Vox Populi

I have now become a believer in miracles once again. Not like the miracles of the splitting of the Red Sea nor the eight lights which burned when the Maccabees re-dedicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. I am a doubtful believer in “miracles” which go against the laws of nature. Throwing an apple into the air and praying for a miracle that it will not fall is a prayer in vain. It violates the laws of gravity and of nature.

The election victory for America’s 45th President is a miracle of a different nature. A man who has never been involved in politics, who has little knowledge of the history of world conflicts, a man who listens mainly to his own voice, has now listened to the vox populi… the voice of the people.

His election was a landslide victory and a very clear rejection of an Obama “third” term in the disguise of Hillary Clinton. Trump’s campaign, bitter and often vitriolic as it was, centered on the need to divorce America from the corruption of the present administration and to demand and promise change if elected.

And the American people heard him and voted for him overwhelmingly. He knew how to campaign. The question that begs for an answer is… does he know how to govern?

Prior to the election, the country was sorely divided. One major TV news commentator declared that “this has been the worst campaign of two unpopular candidates in American history for the past 241 years”.

Another newspaper editorial wrote “Since the American Civil War (1861-1865) the nation has not been bleeding as much as it has in this deplorable campaign”.

Two other commentators on CNN “sobbed “this country is divided. It is a nation desperate for healing,” and another wrote “America needs a strong leader but not a wrong leader”.

Whatever America may have needed, it got it yesterday. The eyes and ears of the world were glued to television and radio to follow the election results as they came in.

Personally,as an Israeli citizen, I am delighted that Hillary Clinton did not succeed in winning the American presidency. Whether or not she was guilty of misuse of security information on her private computer, somehow the fact that she was under FBI investigation for a possible alleged criminal charge was one of the major influences which drew the electorate away from her. Living under the shadow of possible corruption deterred many of her supporters.

On the other hand, Donald Trump has been a long-time supporter and friend of Israel and the Jewish people. His older daughter converted to Judaism, married an Orthodox Jew, observes Jewish laws and rituals and has provided her father with beautiful Jewish grandchildren.

Like all politicians, promises are made and are soon forgotten. In President-elect Trump’s case, his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the Jewish State and to remove the American Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem are promises made in the wind.

In spite of the congressional Jerusalem Act law that was passed several years ago, no American president has recognized it. The law itself permits a waiver to the president. It is very likely that Congress will veto President Trump’s Jerusalem promise.

Nevertheless, I feel that he will be good for us, he will stand by us and with us, he will not be a threat to any UN veto for anti-Israel proposals. And if he carries out his declared promises to make America greater and if the House of Representatives and the Senate approve his plans, Americans will be a happier people.

The voice of Donald Trump has been muted. Now he listens to the vox populi… the voice of the people who made him the 45th American President. B’hatzlacha rabba… much success.