Editor's Note: At the suggestion of educator and Jewish Week columnist, Erica Brown, a number of leading voices in the Jewish community were asked to write a letter reflecting their post-election thoughts. See more letters from other leaders in the Jewish community below, and look out for part two of this issue below.
I know how disappointed and exhausted you must feel. It has been a long roller-coaster ride of an election season, and quite a revolting one at that. Being Jewish, I was born into liberal family. I believe in a woman’s right to choose and am for gun control.
However, when I go into the voting booth, I do not believe that the survival of Israel is simply one in a number of items to choose from. It is difficult for me to fathom that anyone who knows the history of what has happened to our people within the last two centuries could actually think that way.
If our history has taught us anything, it is that our enemies mean business.
The Iranian nuclear deal has paved a way for the Islamic state to have a nuclear bomb within 10 years, and that is assuming they don’t cheat. We were promised that we would have “immediate slap back sanctions” if Iran violates the deal, which they already have. And the Obama administration has acted as a defense attorney for the Iranians.
It is difficult to forget the 2014 Gaza War when missiles were raining down in Tel Aviv, and the promised hell-fire missiles were held up by Obama. Or the “chicken—- comment”. Or Hillary excoriating the Israeli prime minister for 45 minutes for building in a Jerusalem suburb.
We will all be upset if a woman’s right to choose will be thrown back to the states, but we will never forgive ourselves if something were to happen to the state of Israel.
Read More From This Section
Dear Dems (RABBI JACK MOLINE)
To My Grandson Ezra (BUBBIE ARNA POUPKO FISHER)
Dear Hillary (RABBA SARA HURWITZ)
To My Trump Supporting Well-Educated, Privileged Friends (DEBORAH LIPSTADT)
To My Friends and Family Who Voted for Hillary (SARAH N. STERN)
Dear Friends Who Did Not Vote Like Me (GIL TROY)
Dear Mr. President-Elect (RABBI SHAI HELD)
Next Week: Check back here for responses from Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, Rabbie Ellie Kaunfer co-founder and director of Machon Hada; Steven Bayme, national director of the contemporary Jewish life department at the American Jewish Committee; Erica Brown of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership at George Washington University; and Dov S. Zakheim, former undersecretary of defense (2001-2004)
