It’s no secret that antisemitism is on the rise across America and the globe.
And if you’ve been hanging around your liberal friends lately, you would probably think it’s all President Donald Trump’s fault (what isn’t these days, anyway?).
Unsurprisingly, President Trump’s unprecedented condemnation of antisemitism in response to the grotesque attack in Pittsburgh was praised by Israeli officials and Jewish national organizations alike.
His contrast stood in stark contrast to the general posture of the Democratic Party, which continues to mainstream antisemitism into its politics. From Keith Ellison to Maxine Waters, Democratic leaders have turned to radicals like Saul Alinsky and Jeremiah Wright for direction and inspiration without regret or apology.
On Election Day eve, I woke up to the chilling news that Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, a notorious antisemite who was once welcomed to Washington by then-Sen. Barack Obama, led a “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” chant while on a solidarity trip to Iran. According to Fox News, “Farrakhan’s trip came ahead of the Trump administration’s re-implementation of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic on Monday”.
While Farrakhan’s bigotry is well known, it is truly alarming that the mainstream media has little interest in reporting on this egregious offense. As pointed out in a tweet by a true patriot and friend of the Jewish people, Donald Trump Jr., “When will the [D]emocrats disavow this guy?” He followed his question by stating the obvious: “NEVER”.
It is true, with “the (not so) quiet radicalization of the Democratic Party,” the Democratic National Committee and its affiliates have charted a course wherein antisemitism is not only acceptable but, at times, encouraged. Take the Women’s March, for example, which is billed as the backbone of the new Democratic Party – one that is more “inclusive” and “progressive.” That is, of course, unless you’re Jewish.
Linda Sarsour, one of the group’s leaders, has been able to use the Women’s March as a platform to mainstream “jihad” and the dehumanization of Israelis into progressive politics. And Sarsour isn’t the only culprit. Women’s March co-conspirator Tamika Mallory has also expressed her undying fandom of Farrakhan in the past, and has reportedly refused to condemn his bigoted comments as well.
Sadly, this is only a small sample of countless reports that indicate a rising antisemitism within the so-called progressive community. As pointed out on CNN this past Tuesday by former White House official Marc Short, the press continues to ignore antisemitic comments by Minnesota Democrat and congressional candidate, Ilhan Omar.
“In Minnesota’s 5th district, there’s a congressional Democrat who’s running an anti-Semitic campaign,” said Short. “She has all sorts of anti-Semitic language in her past and she’s going to be the nominee [sic]. How much has CNN covered that? Do you even know her name? Do you even know who she is?”
Progressive big business has largely overlooked the Democrats’ antisemitism. Ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s recently introduced a new anti-Trump ice cream flavor, partnering up with none other than Linda Sarsour and the Women’s March. Pro-Israel advocates and Jews across the globe rightfully expressed dismay and frustration at this outrageous act. The new flavor even forced a the Israeli affiliate of Ben & Jerry’s to issue a public statement distancing itself from the policy of its parent company, according to The Tower.
So, where does this leave us?
Simply put, we have a Democratic Party that has grown comfortable mainstreaming antisemitism and palling around with Jew-haters. Are voters willing to remain silent or complicit while the Jewish people remain under fire? What will we tell our children when they ask us what we did to stop a party that mainstreamed the concept of Jewish persecution?
The answer is crystal clear: vote red to save America. And vote red to save the Jewish community in America.
Rabbi Yechezkel Moskowitz is director of the Moskowitz Policy Forum and special assistant to Cherna Moskowitz.