Rethinking the Message of Passover: Pharaohs, Presidents and Power

This week, Israel’s Prime Minister walked away from Washington without a win!

The Exodus story reminds us of the power of kings and pharaohs. In the Passover scenario, Moses asserts the demands of the Jewish people, securing with God’s intervention, our redemption and liberation. We are reminded from both this historic tale and this contemporary encounter, that power is illusive and uncertain, especially for a minority community.

Throughout our history, we have experienced political leaders who target or threaten Jews, using them as pawns in terms of their own political goals. Jews have lived with rulers where our status was compromised or threatened.

What are Jews experiencing in connection with Donald Trump’s Presidency? Within the current contours of America’s politics, analysts are monitoring this scenario.

During last year’s presidential campaign, on various occasions, candidate Trump threatened the Jewish community that should he lose the 2024 election it would be their fault. Yet, since his re-election, Jews as a collective entity are seen by various factions as a primary beneficiary of the policies and actions taken under the second Trump Presidency.

Case in point, the decision by this President to employ antisemitism as a litmus test in determining federal funding for universities and correspondingly, his willingness to deport foreign students who are identified as being critics of Israel and who were seen as campus activists during the Gaza protests reflect his assertive support. In addition, this administration’s activism, both militarily and diplomatically, on behalf of Israel is identified as another form of pro-Jewish advocacy. These overt forms of engagement are seen as providing today a dual set of protections for American Jews and for Israel. But do such “protections” come with risks?

At a time when so many other constituencies are being negatively targeted and are encountering significant threats, these specific Jewish interests are perceived to be embraced and advanced by this administration.

Indeed, Jews may well perceive that both the President’s Israel policy and his defense of Jews, here at home, benefit their community. Amidst all of its current political chaos and economic disruption, some worry that opponents of this President may view such supportive actions on behalf of narrow Jewish interests could lead to accusations and threats directed against our community for being too aligned with this administration. No doubt, there could well be an effort to target Jews as part of a broader critique of the Trump Presidency.

Critics believe that the 47^th President is in fact skillfully using the Jewish community, seeking to pressure Jewish leaders and Israeli officials to do his bidding; yet others note that the mercurial nature of this President may find him at some point shifting loyalties and upending policies, and in the process disbanding his pro-Jewish sentiments. Is it possible that some Jewish leaders are misreading the intentions of the White House, only to face a potentially disappointing outcome?

Yet, for many Jews, it is not this President’s policies on Israel or antisemitism that are necessarily primary to their current concerns but rather his more general disregard for democratic principles and practices that define their broad negative disposition toward him.

Similarly, this President may not fully appreciate or realize that his support among Jewish Americans is possibly thinner than he had anticipated or expected. Drawing on this disappointment, could his administration at some point publicly critique the Jewish community for what they might define as “disloyalty.”

When a society experiences political instability, Jews are often caught in the crossfire of such conflicts. The “middle man” theory suggests that Jews can become entrapped by extremists in societies that are encountering significant social disruptions. Caught between various political factions, minorities are often identified in such settings as the target of rage. Sadly, throughout history, this pattern of behavior has often been employed against Jews and other vulnerable communities.

On Closing:

The Jewish community in this moment ought to proceed with great caution in understanding both the motives and intentions associated with this President’s actions. There is a profound message for Israel and for Jews in connection with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s failed Washington visit this week; there are no guarantees for small nations and minority communities. We are reminded that Jewish influence and power are limited. In previous historical settings, Jews have misread, at their own peril, the signals and behaviors of political elites.

Unlike Moses involving his encounter with Pharaoh, Jews today may not have the benefit of plagues or the necessary political clout to offset actions that might be directed against our community or the Jewish State, should the political environment change.

Encountering and appreciating the Passover experience represents an opportunity to revisit the idea of political power, and how Jews over the course of their historic journey have come to appreciate the complexities of living with and without such influence.

At Passover tables across the globe, beyond the traditional symbols associated with our liberation, will be a new set of concerns and questions dealing with the issues of Jewish power in this uncertain moment.