Trump and Our Hypocrisy

When warning other communities about the danger of ignoring antisemitism, the Jewish community often reminds people of the famous quote attributed to Martin Niemöller, a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s, who spent 8 years in prisons and camps for being an outspoken critic of Hitler.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Lately, I can’t help but wonder whether the Jewish community itself needs to be reminded about the spirit of these famous words. Many Jews have been eager to embrace leaders and political parties they view as pro-Israel but conveniently ignore the fact that these very same leaders and parties are targeting other groups with the very same hate and scapegoating that we, as Jews, implored people to denounce when the victims were Jewish.

Today’s obvious example starts with President-elect Trump, the darling of the Israeli right and supported by a solid majority of Israelis. The history of Trump’s hate is long, deep and vicious. After decades of his vitriol, I won’t waste space here to list examples of his homophobia, transphobia, racism, xenophobia and misogyny. His hateful words are undeniable, and anybody that continues to deny his hate is in denial.

As we Jews like to warn the rest of world, don’t turn a blind eye away from someone’s hateful words. What people say is important. Why is it so easy, then, for so many in the Jewish community to ignore Trump’s hate and his wilful targeting and scapegoating of marginalized groups? Don’t we know better? Can’t we see the writing on the wall? Have we not learned the very lessons we implore the rest of the world to heed about antisemitism?  The sooner we recognize that Trump curries favor only with people and groups that make him richer and more powerful and that massage his ego, the sooner we’ll avoid being the next group in line that he throws under the bus when we, as a community, no longer serve those interests or fail to do his bidding. (Already, with the Trump team tempering expectations of annexing territories, Gaza resettlement and the like, the honeymoon period is quickly fading, and he’s not even president yet.)

I get it. Politics is never a zero-sum game.  Whom we vote for is the product of compromises after balancing the pros and cons of the candidates.  I am not inclined to use this space to lecture folks about their choices.  But remember.  Our choices say something about our moral compass, which may not always put us on a direct path to sainthood (as much as we like to think we are looking out from the moral high ground).  If it is so easy to look the other way from a leader’s mistreatment of other groups, then be sure to own your hypocrisy and not be so quick to lecture other marginalized groups that don’t raise their voices loud enough in the face of antisemitism. Ultimately, that will be a high price to pay by our community.