Dear Friends,
I hope this note finds you well and managing these challenging times.
This was quite a week.
First, the Democrats delivered a critically important message for America, Israel, and the Jewish people. While it was disturbingly clear the extent to which the organizers were walking on eggshells throughout the convention, they ultimately delivered a message that clearly distanced the party from the flag-burning haters of the pro-Hamas demonstrations. There remains no room for naivete or complacency as we have much to worry about in terms of messaging, policy, and personalities; “globalize the intifada” protesters who “have a point,” continued championing of two states as if 10/7 never happened, and the team being assembled by VP Harris. But we needed the nominee on the stage and the assembled crowd of delegates to show strong and hearty support for Israel and the Jewish people – and they did. If we want them to keep showing that kind of support, we need to acknowledge it.
Second, the media revealed yet again that they are not reporters of facts but drivers of their own agendas. Much like their miserable polling failures on President Trump in 2016, their dire predictions of a repeat of the DNC 1968 told the story of their dreams rather than America’s realities. In this case, the left-wing media has spent years and the last ten months providing the “context” for 10/7 by promoting a false narrative of Israeli genocide and vicious discrimination that has fueled the pro-Hamas movement amongst younger Americans, while the right-wing media has been telling the story of an antisemitic takeover of the Democratic party. Both sides were disappointed that instead of pandemonium, they heard tens of thousands chanting “USA! USA!” Once more, we saw that serious people should not take the media seriously.
Third, this week can teach us Jews the practical and mature wisdom of choosing unity. A few weeks ago, the Democrats were fighting what appeared a hopeless battle for victory in the upcoming election, but when President Biden stepped out of the race, it took them less than a day to rally around VP Harris despite serious doubts as to whether she was the most qualified candidate. It did not matter – they were in an existential battle with Republicans and knew that they did not have the luxury to squabble amongst themselves. In fact, instead of just avoiding infighting they rallied behind their leader, made some tough choices, and came together with a mission to succeed and to appear unstoppable. Israel had also made that choice of unity after 10/7, with great practical benefit, but that has all but dissolved into factionalism and politics. Whether we love or hate the Dems, we should learn from the unity that has driven their stunning reversal.
The OU is non-partisan, not only for legal reasons. If America has two parties sharing power, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure that both are committed to the safety and wellbeing of American Jews and of the State of Israel. And while we believe with a complete belief that we are in Hashem’s hands and that the Jewish future is in Israel, our obligation to do all that is in our hands does not allow us to declare any part of this country’s leadership hopelessly antisemitic. American backing is currently core to Israel’s practical support systems militarily, politically, and economically.
Non-partisanship does not imply political passivity or allow us to practice a silent neutrality. It requires us to work aggressively with all sides to strengthen and recognize the positive and to call out and require action to remedy failures. We attempt to do so fairly but not evenly. Whenever we see an area where our voice can be raised effectively, we must do so, without keeping score and while avoiding the pitfalls of a blind partisanship that refuses to recognize any good in the other or any fault in their own.
Just last week, the parsha described how our study and observance of Torah will produce universal admiration for the wisdom and discernment of the Jews, “rak am chacham v’navon hagoy hagadol ha’zeh (Devarim 4:6). As Rambam (Hilchot Dei’ot 1:3-4) famously expressed, it is only through finding balance that we can be called wise. We must remain committed to the pursuit of political balance, for legal reasons, for practical reasons, and to strive for the humble pursuit of wisdom that will only be found away from the extremes.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and may we be blessed with besoros tovos, much good news.
Moshe Hauer