Children's educator Rachel Griffin Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, was confronted by podcaster Avi Lichtschein regarding her remarks about Israel's actions in its conflict with Hamas. Lichtschein recounted the park encounter on his show, “Depends on the Context,” stating he asked Accurso why she was anti-Israel.
Accurso reportedly clarified that she was not anti-Israel but rather "anti-Israeli government" and "anti-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." Lichtschein pushed back, calling her stance "absurd" and arguing that opposing the democratically elected leader does not negate being anti-Israel. He stated Accurso also accused Israel of committing "genocide" due to the number of children who died during the conflict.
"Twenty thousand children have died. How is that not a genocide?" Lichtschein recalled Accurso saying. He countered that genocide is a specific accusation, distinct from the horrors of war, and that such claims could incite violence against Jewish people globally.
Lichtschein added that Accurso mentioned her husband's father is Jewish and that she supports the existence of a Jewish state. He informed her she was "spreading blood libel" and held "blood on your hands" due to her comments before she left. Lichtschein later spoke with Accurso's husband, apologizing for upsetting her but not retracting his statements.
Lichtschein stated his intention was not to change Accurso's mind but to highlight the potential damage her words could cause, given her large audience. He believes her advocacy stems from compassion for children but that she is "naïve and gullible" about the impact of her rhetoric on the Jewish community. He further commented that her words could be amplified by those who oppose Jewish people.
Accurso's public comments came as she was noted for advocating for children detained at the Dilley Center. Lichtschein also noted that Accurso considered herself a "Zionist," drawing a parallel to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. Lichtschein emphasized that while Accurso may not intend harm, individuals with significant platforms must consider the downstream consequences of their amplified statements. He reiterated that he does not believe Accurso hates Jewish people, but her amplified claims have harmful repercussions. Fox News Digital has reached out to Accurso for comment.