Bronx Rabbis Condemn Michael Blake Over ‘Antisemitic’ Campaign Launch Against Ritchie Torres

NEW YORK – A group of Bronx rabbis is denouncing Democratic congressional hopeful Michael Blake, accusing him of fueling antisemitism in his campaign launch against Rep. Ritchie Torres, one of Washington’s most vocal pro-Israel lawmakers.

As reported by the New York Post, Blake’s campaign video featured Guy Christensen, an anti-Israel activist who previously urged support for the gunman accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.

In a joint statement obtained by the Post, a dozen rabbis representing Jewish institutions in Riverdale—including Rabbi Binyamin Krauss, principal of SAR Academy—called the video “deeply offensive” and “a reckless attempt to inflame prejudice and antisemitism for political gain.”

The Post also noted that the video accused Torres of caring “more about Benjamin Netanyahu and AIPAC than The Bronx,” a charge that drew widespread condemnation from local Jewish leaders. Krauss told the paper, “We have a great leader with Ritchie Torres. He does a lot for The Bronx. We’re grateful.”

Blake later apologized for including Christensen in the launch video, saying he “unequivocally denounces” violence against Israelis and regrets any pain caused to the Jewish community.

The Post further reported that Dalourny Nemorin, a public defender and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has also entered the race, joining a new wave of left-wing challengers inspired by Zohran Mamdani’s recent mayoral victory.