Last weekend, The Washington Post provided a superb, in-depth and balanced explanation of Donald Trump’s current relationship with American Jews (“Jews Differ on Trump’s remarks against ‘Squad,’ 7/27/19) written by Michelle Boorstein and Sarah Pulliam Bailey.

In addition to the fine commentary, some additional information would round-out their analysis. For instance, ever since the President’s daughter converted to Judaism at the time of her marriage, Trump has used that event as a salutary political tool in his relationship with Jews, the Evangelical Christian community (who are fervent supporters of Israel and Trump), and the Israeli government. Unfortunately, we rarely hear from the President about anything Jews traditionally believe, especially the worth of every human being and an obligation to treat all people with respect. Instead, the President and his Republican allies have found common cause with a right-wing Israeli government that treats significant portions of its population with anything but equality and esteem. Such policies and attitudes have come at the cost of diluting the essence of Judaism and the reinforcement of Republican attempts to move Israel from a bi-partisan to partisan issue on the American political spectrum. How and why?

First, Judaism. For myself and other socially-conscious Jews, a foundation of our beliefs is the Jewish sage Hillel’s injunction: “That which is hateful to you, do not unto others. That is all of the law. The rest is commentary.” Organized American Jewry’s too-often avoidance of that dictum when it comes to Trump and his administration’s policies and actions, demonstrates anew hypocrisy at its worst.

In terms of Israel and the tradition of American political bi-partisanship, when Republican Congressional leaders invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress in 2015, they fractured the implicit understanding that such invitations would always be coordinated with the President and the opposition party’s leadership. This was purposeful, primarily designed to highlight Republican opposition to the Obama administration’s nuclear arms deal with Iran. Major Jewish organizations fell into line with the Republicans (and the Israeli government) and, for the first time in its history, Israel arose as a major partisan issue.

Since 2015, Trump’s moves regarding Israel have been designed to placate Jewish Republican donors (e.g. Sheldon Adelson), and Evangelicals. The Israeli Prime minister has continued to praise Trump’s actions in return for a likewise response from the President. Correspondingly, AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and other like-minded Jewish organizations have, in their general silence, acceded to Trump’s policies regardless of their racism and disregard of social justice.

With younger American Jews already indicating less support for Israel, the Republicans are increasingly the home for right-wing Jews and Evangelicals. Although too many of  the President’s policies and action’s are racist and, as noted above, the opposite of traditional Jewish beliefs and traditions, the administration’s unqualified support for Israel has been wrongly adopted as the sine qua non for judging its alliance with American Jewry. To accept that equation will result in the corruption of what it means to be a Jew in America. In the end, moving along such a path will prove counterproductive to the security and safety of  America, Israel, and American Jewry.

ADDENDUM: I CANNOT FINISH THIS POST AND IGNORE THE MASSACRES THAT TOOK PLACE THIS WEEKEND IN EL PASO AND DAYTON. IN TERMS OF THE FORMER, THE KILLER BOLDLY STATED WHY HE MURDERED INNOCENTS: HISPANIC IMMIGRATION’S “THREAT” TO AMERICA. WHEN A PRESIDENT CALLS HISPANICS RAPISTS, AND IS CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT THE “THREAT” OF IMMIGRANTS, RACISTS CAN AND DO RESPOND IN THE MOST VIOLENT OF WAYS. WORDS CAN BE TRIGGERS TO ACTION. THIS PRESIDENT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.