Rabbi is not representative

Brad Rosen does not speak for the Jews I know, who value life above all else. Rosen devalues life, Jewish life in particular, with his comments. He cites the killing of 27,000 Palestinians. Since the Hamas Ministry of Health is responsible for those statistics, how many of the 27,000 are Hamas terrorists?

My husband recently returned from a mission to Israel, where he met with first responders, kibbutzim survivors and Nova festival survivors. About 250,000 Israelis are without homes. I met with a survivor from Kfar Aza and heard her riveting story. The Israelis who lived along the Gaza border befriended many of the Gazan residents. Palestinians living in Gaza were hired by Israelis at an Israeli wage to work on their kibbutz. Israelis drove many to medical appointments into Israel, believing they were helping their neighbors.

On Oct. 7, Israeli women were brutally killed, mutilated and desecrated, to say nothing of the sadistic killing of children and babies. Medical forensic labs are still trying to identify partial remains. What if this was your loved one?

I applaud Ald. Debra Silverstein, 50th, and her proposal to denounce Hamas’ horrific attack on Oct 7. She has a right to speak on behalf of the Jewish community.

A cease-fire, which was in effect until Hamas violated it on Oct 7, is a nonstarter. Brandon Johnson has no allegiance to Israel; as the elected mayor of Chicago, he should concern himself with matters under his jurisdiction. Perhaps Rosen should concern himself with the true definition of a rabbi.

— Mary Ellen Bowers, Highland Park