Bloomfield, Michigan, is facing a growing wave of outrage after one of its elected officials, Trustee Stephanie Fakih, posted antisemitic comments on social media, calling Israeli and American Zionists “scum.” In a post seemingly responding to Israel’s recent bombings in Lebanon, Fakih, a criminal defense attorney, wrote: “Israeli zionists are the scum of the earth and the only people on par are American zionists.”

The post, originally shared on Instagram alongside a video referencing Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, has sparked widespread condemnation from Jewish leaders and community members, many of whom are urging Fakih to step down. The watchdog group StopAntiSemitism publicly called for Fakih’s resignation, writing, “This vile hate must not be tolerated — Stephanie Fakih must step down.”

Rabbi Tzvi Muller of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Shul and director of the Jewish Values Institute at the Blumenstein Jewish Learning Center, is among those calling on the community to attend the upcoming Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, October 14, to speak out against Fakih’s comments. “This type of rhetoric, from an elected official, is disconcerting and should not be tolerated,” said Rabbi Muller. “Her choice of words demonstrated that she does not accept her role as a fiduciary for her constituency, which includes many who are Jewish or support Israel’s right to exist.”

In response to the backlash, Fakih is scheduled to make a statement at the board meeting on Monday at Township Hall. A flyer supporting Fakih is circulating among her backers, urging them to arrive early to secure seats and carry signs reading “I Stand with Stephanie.” The flyer encourages supporters not to provide their full names or addresses, citing “security reasons.”

Rabbi Muller expressed appreciation for those in the township who have already spoken out against Fakih’s comments, including fellow board members. “I also encourage people, who don’t want hate speech to be acceptable, to speak up and vote with their feet on this,” said Rabbi Muller, calling on community members to attend the meeting in a show of solidarity.

Several members of the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees have also voiced their condemnation. In a statement to Deadline Detroit, township officials, including Treasurer Michael Schostak, Supervisor Dani Walsh, and Clerk Martin Brook, expressed being “deeply disturbed by her antisemitic social media post” and stressed that Fakih’s comments do not represent the views of Bloomfield Township. The statement called on Fakih to take steps to “help heal wounds” in the community before her term ends in November.

Meanwhile, Michigan ADL Regional Director Carolyn Normandin weighed in, noting that while the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) remains neutral on political candidacies, they are committed to calling out antisemitism, even when it’s framed as anti-Zionism. “This comment is deeply troubling,” Normandin said. “Vilifying those supporting Israel, as the vast majority of American Jews do, by calling them ‘scum’ is damaging and irresponsible, especially at a time of rising antisemitism.”

Following the incident, Bloomfield Township Treasurer Michael Schostak, Township Supervisor Dani Walsh and Clerk Martin Brook issued the following joint statement:

“We are deeply disturbed by Trustee Stephanie Fakih’s antisemitic social media post on Friday. Her views do not represent us, nor did she speak in an official capacity on behalf of Bloomfield Township. We are proud of our community’s diversity and we recognize that diversity as a source of strength. While we recognize her right to free speech, as township trustees, it is our duty to represent and serve everyone equally and with respect. But, her divisive and dehumanizing rhetoric undermined those values and wounded many residents. Ms. Fakih’s term will end on November 20th and between now and that time we call upon Ms. Fakih to help heal those wounds,” the statement reads.

Fakih, who is completing her first four-year term as a Bloomfield Township Trustee in November, is not running for reelection.

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