An Open Letter to My Fellow American Zionists

Dear Fellow American Zionists,

אל תסתכל בקנקן אלא במה שיש בו

Do not look at the container but rather its contents (Pirkei Avot 4:20)

This pearl of wisdom by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi is relevant to how we should judge all people and situations. We should also use it as a litmus test for our elected officials.

Rather than judge candidates based on their personality, we should vote based on their past performances and policies.

I consider myself politically independent, supporting candidates who embrace the most critical policies to me – regardless of party affiliation. As someone who has campaigned for Democrats in the past, I cannot do so in this election as the Democrat Party is kowtowing to its left fringe. Why did President Biden select Kamala Harris as his running mate in 2020? Why was Governor Josh Shapiro not selected as Ms. Harris’s running mate in 2024? While I would prefer Niki Haley or Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump was nominated by Republican voters in a democratic process, unlike Ms. Harris, who did not win a single primary.

Despite his highly-flawed personal character and, at times, outlandish rhetoric, I am voting for Donald J. Trump based on his past performance as POTUS #45 and his current policies on Israel, foreign affairs, and domestic matters (e.g., immigration, inflation, taxes, law and order, energy, judicial selections, support for the filibuster, etc.).

No president in the history of the United States has done more to help Israel and fight antisemitism than President Trump (e.g., the Abraham Accords, moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, withdrawing the United States from the JCPOA, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the legality of all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, cutting off funding to UNRWA, signing into law and enforcing the Taylor Force Act, enhancing Title VI Civil Rights Act enforcement, etc.). Israel, the USA, and the world were a lot safer during Mr. Trump’s tenure than it is during the current Biden-Harris administration.

In such an important election, a voter does not have the luxury of voting against Donald Trump because one hates his personality, character, or rhetoric. American Zionists must vote rationally and not emotionally. Every vote makes a difference.

My Fellow American Zionists– אל תסתכלו בקנקן אלא במה שיש בו

Do not look at the container but rather its contents.

Praying for Peace in Israel and the Return of our Hostages in this New Year 5785,

James Michael Gordon