories, we find the strength to face the present.”

Hallel on Har Habayit!

 

Mrs Macron Does what we all dream we can do! Smack Macron Across His Face!

 

Maybe his wife thought they were flying to Israel… and when she realized it was just another speech in France — slap!

It seems (video below)Macron offered his arm to Brigitte after being slapped live on camera… she refused.

Satmar outraged at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for Davening at the Kotel!

 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem prays at the Western Wall with US Ambassador Huckabee, honoring fallen embassy staff and calling for the hostages’ return.

Chassidim that openly live in both worlds

 

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Before you take that Drink at a wedding watch this video!

 

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Yom Yeushalayim at the Kotel!

 

Sweet Mrs Goldstein a NYC prosecutor used clout making up "abuse stories" in bitter custody battle against Joseph Goldstein

 

                                

A Manhattan prosecutor recruited her pals in the DA’s office to rig a criminal case against her estranged New York Times scribe hubby as part of a nasty custody battle — and got the NYPD in on it, a scathing federal lawsuit claims.

Assistant District Attorney Amanda Goun conspired to have her husband, health-care reporter Joseph Goldstein, busted on trumped-up assault and child-abuse charges in 2022 to win custody of their two young children — and even coached the kids to lie about their dad’s reputed abuse, alleges the Manhattan federal complaint reviewed by The Post.

“Rather than accept the determination of the responding NYPD officers who had thoroughly investigated the matter, defendant Goun chose to leverage her position of influence and authority as a DANY prosecutor to pursue false criminal felony charges against Mr. Goldstein,” the father’s suit claims.

The suit was filed by Goldstein on May 16 and names Goun, two other prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and two NYPD employees as defendants.

Goun and the other prosecutors, Kelly Keating and Lawrence Newman, who now works for the Brooklyn DA’s Office, did not respond to Post requests for comment.

A rep for the Manhattan DA’s Office declined to discuss the case.

“We are aware of the lawsuit and referred it to the [city] Law Department,” the representative said.

A representative for the Brooklyn DA’s Office declined to comment, noting the alleged conspiracy took place before the office hired Newman out of the NYPD’s legal department.

The NYPD did not respond to Post requests for comment about the complaint, which names department employees Detective Rachel Lutz and police Officer Carmen Fabian as co-defendants. The Post’s attempts to reach the cops were not immediately successful.

The suit says Goun and Goldstein met in 2014 and were married in August 2015. Once they had children, Goun left her Manhattan DA’s Office job to raise the kids before returning to work in 2018 with a job at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the lawsuit says.

In 2022, Goun was back in the Manhattan office — as the marriage began to splinter, the court documents say.

-The Miracles of 1967: A Modern-Day Exodus

 As we continue to process the trauma of October 7th and fight a war that still rages on multiple fronts, it might seem difficult—even inappropriate—to talk about celebration. But now, more than ever, we must take a moment to reflect, recognize, and give thanks. That is precisely why the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day—the day we miraculously reunited our eternal capital—is not just important, it’s essential.

It’s essential because the very existence of the Jewish people defies logic.And it’s essential because the liberation of Jerusalem, Hebron, Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights in the Six-Day War of 1967 is one of the most visible and powerful displays of divine providence and historic justice in modern times.

We owe it to ourselves—and to our children—to never forget that we are living in a time of open miracles.

-The Miracles of 1967: A Modern-Day Exodus

Let’s be honest. In 1967, the Jewish state was tiny, vulnerable, and surrounded by Arab armies that were armed to the teeth and openly declaring their intention to wipe us off the map. The Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian militaries were backed by the Soviet Union and far outnumbered us in tanks, planes, and troops.

And yet, in just six days, the IDF not only defended Israel’s existence but defeated three Arab armies and tripled the size of the country. We didn’t just survive—we returned home. To the Kotel. To the Temple Mount. To Hebron. To Shilo. To Beit El. To our biblical heartland—Judea and Samaria.

You want to talk about miracles? Let’s look at just a few:

The Preemptive Airstrike: Israel launched Operation Focus and destroyed the Egyptian Air Force—over 400 planes—in three hours. Without air cover, the Arab armies were paralyzed.

Jerusalem Liberated: Jordan, which could have stayed out of the war, attacked. That fateful mistake gave Israel the opportunity to reunite Jerusalem for the first time in 2,000 years. IDF paratroopers reached the Temple Mount. And Motta Gur’s words echoed through Jewish history: “Har HaBayit b’yadeinu!” — The Temple Mount is in our hands!

Hebron Surrendered Without a Fight: Expecting fierce resistance, Israeli forces entered Hebron—and were met with white flags. The city of the Patriarchs was returned to Jewish hands without a single bullet fired.

Divine Weather: In the Sinai, Israeli tanks unknowingly drove into an Egyptian ambush. Suddenly, a sandstorm blew in—blinding the Egyptian forces and allowing our soldiers to pass safely.

The Collapse of the Enemy: Egyptian and Syrian armies—demoralized and disoriented—began to retreat without even engaging. In some cases, IDF soldiers found abandoned tanks and weapons with no fight.

A War Fought on Three Fronts… and Won: North, south, and east—against all odds. Despite being outnumbered in every measurable way, the IDF achieved total victory in six days.

From Defeat to Redemption: The Eternal Story of the Jewish People

These were not just military victories. They were open miracles, no less significant than the parting of the Red Sea or the fall of Jericho. But unlike in ancient times, they happened in our time, and many of us have family members who witnessed them firsthand.

When we celebrate Jerusalem Day, we aren’t ignoring the pain we’re experiencing today. On the contrary, we are putting it in context. We’re remembering that no matter how dark things get, we are a nation that has already come back from the brink of annihilation countless times.

And each time, we didn’t just survive—we returned stronger, more united, more rooted in our divine mission.

Trump Promoted a Vicious Antisemite to be "Chief Pentagon" Spokesperson!

 

The US Defense Department announced Friday night that Kingsley Wilson has been promoted from deputy spokesperson to chief Pentagon spokesperson, a decision that has intensified controversy given her history of promoting antisemitic and racist content on social media platforms.

Apexguard Tax ServicesDennis A. said: “I can’t recommend Apexguard enough! With over 50 years of experience, they expertly handled my complex taxes as both a W-2 employee and an LLC business owner. Apexguard not only found deductions I didn’t know existed but also explained everything clearly and helped me plan for future tax savings. 

 

The Horrific Tragedy

 

From a comment to Rabbi Hoffman's article below!

Rabbi Hoffman – I appreciate the thoughts you expressed, but where were you almost exactly a year ago, on the Shabbos after Shavuos, when three holy Bachurim from Yeshivat Shaalavim were oleh b’merkavas eish while defending the lives of their fellow Jews in Eretz Yisrael?

 Were the deaths of Yakir Levy, Shalom Nachum, and EliMo Zimbalist, HY”D, all of whom loved Torah no less than anyone in Lakewood, any less worthy of mourning and commemoration?

Yet, I’d venture that most of your readers never heard of these three Kedoshim who quite literally were Moser Nefesh and gave their lives Al Kidush Hashem – because they have been taught that only “their” Gedolim and “their” Yeshivos are “real”.

Rabbi Hoffman, you put yourself forth as one who tries to create achdus in Klal Yisrael. How about spending some time to learn about the three Bachurim I mentioned, and then writing something in honor of their Yahrtzeits?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

A devastating car accident on Friday morning has left the community in Lakewood reeling, along with all of Klal Yisroel.  The death toll of this accident has risen to three yeshiva students and two others injured, one critically.  All of them represented the crème de la creme of Klal Yisroel – learning Hashem’s Torah b’iyun, hearing the mussar shmuessim of the great Roshei Yeshiva and mashgichim, Fulfilling v’heigaisam bo yomam valailah.  They were all our children.  And we cry for their parents. Their brothers and sisters who looked upon them as the very embodiment of what HaKadosh Boruch hu wants us to become.

The tragedy unfolded when a Toyota Sienna minivan carrying five bochurim veered off Hope Chapel Road after striking a deer, crashed into a tree, and burst into flames.

According to initial reports, the accident occurred between Clearstream and New Central streets when the deer darted onto the road, causing the driver to lose control. A passerby discovered the vehicle engulfed in flames and alerted emergency services. Fire crews, ambulances, and brave Hatzolah volunteers rushed to the scene, managing to rescue some passengers, but two students, David Yitzchak Handler and Chaim Zelig Berl, were pronounced dead on-site.

Yom Yerushalayim: A Vignette

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Some seven months ago,  the Rebbe of Karlin was at the Kosel with thousands of his Chassidim.  He davened there in heartfelt prayer for an hour.

I remember my mother aleha hashalom vividly recalling the Six Day War, where she, my uncle, my sister and I were all in a bomb shelter in Yerushalayim.  She would convey such emotion and depth of feeling. 

Join me for a moment.

Picture yourself standing there in 1967. Your heart is pounding as history unfolds before your very eyes. After two thousand years of exile, tears, and prayers whispered in foreign lands, the Temple Mount returned to Jewish hands. In those moments of divine intervention, miracles blazed across Jerusalem like shooting stars. A bomb fell on the Mirrer Yeshiva – and by Hashem’s grace, remained silent. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zatzal – gave a shmuess to the entire yeshiva later – describing the sheer ignorance of those that did not see the nais niglah.

But the greatest miracle of all was the return of our beloved Kosel, our precious Wall, which for nineteen agonizing years had been forbidden to us, its stones yearning for our touch just as we yearned to press our foreheads against its ancient surface.

Imagine – the Temple Mount, the beating heart of creation itself, where heaven and earth kiss, where the very air vibrates with divine energy. The Kosel stands as our last physical link to that ineffable holiness, its worn stones having absorbed millions of tears throughout the centuries. They call it the “Wailing Wall,” but oh, how much more it is than that – it is our witness, our confidant, our eternal guardian. Each year, on the 28th of Iyar, we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, but do we truly grasp the magnitude of what was restored to us?

Consider this breathtaking truth: According to the Emek HaMelech, the prayers whispered against these stones by Jerusalem’s righteous souls are what sustains our very world. Their tears, their supplications, their deepest hopes pressed into these ancient stones – this is what keeps our universe from crumbling. Every stone, every crevice holds within it the power of survival, of continuance, of hope.

The Midrash reveals to us a secret that should make our souls tremble: the Shechina, Hashem’s Divine Presence, has never left the Western Wall.

Never.

Through exile, through destruction, through centuries of darkness, that holy light has remained.

Waiting. Watching. Protecting.

 The Alshich teaches us that this continuous presence is Hashem’s promise made tangible – a divine guarantee of our ultimate redemption.

Yet this place of transcendent hope is also one of profound mourning. When we approach and see it for the first time, we perform Kriyah – rending our garments near our hearts, a physical expression of the anguish in our neshama.

This tear must be left forever imperfect, never to be fully repaired, just as our hearts remain incomplete without the Temple. The Mishna Brurah tells us that upon first seeing Jerusalem in its current state, we should abstain from meat and wine – for how can we feast when our spiritual home lies in ruins?

With sovereignty comes sacred responsibility. The holiness of this place demands our vigilance, our respect, our unwavering commitment to its sanctity. The ancient Greeks knew this – an archaeological discovery reveals their warning inscription, forbidding entry to the inner sanctum. Even today, this obligation burns bright, calling us to preserve and protect.

When we daven at the Kosel, we must remember that these stones, though holy, are not our focus – they are the gateway to something far greater. As Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal teaches us, we don’t face the Wall directly, but angle ourselves toward the Kodesh HaKedoshim – the Holy of Holies, reaching past the physical to touch the infinite.

The debate over pilgrimages to this holy site echoes through the centuries. While the Rambam saw the mitzvah as suspended without the Temple, others – the Tashbatz, the Sdei Chemed, the Chasam Sopher – felt the calling remains. Rav Elyashiv exemplified this devotion, making his way to the Kosel every holiday, even in his advanced years. His dedication reminds us that every step toward these stones is a step toward redemption.

Today, we can touch these stones, press our prayers into their ancient surface, feel the pulse of history and holiness beneath our fingertips. This is not just a privilege – it is a calling, a responsibility, a chance to be part of the unbroken chain of Jewish devotion that stretches back to the dawn of Klal Yisroel.

Let every visit to the Kosel be a homecoming, let every Tefillah or Tehillim be a thread in the tapestry of our ultimate ge’ulah, every tear a promise that we have not forgotten, and never will. For in these stones lies not just our past, but our future, our hope, our eternal bond with HaKadosh Boruch Hu. Stand before the Kosel, and feel the weight of generations upon your shoulders, the whisper of destiny in your ears, and the promise of geulah in your heart.

Thank you, Karliner Rebbe, thank you.

 

Cryi'n Schumer is so hated by Jews that they would vote for AOC Should she run for Senator!

 

“Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would trounce Sen. Chuck Schumer in a primary – as the Democratic leader is “bleeding support” from his party and Jewish voters, a stunning new poll found.

Socialist Ocasio-Cortez leads five-term incumbent Schumer by a 54%-33% among likely Democratic voters in the Big Apple, according to the poll conducted by Honan Strategy Group for the Jewish Voters Action Network.

AOC, 35, who now services as a member of the House of Representatives, leads Schumer among Jewish Democrats 45%-33% with 17% undecided, the poll found.

“This is a massive wake-up call for Schumer,” said Maury Litwack, co-founder of Jewish Voters Action Network. “He’s not only bleeding support in the Democratic Party overall but also in the Jewish community.”

The numbers are troublesome for Schumer, who is Jewish and has relied on Jewish voters as a key area of support in his 50-year political career. The 74-year-old Senate minority leader isn’t up for reelection until 2028.

Litwack said the poll results are likely more of a reflection of dissatisfaction with Schumer than support for AOC, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America — a group that supports the controversial boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.

Ocasio-Cortez herself has called Israel’s retaliatory bombing of the Gaza strip “genocide” after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

But Litwack was critical of Schumer’s actions in the wake of those attacks and subsequent antisemitic protests in the United States.