Unreliable friends (make poor teachers)
(Edited Friday night, May 8)
Dear Rick:
Yesterday, a judge issued a warrant for Bowe’s arrest for felony assault, and with two gun possession convictions, he will hopefully be denied bail when he is served by Jessica Tisch’s NYPD. They are concerned about safety (theirs) and have not entered the building.
But for the fact I instilled fear of me in Bowe; but for G-d’s grace, and the misfortune of my neighbor and young friend, I was not the victim. A. is a white Christian, hard-working female immigrant, and a friend of my service dog, Kear.
As you can see in the videos she shared below, Bowe shot her in the face with a replica pellet gun (resembling the one he pointed in my face twice), then punched her while she was sitting on her stoop with a friend, enjoying the beautiful spring weather.
As you can see, he thought it was funny.
Like Zohran, Mayor “Time and time again,” who “discourages” and “condemns,” your “So sorry” platitude does not suffice. Rick, you have been, at best, an unreliable friend, which does not, in the eyes of our faith, disqualify you for leadership.
It does so in my eyes:
Six weeks after Justice Ortiz gave him probation and refused to allow the hate crime evidence of his June 7, 2024, to be admitted, or the tape intimidating me from testifying, Bowe shot projectiles from a replica weapon, and assaulted a neighborhood friend, a young lady who walks her dog with Kear, and me from time to time.
Platitudes are neither policies nor actions.
If you want others to stop offering platitudes, to assume leadership, and to protect us, try to stop using platitudes yourself and to reclaim the leadership you aspire to.
Please stop sending me fundraising letters for the URJ while claiming you don’t even know how many members are in the Reform Movement. The dissonance resounds.
We can only depend on and protect ourselves, as I have advised you for years. And, I have. I suggest you find someone to teach your flock, however many Members we truly have, how to defend themselves.
I don’t need friends who don’t know how to show up and prioritize action over platitudes.
Because I had good teachers, including the southpaw you buried in 2005.
Because unreliable friends make poor teachers.
Shabbat Shalom!
Philippe du Col (Walter)
©Philippe du Col, 2026