Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Democrat, offered Passover greetings to her “Jewish sisters and brothers” with a graphic that included two fluffy loaves of bread.
There’s just one problem: Jewish people don’t eat leavened bread on Passover.
The first-term congresswoman’s fans and foes on social media were quick to flag the gaffe after her tweet was posted Friday, the first day of Passover.
“Hi! I like you a lot but loaves of bread should not be on a Passover image! May I suggest replacing them with Matzah?” tweeted Ben Yelin.
The blooper came after the British Labour Party removed a similar image, spurred by a round of fact-checking from social-media critics, who pointed out that consuming bread with yeast is forbidden during Passover, the start of the feast of the unleavened bread.
“The Passover custom of eating only unleavened products commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, which, according to the Bible, took place so quickly that they did not have time for their bread to rise,” explained the Times of Israel.
The Friday article was headlined, “Half-baked: UK Labour ridiculed for Passover bread greeting.”
The Labour Party, which is embroiled in an anti-Semitism uproar, replaced the Tweet featuring images of wine and bread with a post showing a drawing of the Star of David and the message, “Happy Passover from everyone at The Labour Party.”
Ms. Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, has raised the ire of some Jewish and pro-Israel voters over, for example, her defense of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Her Passover tweet met with a range of reactions. Some thanked her for her good wishes. Others accused her of cultural insensitivity. Plenty of commentators had a good laugh.
“Has anyone mentioned the bread thing?” asked Max Sparber, while Wendy Rosenfield said, “This is what happens when you don’t have any real live Jews on your team.”
Said the Jewish Worker: “Rashida we love you but we don’t eat bread on Passover! How did you miss the Labour party’s gaffe earlier today?”
Nobody tell her. This is hilarious.
— Roman Rivers (@RomanOnARiver) April 20, 2019
Loaves of bread on passover…..she’s really tight with her “Jewish sisters and brothers,” you better believe it. https://t.co/br7g7gA9Sb
— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) April 20, 2019
Why does her picture look similar to this picture? pic.twitter.com/hFhfmQ6xI2
— Matthew Ben-Shabat (@MatthewB613) April 20, 2019
Ms. Tlaib also posted a “Happy Easter” message Sunday on Twitter.
Happy Easter to all those celebrating on this beautiful Sunday. I was reminded by a resident that “fear isolates; love connects.” This resonates so much today. This is a time for many to have their faith renewed & experience new hope in whatever challenges we are facing in life.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) April 21, 2019
One of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, Ms. Tlaib has been slammed for her associations with pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah activists, as well as her 2006 op-ed for the Final Call, the newspaper founded by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
In January, she was accused of anti-Semitism for tweeting, “They forgot which country they represent” in a blast against anti-BDS legislation. She later said she was referring to U.S. senators, not Jewish Americans.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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