09 Jan DON’T VOTE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, VOTE ISRAEL

For most of the 20th
century, the vast
majority of Jews in the
United States
identified with the
Democratic Party and
voted for Democratic
candidates. Even now, according to Pew,
seven in ten Jewish adults identify with or
lean toward the Democratic Party, and half
describe their political views as liberal.
Orthodox Jews stand out as an exception:
60% of Orthodox Jews describe their
political views as conservative, with 75%
identifying with or leaning towards
Republican.
The non-partisan Jewish Electorate
Institute (JEI) released its annual national
survey of Jewish voters in November
2023. The poll found that Jewish voters
remain very focused on cultural issues
such as democracy, abortion, guns,
inflation, and climate change. The data
was published before the atrocity of
October 7th and before the current war but,
how low Israel ranked as a priority in
voting was upsetting even then.

Even among the Orthodox, Israel ranked
behind inflation and the economy and
immigration:
The pogroms, mass murder, and atrocities
of October 7th stunned Israel and those
who love her. Reeling from the
unimaginable attack, grieving from the
horrific loss, worried about the staggering
number of hostages, Israel felt isolated and
alone and highly uncertain. Immediate
statements of strong support from
American political leaders and elected
officials, coupled with real demonstrations
of loyalty to Israel’s security, were critical.
At that time, and in the moments that
have followed, we have learned who are
true friends of Israel and the Jewish people
and who are not. In many cases, the answer
is not who we would have predicted. Some
of the most vocal and vociferous voices are
politicians the pro-Israel community was
not very confident about. Take Senator
John Fetterman. In the 2022 election, the
Orthodox community of Pennsylvania did
not exactly embrace Fetterman, a
progressive Democrat, or celebrate him as
a champion of our causes. And yet, since

October 7th, you would
be hard-pressed to find a
more outspoken,
unequivocal, even defiant
supporter of Israel.
Consistently rejecting the
call for a ceasefire and
defending Israel’s efforts
to destroy Hamas, he
recently said, “I would be
the last man standing to
be absolutely there on the
Israeli side on this with no
conditions.”
And so, among the many
things that have changed
as a result of October 7th,
I would humbly
recommend that the
Jewish community would
do well to no longer
identify with a single party, Republican or
Democrat, but to look carefully at every
candidate’s position and record on Israel.
When we step in a voting booth, we
shouldn’t look for an (R) or a (D) but for
moral clarity and loyalty on Israel.
Understanding how critical support for
Israel is militarily, diplomatically, and
financially, our top three issues in any
election ought to be Israel, Israel, and
Israel. As important and meaningful as
other issues are, without a strong Israel,
Jews are not safe or secure.
We must not fall in love with or identify
too closely with either party. We must
not be blinded or enticed by how much
we may have in common on social or
domestic issues with one side or the
other, one candidate or another. The
pro-Israel community must keep our eye
on how pro-Israel a candidate is, with
their words and statements and even
more importantly, with their practice.
We must do a better job at rewarding our
friends and calling out our adversaries.
We must not ignore or discount the
support of an elected official on the basis
that they are simply doing what is
obvious and right to us. If that senator,
member of Congress or the
administration as a whole receives much
greater feedback, letters and calls against
Israel than for it, their vote and voices
can easily change.
Our exile in Egypt and the harsh
suffering and servitude there began with
ו ַי ָּקם מֶלְֶך־חָדָׁש עַל־מִצְרָ֑י ִם that fact the
arose king new a , אֲשֶׁ ר לֹא־י ָדַע אֶת־יֹוסֵף
over Egypt who did not know Yosef.
Chazal debate if it was literally a new

king, or the same king who had chosen to
forget Yosef’s contribution to saving the
Egyptian economy. Some commentators
point out that the Jewish people had
retreated to live in Goshen, neglecting the
relationship with the king and leadership
of Egypt. Absent that connection, the king
was able to forget, overlook and disregard
what the Jews had done to save Mitzrayim.
This lesson of the centuries of servitude is
clear. We must never take for granted any
relationships with people in positions of
power. We must build them, nourish them,
educate them, and hold them accountable
when it comes to Israel and issue of Jewish
concern. Contribute to and be grateful
towards those who stand with Israel and
against antisemitism. Take the time to
write a letter or make a donation. Don’t
look for a particular party, look for the
heart and soul of those who “get it” on the
issues that matter to us. AIPAC is one
great resource to track candidates, their
positions on Israel, and to take action by
writing letters and being in touch,
specifically with those who need to hear it
to reinforce their correct position or call
them out on having the wrong one.
We are blessed to currently have a
president, administration, and
overwhelming majority of Congress who
firmly stand with Israel. While they aren’t
perfect and there are positions or statements
we wish were different, they fundamentally
have Israel’s back, often when it isn’t
politically advantageous or comfortable
for them. Don’t take that for granted and
wait for a new king to arise who doesn’t
know us or care about the issues that matter
most to us.