Rep.-elect Chris Rabb (D-PA) did not condemn a bike rally last weekend in his district in Philadelphia targeting a series of Jewish- and Israeli-owned businesses, asserting that he wants to bring opposing sides together while criticizing the counterprotesters who turned out in support of the targeted businesses.

“I respect everyone’s right to the First Amendment, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. But I also feel like it’s important that we find common cause and we come together and listen to each other,” Rabb said, when asked about the demonstration by CBS News’ Major Garrett. “We may not agree on certain issues, whether it’s on Israel or Palestine and such. But I think we have to find ways to engage each other in good faith.”

He continued, “I don’t want to dehumanize people who do not share my views, and vice versa. I heard some awful things in some of the videos from counterprotesters.”

Rabb also acknowledged that “some people were hurting because they were triggered by the timing of the bike ride that related to boycotting of Jewish businesses in Nazi Germany. We can learn from that, but only if we listen.”

The protest came a day before the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Nazi state-sponsored pogrom targeting Jews across Nazi Germany, which left thousands of synagogues and businesses destroyed and ended with more than 30,000 Jews sent to concentration camps. 

Rabb’s silence has frustrated and disappointed members of Philadelphia’s Jewish community, prompting criticisms from the local Jewish federation and Anti-Defamation League chapter.

“My job and my interest and my track record is being a convener, bringing people together, and that’s something I really look forward to doing even before I take office,” Rabb continued. 

When asked by Garrett if he has plans to convene such a meeting about the bike rally, Rabb demurred.

“This is a symptom of a larger issue,” he said. “People want to say, ‘Oh, your silence means X. You showing up here means Y,’ without actually having a genuine conversation, a real dialogue that’s not about scoring points or playing a purity test. We have to sit down and listen and engage and see where we can find common cause.”

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), asked Thursday about Rabb’s silence, criticized the incoming Philadelphia congressman.

“That’s consistent with who he is. He’s intensely anti-Israel and seems to have a lot of other baggage with strong feelings against the Jewish community too,” Fetterman told Jewish Insider. “He has no words on that — I think that says a lot.”

Rabb’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.