A Chicago politician is facing backlash for using a Jewish phrase for congratulations after the deadly exploding pager attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria that killed dozens and wounded thousands, including civilians and children.
Alderman Brendan Reilly posted a photo to his X account on Wednesday during a council meeting of a pager displaying the words Mazol Tov. The expression was spelled differently than it appears in Yiddish (‘Mazel Tov’) and Hebrew (Mazal Tov).
He later deleted the post about an hour later, WBEZ reported.
Despite drawing outrage from supporters of Palestine and his progressive City Council members, Reilly appeared unapologetic.
Its a tweet. If a handful of my colleagues dont like my personal tweets, they are free to unfollow my account, he told WBEZ.
He added that those who saw the post as a celebration of the attacks are incorrect.
Alderman Brendan Reilly posted a photo to his X account of a pager displaying the words Mazol Tov on Wednesday afternoon during a City Council meeting
Reilly deleted the post, saying later that if his colleagues were offended, they are free to unfollow my account
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who acknowledged that he did not see the tweet himself, said it sounded quite horrific and beyond offensive, and believed Reilly should apologize.
Council members who have been outspoken about the war in Gaza, including progressive Aldermen Bryon Sigcho Lopez and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, agreed that an apology was in order.
Terrorism is always wrong, and I expect a swift apology if he has a shred of morality in his body, Sigcho Lopez said.
Its heartbreaking to see a member of City Council tweet something like that on a day that we have seen a cyberattack perpetrated by Israel that has caused so much death, Rodriguez-Sanchez added.
I dont understand why anybody would do that, regardless of where you stand, regardless of what your position is, I dont think that it merits celebration or jokes, which is, to me, what appears to be happening in that tweet.
Hatem Abudayyeh, national chairman of the Chicago-based U.S. Palestinian Community Network, stated that Reillys action was a clear example of white privilege and racism.
He is an elected official who feels emboldened to be a cheerleader for Israeli violence, genocide and state terrorism, he said.
An explosion hits a vegetable market in Beirut on Tuesday
People and first responders gather at the scene of a reported device explosion in Saida in southern Lebanon on Wednesday
In a separate post, Reilly referred to Hezbollah as scum when asked if he agreed with the pager attacks.
Hezbollah scum f-d around & found out. Karmas a b*tch, he said in the post, which has also been deleted.
Thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah fighters exploded across Lebanon this, killing more than 30 people and wounding thousands more, including civilians and children.
Lebanons health ministry said 20 people were killed and more than 450 injured on Wednesdays attack in Beiruts suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, while the death toll from Tuesdays explosions rose to 12, including two children, with nearly 3,000 injured, Reuters reported.
On Wednesday, Israels defense minister Yoav Gallant said that we are at the start of a new phase in the war, but did not address the attacks on Hezbollah believed to carried out by Israel, Reuters reported.