https://portside.org/2024-11-07/most-major-jewish-organizations-rush-toast-trump-some-say-they-are-terrified

Mainstream Jewish organizations were quick to issue statements Wednesday morning congratulating Donald Trump on his election victory.

Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said he looked forward to working with Trump and the new Republican administration, noting that the Jewish advocacy organization he heads "worked effectively with the previous Trump administration, particularly on efforts to advance Israel's regional integration – including the Abraham Accords."

In a statement, Deutch said: "AJC strongly supported America's long-overdue recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and welcomed President Trump's December 2019 Executive Order to strengthen efforts to combat antisemitism on college and university campuses. We look forward to reengaging the incoming administration on these critical areas of work."

 

"The conflicts we are currently seeing around the world reflect a dangerous collusion among anti-democratic regimes and non-state actors. The U.S. must exert clear global leadership and be a stabilizing power as the world contends with these many threats," his statement said.

In a similar vein, the Jewish Federations of North America said in a statement that "at this challenging moment in our history" and "after a divisive election," it looked forward "to working with the new administration "to promote our values, fight antisemitism, secure our community, and maintain steadfast support for Israel."

In its statement responding to the election outcome, the Conference of Presidents of Major Organizations had words of praise for the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, as well.

"We trust that the new administration will work diligently to combat antisemitism and advance the bilateral U.S.-Israel relationship by building on accomplishments from President Trump's first term, including the historic Abraham Accords," the statement said.

"We also congratulate Vice President Kamala Harris on a hard fought and spirited campaign, and we wish her the very best."

The statement added: "The incoming administration will have no time to lose in addressing the many challenges the country faces at home and abroad. Whether it is confronting the threat of a bellicose Iran and its nuclear aspirations, Israel's just war against Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror proxies, or the domestic battle against antisemitism and other forms of hate, President-elect Trump will have to grapple with a host of issues of great import to our community. We stand ready to provide our help, counsel, and prayers, in the hope that the new administration's success will be the entire country's."

Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, called Trump a "proven ally" in a statement congratulating the Republican candidate on his second presidential win.

 

The WJC, Lauder said, looked forward "to collaborating with the incoming administration to support and protect Jewish communities in the United States and around the world."

At a time of rising antisemitism, the billionaire philanthropist wrote, "it's essential for the Jewish people to have a proven ally in the White House. Together, we can work toward a safer and more inclusive future for all."

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement congratulating Trump and the other winners that he looked forward to working with them "in pursuit of our 111-year-old mission – to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all."

 

"We remain steadfastly committed to that timeless mission as we fight the torrent of antisemitism sweeping our society along with all forms of hate and extremism -- offline and online, on campuses and in schools, in the United States and around the world," Greenblatt, who has often criticized Trump in the past, said in a statement.

Of the major Jewish denominations in the United States, only the Orthodox movement issued a statement congratulating Trump on his victory. Orthodox Jews, for the most part, have thrown their weight behind the Republican candidate – much more so than Jews affiliated with other denominations and unaffiliated Jews.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union) – the nation's largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – said in a statement that it looked forward to working with Trump and his incoming administration "on matters of critical importance to our community, including effectively combatting the surge of antisemitism in America, further strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, and defeating Hamas and Hezbollah, thwarting Iran's malign activities, expanding educational opportunity and choice for all American children, and defending America's 'first freedom' of religious liberty."

"We are proud that the Orthodox Union led new 'Get Out The Vote' efforts in many of our communities and key districts across the U.S., which led to record levels of voter participation by American Orthodox Jews," the statement said. "The Orthodox Union – through our OU Advocacy Center – will continue the critical work of mobilizing our community to ensure our values and interests are served by our elected officials."

By contrast, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism – the largest Jewish denomination in the United States – urged Jewish Americans to sign a public letter calling on Trump to mend his ways, treat others with respect, and be a president for all Americans.

"This morning, the nation woke up to news that will shape us for the next four years and beyond. Like everyone else, I am experiencing a range of strong emotions," Jacobs wrote in a statement. "I also awoke believing in the same core Jewish commitments that have called generations of our people to use our God-given gifts to shape a world of holiness, dignity, justice and love, even as we face this challenging new day. These are the deeply held Jewish values that undergird our movement's commitment to civil rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ equality, caring for the health of our environment, every individual's right to reproductive and other forms of health care, and more."

 

Promising "to speak truth to power," Jacobs added: "The strength of our movement has always been in the community that we are, standing alongside each other in moments of joy and moments of challenge. We will care for 'the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.' We will remain firm in our values and bring them to bear in the public square."

Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, expressed even deeper concerns about Trump's victory. "This outcome is nothing short of terrifying for so many communities who have been consistently threatened and demonized by his campaign," she wrote in a statement.

 

"President Trump's embrace of anti-democratic, antisemitic, xenophobic and racist conspiracy theories and tropes seeks to pit communities against one another and sow distrust in our democratic institutions, while making all of us less safe. These increasingly normalized, hate-fueled conspiracy theories go hand-in-hand with the dehumanizing and dangerous agenda outlined by the Trump campaign and Project 2025.

Noting that "the Jewish community knows precisely where such hate, extremism, and dehumanization leads, Spitalnick promised that "we will be on the front lines of the fights ahead because our values and our safety depend on it."

Echoing this sentiment, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of T'ruah, a rabbinic organization committed to human rights and opposed to the Israeli occupation, wrote on X: "Yesterday, the politics of fear, misogyny, racism and xenophobia scored a victory. This is terrifying news for the U.S. and the world. President-elect Trump has announced his intention to be an autocrat. History has taught us to believe leaders who make such declarations."