The Women's March and Anti-Semitism

The leaders of the Women's March need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and consider their own biases before they can legitimately galvanize women to confront and condemn injustices perpetrated by others.

Concerns about anti-Semitism permeating their leadership ranks are real and must be addressed. Their association with the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, who has historically made racist comments regarding Jews, is disturbing, and their failure to denounce anti-Semitism is disconcerting. Their misgivings and marginalization of their Jewish colleague raises legitimate questions about possible prejudice.

While recently at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, I was reminded of the integral role American Jews played in the civil rights movement, and how they stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1963 March on Washington and 1965 March on Selma, Alabama. We desperately need to harken back to a time when Jews and African-Americans stood together to protest injustice.

As anti-Semitism in the U.S. increases, the Women's March should reassess its affiliation with controversial anti-Semitic figures and ascertain how different communities can unite toward a common goal. Achieving social change is important, but acknowledging one's own personal imperfections and partialities prior to doing so is paramount.

Condemning Hamas at the UN

The UN General Assembly’s recent failure to adopt a resolution condemning Hamas is not a blow to the United States, President Trump or Ambassador Nikki Haley; rather, it is a blow to the UN’s legitimacy, credibility and purported impartiality.

While Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union, mocks the international community by continuing to openly engage in terrorism, the UN turns the other way. Although it seemingly never squanders an opportunity to censure Israel through the passage of countless reproachful resolutions, the fact that the UN has never approved a resolution condemning Hamas is disgraceful and a dereliction of its duty.

The rejection of this resolution is a tacit endorsement of Hamas’ terrorist activities by those who opposed the measure, which include firing rockets at civilian targets, digging terror tunnels in order to infiltrate Israel and engage in terrorism, and murdering Israelis nationals. The UN had a golden opportunity to express its disapproval of a notorious terrorist organization, yet it regrettably and inexplicably dropped the ball.

Chatting With My Hero

The following is my latest piece on The Times of Israel blog, in which I write about my recent encounter with Natan Sharansky and describe how incredible and meaningful the experience was:

Chatting With My Hero

By: N. Aaron Troodler

It’s not every day that you get to meet one of your heroes. As I stood in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and waited for him to arrive, I imagined how the conversation would go and rehearsed what I was going to say. A sense of nervousness overcame me as I counted down the moments until his train was scheduled to arrive.

After the passengers alighted the train and rode the escalator up to the main concourse, I scanned the crowd, searching for him. And then, I spotted him. He stepped off the escalator wearing his trademark green army cap, which was easily recognizable. Without any hesitation, I walked up to him and introduced myself.

Natan Sharansky’s story is well-known. A refusnik from the former Soviet Union, Sharansky was arrested by the KGB for his efforts to emigrate to Israel and imprisoned for nine years, during which time he endured harsh interrogations and horrendous conditions as his captors tried to break his spirit and destroy the refusniks’ efforts to secure exit visas to relocate to the Jewish homeland. Sharansky’s incredible resolve and unbreakable spirit enabled him to persevere, and he was ultimately reunited with his wife. Together, they built a life in Israel, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Rather than fade into obscurity, Sharansky became active in Israeli politics, rising to the level of Deputy Prime Minister, and eventually assuming the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency, where he played a pivotal role in Jewish affairs worldwide.

As we walked to the car and I inquired about his trip, I couldn’t help but think about what we would talk about as we drove to our destination. I had so many questions to ask and so many sentiments to express, and I found myself hoping that I would have the time to get through it all.

Once we got settled in the car, before I could ask Sharansky a question, he posed one to me. What is your community’s reaction to Pittsburgh, he asked? As this was just two days after the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, the horrific tragedy that occurred was foremost in everyone’s mind. We discussed what happened and Sharansky said he wasn’t surprised that we are seeing such blatant anti-Semitism. He reminded me that hate crimes targeting Jews are nothing new and told me about his trips to Brussels and Toulouse, France following anti-Semitic attacks there, where he witnessed the pain and suffering of those communities. Sharansky also decried the fact that politics entered the conversation almost immediately after the Pittsburgh shooting and talked about how that could shift the focus away from the core issue, which is anti-Semitism.

Before we moved to a new topic, I wanted to get Sharansky’s view on where we go from here. Since you experienced blatant anti-Semitism and suffered greatly because of your status as a Jew who yearned to emigrate to Israel, people look to you for guidance on how to handle the frightening increase in anti-Semitism that we’re seeing, I said. As someone who was persecuted because you were Jewish and managed to persevere, what’s your take on what we’re seeing in 2018, both in Europe, where anti-Semitism is rampant, and in the United States, where attacks on Jews have increased dramatically, I asked him. Sharansky was unequivocal in his response. As far as the United States, the American Jewish community needs to come together as a whole to combat anti-Semitism, he declared. The only way to defeat anti-Semitism is for American Jews to put aside their differences and unite to push back against bigotry. If that doesn’t happen, it will be extremely challenging for us to defeat anti-Semitism.

I told Sharansky how I grew up hearing about his struggle and going to demonstrations to call attention to his case and call for his release. My parents used to take me as a young child to the marches in Manhattan, and I went with them to Washington for the big march. His story was well known to everyone, but it touched me in such a meaningful way because I realized even in my youth how important it was for him to be freed. What you have been able to do in preaching the importance of freedom and tolerance is absolutely remarkable, I told him, somewhat embarrassingly.

We spoke about his time in prison. Being familiar with the story, I felt compelled to ask him how he was able to survive. Discussing the various ways that he maintained his faith and a sense of hope during his imprisonment, whether it was through chess, analyzing his case, reciting his special prayer, or dreaming about being reunited with his wife, I asked how he was able to maintain his focus and optimism under such inhumane conditions. His response was simple, yet profound. Most people don’t need to be tested in that way, he said, but when you face a test like that, you have to rise to the occasion. There is no choice.

Perhaps the most special part of our conversation was when we discussed my eldest daughter, who made aliyah. I told Sharansky how I became emotional when I read in his book Fear No Evil about his reuniting with his wife and traveling to Israel to begin their life together there. I told him with great pride about my daughter’s magical journey to Israel and how I completely understand the feeling of yearning for our Jewish homeland. He commented on how extraordinary it was for her to relocate to Israel as a teenager and how wonderful it was that we, her parents, supported her decision to make aliyah.

I felt like I could have talked with him for hours, but we then pulled up to our destination and it was time for him to go. I sheepishly asked if he would sign my copy of one of his books before he left, and he graciously agreed. While looking at the inscription after he exited the car, I smiled as I read his last line before he signed his name. Quite fittingly, it said in Hebrew “Am Yisrael Chai,” a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people. Coming from a man like Natan Sharansky, a true hero who embodies the resiliency and perseverance that has sustained the Jewish people for generations, that phrase takes on a whole new meaning.

The Pittsburgh Shooting

Sadly, while the massacre at a synagogue in Pittsburgh was extraordinarily shocking, it was not entirely surprising.

There has been a frightening uptick in anti-Semitic incidents and an alarming upsurge in hate crimes stemming from religious intolerance. Jewish students are habitually harassed on college campuses because of their religious status and Israel advocacy. The subtle anti-Semitism we witnessed in the past has regrettably morphed into more overt and brazen acts. There is a dangerous undercurrent that had been percolating beneath the surface, yet it has since materialized into the mainstream. This heinous and heartless attack is another frightening step in a terrifying progression of anti-Semitism in the U.S.

This must serve as a wake-up call for all of us that racist rhetoric has real ramifications, and it is time to work collaboratively to stem the tide of hatred in our country. Before the next tragedy strikes, our nation has to unite against unadulterated bigotry. Regardless of one’s race or religion, we must stand together and proclaim “Never Again.”

Don't Desert the Democrats

The following is an op-ed that I wrote, which appears in the current edition of the Jewish Exponent, in which I note that despite some recent missteps by Democratic congressional candidates relative to Israel, it is important not to abandon the Democratic Party in light of the critical role that bipartisanship plays in the U.S.-Israel relationship:

Don’t Desert the Democrats

By: N. Aaron Troodler

As a Jewish American and an ardent Zionist, one of the political issues that is of paramount importance to me is the welfare of the state of Israel.

Throughout my lifetime, it has been heartening to know that the U.S.-Israel relationship is valued greatly by both nations. The U.S. and Israel have historically and continually worked collaboratively on issues of mutual concern, and Israel’s status as the sole democratic U.S. ally in the Middle East has helped bolster the undying bond that exists between the two countries.

That being said, it would be extraordinarily dangerous for us to become complacent and assume that the status quo we have come to know will live on in perpetuity. We cannot be so naïve as to presuppose that every federal U.S. official harbors the same pro-Israel sentiments American Jewry has come to expect.

Perhaps nothing highlights this issue better than the current election cycle, where we have several congressional candidates with views antithetical to the pro-Israel movement.

Let’s start with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democratic candidate who essentially came out of nowhere to unseat 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley in a shocking primary victory in New York’s 14th Congressional District. Ocasio-Cortez, a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization that supports the anti-Israel BDS movement, is admittedly not an expert on Israel and it appears that she fails to grasp even the most fundamental aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Yet, that has not stopped this soon-to-be member of Congress from calling Israel’s actions to defend the Gaza border and prevent Hamas terrorists from infiltrating Israel a “massacre,” nor has it prevented her from discussing “the occupation of Palestine.” Despite her purported ignorance on Israel, Ocasio-Cortez certainly seems to have formulated rather strident opinions about the Jewish state.

We also have Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat who won a primary election in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District and is running unopposed in November. Tlaib emphatically stated that as a member of Congress she will vote against any U.S. military aid to Israel. She has also made troubling statements regarding Israel.

“Americans should not be aiding any country that doesn’t support human rights. … I will not support racist countries that pick and choose who gets access to justice,” she said, as if to imply that Israel, a democratic nation, is “racist.” Tlaib also spoke about “Netanyahu’s apartheid policies” and proudly stated that, “I stand by the rights of people who support BDS.”

Finally, there is Ilhan Omar, who came out on top in the Democratic primary in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District and has spoken about “the apartheid Israeli regime” and remarked several years ago that Israel had “hypnotized the world” to ignore its “evil doings.”

Does the rise of these incoming Democratic members of Congress with their disturbing views concerning Israel taint the entire Democratic Party on the issue of Israel? Sadly, it does. After all, the current trend in the Democratic Party where the liberal and progressive wing of the party has enjoyed a rapid rise and increased relevance does not bode well for Israel.

A recent study of the Pew Research Center found that the gap between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to sympathy for Israel or the Palestinians is larger now than it has been in 40 years. While 79 percent of Republicans sympathize more with Israel than with the Palestinians, only 27 percent of Democrats sympathize more with Israel.

Let us not forget the attempt by Bernie Sanders’ supporters in 2016 to amend the Democratic National Committee’s platform to include a reference to Israel’s “occupation” and “illegal settlements.” Although the measure was narrowly defeated, the mere attempt to include the anti-Israel language was disconcerting.

I would suggest that despite perturbing poll numbers and the unsettling sentiments of several isolated individuals, the Democratic Party has not abandoned Israel, nor will it do so in the future. For example, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which passed Congress with bipartisan support, earmarks substantial funds for Israel, including $500 million for Israel’s life-saving missile-defense systems and up to $50 million for efforts to combat the terror tunnels built by Hamas.

A bipartisan Congress also ensures that the U.S. sends more than $3 billion in security assistance per year to Israel. Just as the current Republican administration has been extremely supportive of Israel, it is important to remember that the previous Democratic administration was also supportive of Israel in various ways, including allocating more than $20 billion in military aid and significant financial support for the Iron Dome.

In addition, there are numerous stalwart supporters of Israel in the Democratic Party, including prominent federal lawmakers who have proudly and publicly stood together with Israel on a myriad of critical issues. We should admire and respect these pro-Israel champions, not abandon and reject them. Turning our backs on the Democratic Party is an imprudent and shortsighted approach.

We need Democrats and Republicans alike in our corner in the pro-Israel camp. A strong and vibrant U.S.-Israel relationship has always required a bipartisan approach, and abandoning that bilateral attitude because of some trouble spots will backfire. Rather than maligning the Democratic Party, we should instead make a concerted effort to engage those Democrats who are misguided and misinformed on Israel and educate them about the importance of sustaining and strengthening the U.S.-Israel bond. If we fail to proactively trumpet the virtues of what we know to be an integral alliance between the two nations, we alone will bear the responsibility in the event that the bond begins to fray.

N. Aaron Troodler is the principal of Red Apple Strategies, LLC, a public relations and strategic communications firm.