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Over the past year, American Jews have been forced to face difficult truths regarding their political and social affiliations. The attacks of October 7th on Israel led to a clear and dramatic change in American politics. For years, the extreme right was known to be the most antisemitic movement in America. But now, the extreme left, and its association with Islamists, revealed its true antisemitic face and has emerged as the major threat to Jews and the State of Israel. This revelation has found many American Jews, who have historically aligned with the Democratic Party, uncertain of their political home.
Even in the most recent Presidential election, the majority of American Jews, despite the clear antisemitism coming from the left, voted for Kamala Harris. Donald Trump, who has openly expressed support for both the Jews of America and the State of Israel, was rejected by many Jews due to party loyalty.
In our newest op-ed titled “Neither Your Honey Nor Your Sting? A Call for Jewish Political Pragmatism” we argue that the American Jewish community must embrace political pragmatism rather than ideological rigidity. While American Jews have historically opposed the political right, times have changed and we must adjust to the new political realities.
In an article written earlier in the year titled, "As Liberal Jews Feel Abandoned by the Left—What’s Next?" we discussed how prior events, including the horrific October 7th attacks in Israel, have exposed the true nature of the political left's attitude towards American Jews. Many Jews living in America, who historically aligned with the more progressive components of the Democratic Party, feel abandoned as leftist ideologies increasingly adopt anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Both articles urge liberal Jews to reconsider their blind political allegiance, and instead, to prioritize candidates who actively oppose antisemitism, protect Jewish rights, and promote unity. Ultimately, assessing candidates with these lens will lead to rejecting both extreme left and right ideologies.
Jews must collaborate across the political spectrum and accept help from those willing to offer it, regardless of the political camp they belong to.
Lastly, we invite you to learn more about The Philos Project, a non-profit organization that equips Christians to stand with Israel and the Jewish people, support persecuted Christians in the Middle East, and foster a revival of Western values rooted in the Hebraic origins of our faith.
Warm regards,
Gila and Adam Milstein
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