By COLlive reporter
Chi Ossé, Council Member for New York City’s 36th District, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights, is receiving backlash from Jewish leadership after a shocking statement about the current war against Israel.
Osse, 25, was elected in 2021 as the youngest member of the City Council. He was a prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and currently leads the council’s Brooklyn Delegation and the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations.
Osse wrote on X (Twitter) what appears to be criticism of Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians in Gaza and their response to the horrific and inhumane attacks on innocent civilians in Israel:
“…We should have the moral clarity and critical eye to understand the policies and actions of Israel’s government and violent West Bank settlers to be the primary fountain from which the two nations’ crises flow while the reason we are discussing this right now is Hamas’ brazen and shocking attack on civilians. The fact that something can be explained does not mean it can be excused.
“I mourn the loss of civilian life. I condemn in no uncertain terms Hamas and its recent terrorist attack that set off this round of violence. I condemn in no uncertain terms what I see to be collective punishment in the Israeli response, like cutting off fuel and water to the Gaza Strip…”
Osse’s statement follows a recent celebration of Sukkos in the Crown Heights neighborhood, which marks the protection G-d provided the Jewish people as they traveled to the holy land of Israel. Osse even wore a yarmulka of Colel Chabad, the oldest running charity in the land.
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Rabbi Eli Cohen, Executive Director of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC), was there with Osse during that Sukkos party, days before the surprise assault of Hamas terrorists on Israel.
“I am surprised at Council Member Osse’s lack of sensitivity and understanding,” Cohen commented. “In trying to balance his strong condemnation of the atrocities committed by Hamas with an expression of sympathy for the Palestinian civilians, he ended up blaming the victims.”
Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, member of Community Board 9 and Head of the Jewish Future Alliance, said, “I am profoundly disturbed by the statement from someone I believed to be a good friend. Attempting to contextualize what occurred only adds to the sense of insecurity in our New York community.
“There is no justification for heinous acts like beheading children, assaulting women, and kidnapping Holocaust survivors. The sole responsibility for this massacre lies with the evil Hamas terrorists.
“Numerous community members have reached out to express feeling unsafe,” Behrman said.
I am profoundly disturbed by the statement from someone I believed to be a good friend. Attempting to contextualize what occurred only adds to the sense of insecurity in our New York community. (1) https://t.co/aJWQtX7waV
— Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) October 10, 2023
Maybe the community leaders will stop wasting their time with these fake ppl on top and instead actually help the community instead of just partying & celebrating with elected officials who don’t care about you or us
2023 can be explained as well as 1092 (crusaders) , 1492 (Spanish expulsion) 1648 (tach vtat) , 1940 (holocaust) etc everything has an explanation besides one thing where this guy’s brain is located…….
and 1929 Chevron massacre
#RIPHAMAS
They should not have any peace go straight to hell.
Not “rest in peace,” but “rot in h—-.”
Rest in pieces
9-11 can be explained, the terror attacks in London 2005, Paris 2015, Brussels 2016, and Barcelona 2017, can all be explained. Even the Holocaust can be “explained”. But if you explain them, you’re probably morally deficient.
Dear CH “representatives”,
Just cuz they will break bread with you, doesn’t mean they don’t stand with murders.
Thank you Yaakov Behrman for calling him out clearly and publicly.
v’zichro
I doubt that there is anyone in his district with relatives in gaza or who have deep personal connections to Palestinians. So why does he feel the need to make such statements? Or is this such a deeply held belief of his? So crazy
““I am profoundly disturbed by the statement from someone I believed to be a good friend.” Dont p on us and tell us its raining. this was always his position and youre being disingenuous in pretending otherwise. Just dont endorse people like these. you want to say theyre not as bad/better than alternative, thats fine. But endorsing =owning it.
I never ever want to see a chjcc member with this guy again. Stand with ur brothers who are being murdered. Not with this slimy rabid anti semite.
Misguided…
This is who we as a community grovel to on hands and knees for support.
it is only 5 days since this Muslim evil murder spree, already they are getting ready to blame the Jews, Israel, settlers, praying at the temple mount, and everything else, Jews need to know, we are alone in the world and always will be, even when they pretend to be a friend it is fake.
Thank you Behrman for voicing our feelings ( although not strong enough!)
He should NEVER be invited back here and neither should his colleagues.
Also explainable?
Ask him that question.
Is the taking of Indian land by the US explainable?
Is the slavery trade an explainable, nuanced story?
Ask Amy liberal these questions.
“I am profoundly disturbed by the statement from someone I believed to be a good friend.” Do better. This response is woefully inadequate. You just sat and ate with this person and you seem to support his stance. Stop taking photo ops with these anti-Semites and trying to appease them. This representative is an anti Semite whose interests directly oppose those of the CH Jewish community. Condemn his comments in unequivocal terms and cut all ties with him. Why are we continuing to support this? Stop prioritizing politics, stop being scared to speak up. When will we have strong leadership… Read more »