Check Your Non-Jewish Privilege at the Door

How in the world could I, a delegate to three Democratic National Conventions, thank the Trump Administration for standing by Israel?

And how could I do so when the Administration has endangered many laws on which I’ve worked throughout my career?

As a staff lawyer in the U.S. House and Senate who went on to lead two civil rights organizations, I helped to write and pass laws to advance the rights of women, people of color and LGBTQ people, and to protect Americans from gun violence.

These causes are as important to me as ever.  I will continue, with passion, to oppose the Trump Administration in its attempts to dismantle them.

Yet I’m still going to thank the same Administration for standing by Israel.

How could I do both, you wonder?

The issue is not my inconsistency.

The issue is your non-Jewish privilege.

I have family and friends throughout Israel.  I’m so worried about them.

I live every waking hour of my life worried about the safety of my family, friends and me right here in America because of rising Antisemitism.

I worry about Israel’s survival as a matter of our survival should we need to move there as our refuge from Antisemitism.

I am an American, a Jew and a Zionist, and all these things are more important to me than partisanship.

If you stand by the Jewish people and stand up for our safety in the United States, Israel or wherever else we’re in danger — which is everywhere in the world these days — I will thank you whether you a Democrat, Republican or independent.

I am grateful to those of you of every religious background who have empathy.

To those of you who don’t, check your non-Jewish privilege at the door.