I am a “Baby Boomer” born in 1946 to a Jewish mother who lived through the 1920’s, the 1930’s and the 1940’s. My father was the same age as my mother, and as a veteran of World War II, he had seen, up close and personal, what the Nazis did to the Jews. I grew up and also chose to serve the country for some 23 years as an officer in the United States Army. All of this to say I never expected to see the level of animas, hate and antisemitism that is currently running rampant across our most prestigious universities. So, I thought it would be of great value to see what the Jewish members of our United States Congress have had to say about this.
I started with looking for the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress, Charles Schumer (D-NY).
With Columbia University being the epicenter of this Hamas inspired antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric. Here is an exact quote of what he had to say on April 17th when the rioters started to take over the campus:
“ Deafening Silence ”
With that said, I thought I would check on what the other Jewish Senators had to say. I checked on the comments of:
· Michael Bennet (D-CO)
· Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
· Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
· Jon Ossoff (D-GA)
· Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
· Brian Schatz (D-HI)
· Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
· Ron Wyden (D-OR)
A Google search turned up the following quotes from the other Jewish members of the Senate:
“ Deafening Silence ”
I could not believe it. In the United States of America, Jews who are at the very seat of power in this country were silent while rioters chanted “Death to the Jews,” Death to Israel”, “Death to America”, “Intifada” … Jewish students were blocked from entering the campus at Columbia so I thought for sure the Jewish members of the House of Representatives would have something to say about all of this. I was particularly interested in the comments of the New York Jewish Congressional Delegation. I looked for the statement made by Jerry Nadler (D-NY) – Nothing!
Surely Dan Goldman, who always has something to say about Trump, would have a statement about his Jewish constituents who were being subjected to this abuse. Zero …. no statement from Goldman!
Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), David Cicilline (D-RI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), David Kustoff (R-TN), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Mike Levin (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Max Miller (R-OH), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Kathy Manning (D- NC), Dean Phillips (D-MN), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Susan Wild (D-PA) …
Nothing from any of them! Can you imagine that Adam Schiff who never met a tv camera he did not like … even Adam Schiff … cannot be found to have criticized this bad behavior?!
Well, if all of these members of Congress lack the courage of their own convictions, then certainly the President of the United States jumped in with both feet!
Here is exactly what Joe Biden had to say about this situation … Absolutely but Nothing! He was in New York for a radio interview only a few blocks south of Columbia University; he was nowhere to be seen. For Biden, it’ s all about the vote in Michigan and Minnasota.
I am often asked, “Why do the Jews in America always seem to vote Democrat?” I usually respond that there is something in the Jewish psyche that makes them think they are liberals and, more disturbingly, many think they are progressives. Could be that America’s Jews have grown very comfortable living in a country that has been non-threatening. But maybe, just maybe, those days are over and a reassessment is in order.
To the Jewish voters in America, I say … You cannot ignore this problem as the Jews of Germany did in the 1930s. Assume, like they did, that this is just an enigma and that the threat will go away.
But the reality is that it will not go away because it has always been here – just under the surface, but here none the less.
In November, you have an opportunity to vote the cowards out of office. This problem can no longer be ignored in America, and we need to elect a Congress and a President who will crackdown on antisemitism and stand for the 1st Amendment … “with liberty and justice for all”.
Marc, as usual, you are absolutely correct. It is astounding in this day and age that Jewish Americans are so silent on this abhorrent situation -- I think you're right in that they have lived for so long in the USA with little to no persecution, and so many did so well within our framework that it may have seemed to them that antisemitism and real persecution was in their rearview mirror. If this current situation doesn't open the eyes of people of all backgrounds, what will?