WASHINGTON – Rabbi Yaakov Menken — a prominent Orthodox Jewish leader and executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values — says he was targeted “simply for being a Jew” during a confrontation with a pro-Palestinian activist in a Capitol hallway on Thursday.
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Video from Dec. 12 shows the activist, identified with CodePink, approaching Menken and chanting accusations about “occupation.” Menken pushed back, defending Israel’s response to Hamas and noting hostages still held since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The exchange was heated but did not turn physical.
Pro-Pals yell “Free Palestine” at a random Jewish man and he calls them out. Watch how they twist it and end up calling HIM racist. This is everything that’s wrong with them. pic.twitter.com/6VPQMmM6oD
— Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) December 13, 2025
Menken is a nationally recognized figure in Jewish public affairs, frequently testifying before lawmakers and advocating on antisemitism and religious rights. He has been one of the most visible Orthodox voices in Washington, known for his commentary on Jewish identity, civil rights, and Middle East policy.
Following the incident, Menken said the activist singled him out based on his appearance rather than any political stance.
“I’m not a political Zionist at all. I am a Jew, and that is why I was targeted, nothing more,” Menken posted Friday on X. He added that groups like CodePink use anti-Zionism as “a new pretense for Jew-haters.”
The confrontation occurred just days after a House hearing on Jewish ties to Judea and Samaria, contributing to a tense atmosphere around Israel-related issues at the Capitol. Menken said the encounter reinforced his concern that open antisemitism is increasingly being disguised as political criticism.
Not that it would matter in the least, but this excuse provided after the fact is entirely false. I was not there for, and did not attend, any hearing that day. An obvious lie, only to justify targeting the Jew like the racists they are. https://t.co/LOCzL3eEkW
— Rabbi Yaakov Menken (@ymenken) December 13, 2025
Code punk. Are domestic TERRORISTS. EVIL. may HKBH destroy them all. He should sue
That idiot comforted the wrong person, but in general ya there’s too much anti semitism , and we Jews have to fight against it, with all means
Unfortunately this ignorant and hateful she-dog used the strident, aggressive pro-pali code words and completely drowned out Rabbi Menken. He fell into a trap and continued trying to argue with a blockhead who had no interest in hearing anything but her own bigoted and largely misinformed noise. The best response in thus case would have been to ignore, or gently twirl a finger at the temple and point it at her as she barks…
Most of these looney bins are unhinged psycho females, not males. Anyone else notice that too? What is it about them?
Codepink is extremely radical and we should go online and on Twitter to their sites to fight back
““I’m not a political Zionist at all. I am a Jew, and that is why I was targeted, nothing more,” Menken posted Friday on X. He added that groups like CodePink use anti-Zionism as “a new pretense for Jew-haters.”” I don’t agree with any Jew being targeted for any reason, but his claim of “just a Jew”, as opposed to anything to do with Zionism, is simply not true. You can read the issues page at his CJV site. His positions at least lean pro-Zionist even if he claims they are not “politically” Zionist, whatever that is supposed to mean.