This November, vote for Israel

This column will not promote a particular political candidate — the third rail when it comes to conversation starters — let alone build a sense of unity among the Jewish people. Instead, I proffer the following resolution: this perilous moment demands that each of us rank Israel and the Jewish people as the most important issue in November’s elections.

In the wake of the horrors of October 7 and the enthusiastic explosion of antisemitism, we owe it to our people to be selfish, unapologetically Zionist, and vote with singularly Jewish interests in mind. This does not make us lesser Americans — patriotism and fighting for our survival are not incompatible. Israel needs a supportive United States now more than ever. Moreover, American Jews lack our own army, which strips us of a certain amount of agency and power to combat domestic antisemitism. Accordingly, we must vote with our community’s safety in mind and support candidates who get it. Each of us should do the work of earnestly analyzing which presidential and down-ballot candidates are best suited to act on our behalf during this critical time in Jewish history.

This spring semester, far too many college campuses across the country were flooded by a nasty wave of antisemitic harassment and violence. They came after our kids! Most notoriously, Columbia tilted toward becoming Judenrein due to the toxic combination of an illegally forceful encampment, targeting Jews for being Jewish, and complicity exhibited by the school’s failed leadership.

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How will Jews respond? Will we support politicians who showed up on campus and demanded that our children be treated better? Or will we reward those who fecklessly stayed on the sidelines or issued milquetoast statements of support? Let’s do our homework, examine the factual record, and dispassionately determine who had our backs.

Some Jews purport to vote based on sincerely held “Jewish values” and/or in the name of “Tikkun Olam.” There is more to unpack concerning this phenomenon, but for purposes of this November, let’s agree that one can credibly argue that “Jewish values” and “Tikkun Olam” militate in favor of either party. Most domestic policy issues are complex and can be manipulated to fit our preconceived narratives of preferred policies. And these policies are largely academic when our one Jewish State is fighting for survival and American Jews are under attack.

There also are questions as to what “support” for Israel means. For example, is it pro-Israel to boycott Bibi’s speech and publicly condemn the Israeli government in the name of providing tough love to Israel? Whether you agree with that conclusion is beside the point; the important thing is that each of us is serious-minded when it comes to prioritizing Israel and the Jewish people (two inextricably linked issues, which ultimately rise or fall together). It isn’t appropriate to question another Jew’s religious observance, nor is it productive to accuse each other of being bad Zionists — but it is fair game to push each other to do more and act with greater intensity in service of our children’s future. We are all on the same team, and our team has precious few players.

Neither political party is homogenous; each has its problems, whether outright antisemitism or dalliances with troublesome characters who dip their toes in dark waters. Some argue they cannot vote for Trump because he is too unpredictable, despite his strong presidential record in support of Israel. Others argue that the Democratic party’s progressive wing has become overtly antisemitic and enjoys outsized influence over foreign policy decisions, despite the Democratic party leadership’s pro-Israel stance. Regardless of which (or both) of these keeps you up at night, fair-minded people will acknowledge that this is not a binary discussion — both parties generally can support Israel, both can nonetheless include problematic elements, and both can benefit from serious soul-searching for the sake of our great nation. The question is which candidates can be counted on to stand forcefully (and unequivocally) with Israel and the Jewish people now.

Others argue that regardless of which party wins in November, the bond between America and Israel will remain strong — so it is more appropriate to vote for the candidate who is best for America writ large. That has been a defensible position for most of my life, and I pray it remains true because it is best for both American and Israel. Ideally, support for Israel remains a bipartisan position.

We owe it to the victims of October 7 and to the warriors who have fallen thereafter to keep Israel top of mind. And we owe it to the memories of our six million brothers and sisters to stand up for the Jewish people around the world. Domestic policy debates are interesting, and cable news equal parts exhausting and entertaining, but now is the time for a more muscular defense for Israel and the Jewish people. That is our sacred duty. We cannot be a light unto the nations if we fear lighting Shabbat or Chanukah candles in public. And we have failed miserably if our children are afraid to walk to Shabbat dinner wearing a kippah or a Magen David necklace.

“Never again” does not belong on t-shirts or bumper stickers; it belongs etched in stone and seared on our souls for eternity. It isn’t a slogan; it is a way of life. There is no higher cause than standing up for our people during a time of existential threat. Some of us can pick up a gun and defend our ancestral homeland. Others can write a check. There are myriad ways to help. This November, each of us can conduct a personal analysis of which candidates are best for Israel and the Jewish people — and make our voices heard in support of our collective future.

Ari M. Berman lives in West Caldwell and is a member of that town’s Congregation Agudath Israel. He is an attorney.