Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) shares a fist bump with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) in Washington, DC, April 10, 2019. Photo: Reuters / Jim Bourg.

Left-wing, anti-Israel Congress members are receiving backlash online after posting messages in celebration of the start of Hanukkah. 

On Wednesday, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) all recognized the start of the Jewish holiday on Twitter/X. Almost immediately, supporters of Israel pounced on the congresswomen, pointing out that they have spent the past year peddling antisemitism and attacking the Jewish state. 

“Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish neighbors in Michigan’s 12th District and around the world. May you be surrounded by love this holiday. Chag Sameach!” Tlaib posted on X/Twitter. 

“Sending warm wishes to our Jewish neighbors and friends as they celebrate Hanukkah. Chag Sameach!” Omar posted on X/Twitter.

“Chanukah sameach to all who celebrate in [Pennsylvania Congressional District 12] and beyond! May this season of light inspire us to stand for justice and work toward a brighter, more equitable world. Wishing you warmth, joy, and peace,” Lee wrote on X/Twitter. 

“Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate in Missouri’s First District and beyond! Sending hope and love to you and your families. Chag Sameach,” Bush posted on X/Twitter.

All four congresswomen are members of the “Squad”— an informal cohort of progressive lawmakers with left-wing views on issues ranging from foreign policy to economics. They are also among the most strident critics of Israel in the US government. In the year following Hamas’ Oct. 7 mass slaughter of roughly 1200 people in southern Israel, progressive lawmakers have repeatedly assailed the Jewish state, condemning it for supposedly committing a “genocide” in retribution for the terrorist attacks. Members of the “Squad” have also  spearheaded resolutions calling for a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist group and the implementation of an “arms embargo on the Jewish state.

In response to the posts acknowledging the start of Hanukkah, pro-Israel social media users took shots at the congresswomen, suggesting that they have used their platforms to advance ideas and political positions harmful to the Jewish community. 

“The holiday of Chanukah celebrates the re-dedication of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem – the holiest place on earth to Jews – in the Land of Israel. Thank you, [congresswomen], for acknowledging the holiday that connects Jews to the ancestral home of the Jewish nation” posted Joel Petlin, superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District. 

Simmering antisemitism among the ideological  left has emerged as a hot-button issue over the past year. Anti-Israel sentiment has proven politically costly for some left-wing lawmakers in the past year, with Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Cori Bush losing their seats in primary battles earlier this year. As the “Squad” continues to shrink, some speculate that progressive lawmakers may recalibrate their messaging on Israel to avoid alienating Jewish constituents.