Jewish leaders sound alarm over DSA questionnaire

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(The Center Square) – The Anti-Defamation League is sounding an alarm over the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America’s questionnaire for city council candidates.

ADL Midwest Senior Regional Director Rebecca Weininger told The Center Square the DSA questionnaire’s first two long-form questions are devoted to Israel instead of how candidates would help Chicago.

“That real estate, those questions are used to ensure that that person meets the litmus test of being against the right of Jews to self-determination in the land of Israel. That doesn't help anybody's lives in the Chicago area get better and in fact contributes to rising antisemitism,” Weininger said.

The questions asked candidates whether they are anti-Zionist and whether they support municipal-level boycott, divestment and sanctions.

Jay Tcath, executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund in Chicago, said the questionnaire is troubling.

“Why is Zionism the number-one topic on DSA minds? Why is only the Jewish desire for national sovereignty and independence being demonized by DSA?” Tcath told The Center Square.

Tcath said the mayor and city council members have plenty of local issues to focus on.

“DSA's decision to continue to prop up the centrality of Jewish independence in a negative way has nothing to do with the challenges and opportunities confronting our city,” Tcath said.

Weininger said it is troubling that DSA-endorsed candidates are required to be anti-Zionist.

“So we know that within the ranks of the DSA nationally and what has been adopted by the Chicago DSA is that you are excluded if you are a Jew, right? That there is no place either in the DSA or as a candidate endorsed by the DSA if you are Jewish and you believe in Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state,” Weininger said.

Weininger said everybody who chooses to be identifiably Jewish in this moment in American history is putting themselves at some risk.

The Chicago Democratic Socialists of America did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for an interview.