November 8th is not about us

Hey you! Are you one of those Jewish American voters who opt for a right-wing fundamentalist conservative candidate in an American election because you don’t view the progressive opponent as “good for the Jews”? Or anyhow, not good enough? If so, what you probably mean is that the progressive doesn’t support every single Israeli government policy or the subset of Israeli politicians who are themselves right-wing fanatic fundamentalists.

The next Israeli election may be coming up on November 1st but, arguably, the US midterm election a week later will be at least as crucial to our future.

The sane majority of Jews (and others) in Israel, America, and elsewhere are starting to trend away from the Israel Right or Wrong school of political thought; at least, that’s my impression. Young people, especially. You, on the other hand, say that you support Israel Right or Wrong so on November 8th you’re gonna vote for a candidate who hangs out with “Jews will not replace us” White Nationalist bullies in combat fatigues brandishing AR-15s? You’re really gonna support a candidate whose base is into hoisting tiki torches and marching through your own or your cousin’s or college roommate’s downtown wearing today’s version of white hoods and bedsheet gowns – and likewise chanting “Jews will not replace us”? And you’re gonna vote that way because the opposing candidate courageously admits to believing in equal rights for Palestinians? Oh, really?

Stop and think

If this November 8th, heaven forbid, the Big Lie proponents in the US were to regain a majority in both the Senate and the House (they already run the Supreme Court) along with a series of big wins in key state races, the chances of a MAGA White House two years later increase dramatically. In that event, Jews would be the first of America’s minorities that such a regime would turn on and it could happen pretty fast. And all Christian Zionist rhetoric to the contrary notwithstanding, the first foreign ally a MAGA government would abandon, if ever it became expedient, would be Israel. So please – stop and think! How good would that be for the Jews?

I strongly believe in civilized discourse with those who think differently than I do but, in this case, at this point, I’m significantly less eager to dialogue. If you are a proud Republican Jewish Trumper whose voting in recent years has helped enable the worst threat to American democracy in two centuries and you still see nothing to regret there, I think you should go hide in a cave and only come out next year on Yom Kippur to do penance.

But all you other American citizens in Israel, including recovering Republicans – you lovers of democracy and equal justice, party affiliation aside, you know who you are – should hurry and send in your ballot for the US midterm election if you haven’t already done so. If you need more info about voting, go to Democrats Abroad on the web at https://www.democratsabroad.org/ or go straight to their Vote from Abroad page at https://www.votefromabroad.org/ and find the info you need. A good summary is at the following link, including a discount code for returning your ballot fast via DHL courier service as an alternative to the post office: https://www.democratsabroad.org/moshechertoff/voting_from_israel

It is totally irrelevant that the Q salute isn’t exactly like the Nazi salute. It’s close enough. We Jews know where that road leads. Please don’t go there. Not even for love of Israel.