A Few Thoughts About Contemporary Politics
Howdy and shalom. We are in the season of politics in Israel and in Canada, and the US midterm elections are coming up.
Sadly, social research determined some time ago that most people trust politicians less than they trust used car salesmen. Frankly, I think that’s an insult to used car salesmen. I bought a decent used car some years ago from a kind and ethical salesman and it’s still working well and never gave me any trouble. Buyer beware, in life and in politics.
My most important lesson in political theory came from Pirkei Avot, The Ethics of the Sages. I would imagine it applies to politicians of all stripes and nationalities and faiths and ethnicities. I learned this at age 10 in my Hebrew school. It’s still true. Pass it on. Here it is, from Pirkei Avot 2:3, “Be cautious of the ruling authorities, for they befriend a person for their own ends, and abandon you in your time of need.”
https://www.sefaria.org/English_Explanation_of_Pirkei_Avot.2.3
As a Canadian citizen, it would be improper for me to attempt to influence the outcome of the upcoming Israeli or US midterm elections, but I do hope I am free to comment on my impressions to date.
As I have said before, I have praised Israel’s political system and diverse media outlets as a testament to democracy, but I am beginning to think that a rep by pop system and notorious corruption and deal-making within this system of endless backroom rebranding leaves much to be desired. There is a reason why most democracies have a standard set of parties and ideologies.
In Israel, one seemingly needs a score card to keep up while politicians watch the polls and make alliances to improve their electoral chances. Israel, get it together! Personally I wish political parties were more like parties one would actually like to attend, but no one listens to me.
Expert commentators in the Israeli press are suggesting the possibility of another gridlocked coalition government or caretaker government, as we saw even before October 7 and the resulting social and economic challenges. Many worthy MKs, particularly progressives and women, are unlikely to be granted much power or publicity in this overwhelmingly militarized and machismo power system. Yawn. The more things change, the more they stay the same. As an ardent pro Israel advocate, I am having trouble selling this vision of Israel. So are many others. This is not the Zionism we grew up with and one we cannot easily support in good conscience.
As a woman and LGBTQ person and ardent supporter of Israel, I find the pandering to women voters by Israel’s party leaders in a recent presentation to be disingenuous. I have nothing against WIZO or Jewish women’s organizations, but I find these presentations misleading. Jewish women deserve better than this and better from Israel. My sad prediction is that most of these prominent women candidates will be nowhere after the election.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-911321
And the same holds true for the belated IDF ‘tribute’ to the female IDF border guard known as ‘Vav’ who noted the increased Hamas activity on the Gaza border immediately preceding October 7, but who was ignored. This is a sign of sexism and dysfunction in the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus and must be remedied immediately, along with equal service among all sectors of the Israeli population.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-conference-3-years-on-from-oct-7-idf-chief-says-military-learning-from-disaster/
The Israeli press is now full of accusations of who knew what and when in regard to the planned Hamas attacks of October 7th. We have recently commemorated the 3rd anniversary of the October 7 attacks and heinous rapes and kidnappings and wanton murders.
I receive emails from many mainstream Jewish and Israeli organizations, and could not bring myself to tune into the commemoration of these attacks. For me, the trauma is still very fresh, and I am not interested in the usual chest thumping speech making and fundraising appeals.
I support Israel charitably where I can and encourage others to do the same. Please join me. It’s a safe and easy way to express your pro Israel identity in ways that cannot be disrupted by anti-Israel protestors and pro-terrorist hate criminals. And I just bought another Israel Bond! I am starting to feel like my own father, and that’s a good thing.
I am still also reeling from our current situation in Canada, where Jewish sites and synagogues are under regular threat, and a synagogue in small town Belleville, Ontario was recently shot up by a crazed antisemitic gunman and saved by a local police officer who remains grievously wounded as well as his counterparts on the Belleville Police force.
Fundraising campaigns for the injured Belleville Police Officer Constable Jeff Smith and his family and for the rescuing officer Constable Michael McCurdy are continuing. A fundraiser for the repair of the windows at Sons of Jacob Synagogue has now surpassed its initial goal and is continuing. Please support them. Here are the links:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/const-jeff-smith-on-behalf-of-toronto-jewish-community
https://www.gofundme.com/f/const-michael-mccurdy-on-behalf-of-the-jewish-community
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-rebuild-and-secure-sons-of-jacob-synagogue
Sadly, there were reports shortly after the attack on the synagogue of antisemitic flyers distributed in Belleville at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue and in the surrounding neighborhood espousing views similar to those held by the gunman Sean Ward. Police are investigating, but I would hope that this would disprove the ‘lone nut’ theory and suggest that there is a cadre of severe antisemitic sentiment and radicalization, perhaps a cell, in the Belleville community, which poses potential risks to our Jewish community. Perhaps our police and intelligence services should take note.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/antisemitic-flyers-belleville
Closer to home, in Hamilton, as we navigate our upcoming municipal elections, and continue to hold one of Canada’s highest rates of hate crimes against all minorities, we must live with the realities that (1) a Holocaust denier and notorious white supremacist and neo-Nazi, Paul Fromm, is running for mayor and has access to voter address lists, as do other fringe candidates; and (2) white supremacist gangs such as Nationalist 13 who have been recruiting in the guise of ‘active clubs’ have vandalized the posters of a black candidate for city council and attempted to intimidate him.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-2026-mayoral-debates-9.7375810
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/nationalist-13-targets-council-candidate-9.7382750
And in other news my groceries were delivered to my door earlier this week by a fellow named Jihad. Yes, it gave me some concerns. No, I am not making this up. They arrived in good order. I am grateful that my mezuzah was on the inside of my doorpost, just in case.
Well, my political theory idol Mr. Plato once suggested that we must all get involved in politics or we will be ruled by people ‘worse than us’. I think that has been more than apparent. So, please, get out the vote.
Am Yisrael Chai. We send our love from Canada.
