by Bruce S. Ticker

As the Middle East crisis stains four election campaigns, a small army of teen-agers in Skokie, Illinois, ganged up on five Jewish children on Oct. 7 as they shouted antisemitic insults and fired gel pellets at them from a recreational gun, according to media reports.

Transparency to the public in this Chicago suburb, including its sizeable Jewish population, was hardly a priority for town officials, and we wonder how three shameless candidates for New York City mayor, New Jersey governor and a Senate seat in Maine, and a more temperate Senate hopeful in Massachusetts, would contend with the Skokie incident.

“There is no place for hate in Skokie,” says Mayor Ann Tennes in a statement, as quoted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “Our community has long been built on respect, inclusion and care for one another. The Village remains committed to standing against antisemitism and all forms of bias, and to ensuring Skokie continues to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”

Nice of the mayor to say so, but Skokie was a “place for hate” exactly two years after Hamas’ savage invasion of southern Israel when 1,200 people were murdered. Nearly a half-century ago, Skokie made national headlines when it was the site of plans for a neo-Nazi march on May 1, 1977. In the wake of massive pressure, they held their demonstration in Chicago and the episode was recounted in the TV-movie Skokie.

JTA reports that the Oct. 7 incident occurred when five children between 8 and 13 in a public park were asked by another group of children if they were Jewish, according to the Chicago Jewish Alliance.

The five children acknowledged they were Jews, and the other group of 20 assailants aged 12 to 14 allegedly shouted “f—k Israel and “you are baby killers so we are going to kill you,” and then shot the pellets. These details were published on a Facebook post by Daniel and Robyn Burgher Ackerman, the parents of a 13-year-old who was among the victims.

The assailants also allegedly told the children that they would “get a real gun and kill you Jews,” according to the Chicago Jewish Alliance. Police said that one child was struck in the leg by a pellet. They labeled the incident a hate crime.

On the town’s website, police reported that they “identified and spoke to all known youth involved…as well as several adults who reported witnessing parts of the incident. The minor who discharged the gel blaster has been identified.”

The notice added, the police “investigation…is now complete. Under the Illinois Juvenile Justice Court Act, which takes a restorative approach to cases involving minors, the department is restricted from providing further information regarding actions taken related to the minor who discharged the gel blaster. Although the department’s investigation has concluded, the resolution of this incident will be ongoing.”

It is routine practice for police to conceal the names of juveniles, but they need to describe the consequences for the assailants, including both punishment and counseling so the assailants can comprehend what they did.

It is also important to learn where teen-agers this young get these ideas about Jews and decide to punish the Jewish children for Israel’s perceived policies. They had no idea that many American Jews have protested Israel’s role in the war, nor did it occur to them that most Jews are likely too confused to reach any conclusions about it.

At 12 or 14 years old, it is not plausible that these bullies came to their simplistic attitudes on their own. They could not think for themselves about such a complicated issue. Someone was influencing them and it would be helpful to find out who they are.

Based on their Israel-related attitudes, it is hard to trust three of the four candidates to treat antisemitic incidents with sensitivity and proficiency.

The most visible candidate to frighten Jewish voters missed – or avoided? – an opportunity to recognize the need to crack down on anti-Israel protesters who violate the law.

During the first televised debate in New York City’s mayoral election, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa recounted that some protesters have violated the law, particularly when they surge up the streets without permits. Both Sliwa and independent rival Andrew Cuomo, the state’s former governor, agreed that government must respond to criminal violations while defending anyone’s right to peacefully protest.

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim who has been attacked for seeking divestment from Israel and his refusal to condemn the term “globalize the intifida,” pledged to uphold the right to protest, but neglected to mention his stand on legal violations.

“You have a lot of explaining to do,” Sliwa told Mamdani last week during the second debate as election day looms next Tuesday.

Playing the religion card, Mamdani replied, “I am the first Muslim candidate who is on the precipice of being the next mayor.”

Cuomo told him, “Forget this idea of not prosecuting misdemeanors.”

Mamdani shot back that he never said he will not prosecute misdemeanors. He also did not say that he will.

In New Jersey’s governor’s election, also to be decided on Tuesday, GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli got hummus on his face when Ibrar Nadeem, his Muslim relations advisor, told a group called Muslims 4 Jack: “People from my community, when I was blamed that somebody said, ‘You are taking money from Jews.’ I said, ‘I check my bank account every day, brother, it is not there.’”

JTA reports that Ciattarelli told Muslims 4 Jack that Nadeem “hasn’t let me down one day,” and added that he was the “first gubernatorial candidate in history that has a Muslim as part of his inner circle of advisors.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, his opponent, demanded that Ciattarelli fire Nadeem, saying, “This blatant antisemitism is coming from a member of Jack’s inner circle.”

Those who wallow in Israel-bashing can look forward to more of the same in Democratic Senate primaries in 2026. Unless he self-destructs in the near future, Graham Platner, will challenge Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary next June after accusing Israel of “genocide.”

Platner is currently fending off criticism for having a tattoo on his chest depicting a Nazi image, in addition to other issues. He claims he was not aware that the tattoo contained a Nazi symbol.

Rep. Seth Moulton, who represents the Salem-Gloucester region of northeastern Massachusetts, is taking a less abrasive stance on Israel – urging the nation to facilitate aid deliveries in Gaza – as he prepares to take on incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in next year’s Democratic primary.

Back to NYC, Mamdani repeated his pledge of “freedom” for demoralized New Yorkers during a rally over the weekend. Local Jews included? More likely he will chain up Jewish New Yorkers and force them to erect modern-day pyramids.

Bruce S. Ticker is a Philadelphia-based columnist. This article is republished from San Diego Jewish World which, along with The Moderate Voice, is a member of the San Diego Online News Association.

Graphic: Dreamstime