Rabbi condemns state legislator's use of anti-Semitic term toward Delaware's governor

WILMINGTON, Delaware — Gov. Jack Markell's rabbi is condemning an anti-Semitic remark by state Rep. John Kowalko in reference to the nation's only sitting Jewish governor.

The News Journal (http://delonline.us/1BmcZy1 ) reports Kowalko used the term "shylocks" during an outburst Tuesday at a school board meeting in Christina while criticizing Markell and education officials for their plan to turn around low-performing schools in Wilmington. Kowalko is Democrat representing Newark.

"There's a palpable sense of fear. I see it in the eyes of the governor. I see it in the eyes of (Education Secretary Mark) Murphy ... and the rest of them shylocks that they have down there that are trying to sell you a bill of goods," Kowalko said.

Shylock is the name of a Jewish character in Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and is a villainous moneylender who demands a "pound of flesh" from a merchant who defaults on a loan. It has long been considered an anti-Semitic term.

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Kowalko has apologized and said he did not intend to offend anyone.

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