One the many components that make me who I am, when it comes to religious identity is, I am proudly Jewish. As I have written often, my entire professional career has centered upon working within the Jewish Community in an environment which promotes equality/self esteem and the understanding that as unique as we Jewish American might consider ourselves were are a piece in giant quilt of the American Life. I have had the opportunity to discover the sameness and difference in 5 separate Jewish communities, while working with a population interested in remembering its history but ready to move forward making history with a new company of companions both Jewish/Non Jewish to become Champions for all. It was, and still is with great regard and respect that no matter which community I found myself, the one quality that remained the same, was the fabric of family and its importance in reciting it’s traditional, hoping to inspire the next generation to find the best from the past and reinvent it for the future. Often times families of wealth, would find the resources to build a preschool wing and in turn dedicate it to their grandkids, or a youth wing insisting that that today’s adolescent needs a healthy environment in which to grow and become an adult who in turn will give back to their community, following a proud tradition.
On Wednesday, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and was asked the following question :”I wonder what you say to those among the Jewish community in the States and in Israel and maybe around the world, who believe and feel that your administration is playing with xenophobia and maybe racist tones," the reporter asked. Trump’s response (which, if you have the will power to follow this man) was: Three hundred and six Electoral College votes. We were not supposed to crack 220. You know that, right?" Trump asked, turning to Netanyahu. No reporter found the will, then courage, perhaps even the audacity to then ask this jerk: But you are the grandfather of Jewish children, the father of your very special daughter Ivanka, might you have some words of encouragement for the Jared/Ivanka and their children?
Now, I am not naive, and from every thing Trump has said/lied about/and incited I truly understand HIS response was sadly normal (an empty vessel just wobbles and bounces in the water), but here is where as a Jewish American I am DAMN PISSED and DISAPPOINTED. There are many Jews in this nation WHO could and should have been more vocal regarding the SILENCE from Trump’s lack of response. Men and women who do carry a big stick/a large check book/ and who even if they won’t admit are have the same jewish blood that any Fascist and Nazi regime wants to bleed. Shelly Adelson proved $125million to Trump alone/Mr and Mrs Charles Kushner the elder Kushner’s who also happen to be grandparents along with Trump. The Big Donors of the New York City Jewish Federation an organization to which the Kushner’s are large donors. The current Rabbi of the Shul in NYC of the elder Kushner family, the new shul in DC in which Ivanka and Jarod act so righteous when they walk for services. The Jews of the communities I have worked with, this with either financial leverage or political leverage, were out first line of defense..and none of those leaders were ever SILENT, when the welfare of their community was being antagonized. Shame, Shame, Shame!
