Boston city councilors wrestle over how to declare support for local Jews

The Boston City Council duked it out over two resolutions that sought to show its support for the local Jewish community and denounce antisemitism, but only one was ultimately approved over the objections of a councilor forced to withdraw his.

The resolution adopted Wednesday, via a 12-0 vote, recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month, and affirms the Council’s stance against “all forms of hate including antisemitism and islamophobia,” along with its commitment to stand with the city’s Jewish residents at a time when the violence of the Israel-Hamas War continues to reverberate across the local political spectrum.

The measure, filed by Councilor Benjamin Weber, the body’s lone Jewish voice, follows criticism Jewish organizations directed at last week’s Gaza cease-fire vote, for being “one-sided,” in failing to condemn the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, acknowledge that it sparked the war, or identify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

“We voted for a cease-fire, return of all the hostages, and resumption of humanitarian aid last week, because the body is able to hold in its heart the suffering of all the innocent people who are being killed in the Middle East,” Weber said. “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.”

Most members of the Council spoke favorably of the resolution, including co-sponsors Ruthzee Louijeune, the body’s president, and Sharon Durkan, and Ed Flynn, who voted against last week’s cease-fire measure and filed a separate pro-Jewish resolution, “denouncing acts of antisemitism” that was withdrawn over his objections for being too similar to Weber’s, which was filed first.

Per Council rule 15, the city clerk in consultation with the Council president can withdraw a resolution, ordinance, or petition, among other filings, if those two officials deem it to be too similar in theme and language to another measure that had been filed first, which takes precedence, Clerk Alex Geourntas said.

Both he and Louijeune deemed that was the case in withdrawing Flynn’s resolution, Geourntas said, a decision that didn’t sit well with Flynn, a supporter of Israel who said his measure dealt with a different topic — denouncing a rise in antisemitism that’s occurred since the Oct. 7 attack — that warranted a separate discussion and vote.

“I think this issue of antisemitism and hate crimes is distinct from celebrating the enormous contributions and sacrifices of the Jewish community,” Flynn said. “I understand you’re not going to go forward with my resolution, but I just wanted to go on record as saying I disagree.”

Flynn was among the 12 councilors who voted for Weber’s resolution. Julia Mejia was absent from the day’s vote.

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