Former President Donald Trump is taking. a lot of heat in the Jewish and Israeli press for posting an attack on liberal Jews by JEXIT, a conservative Jewish group urging Jews to abandon the Democratic Party. The attack includes a list of Trump's accomplishments for Israel and the Jewish people, headed by the comment: "Wake Up Sheep. What Nazi / Anti Semite ever did this for the Jewish people or Israel?" The comment appears to be a response to the numerous attacks by liberal Jews against Trump -- and against Jews who voted for him -- that have accused him of being an antisemite, even a Nazi.
Included in Trump's post is the commentary: "Just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America & Israel because you believed false narratives! Let's hope you learned from your mistake & make better choices moving forward! Happy New Year!" The context, of course, is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, on which Jews are meant to reflect on mistakes made in the past and repent for them, committing to improving in the year ahead.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111083021216078581
I don't think it's productive for a presidential candidate to talk this way, but it's not antisemitic. Trump is merely saying openly what some conservative Jews are saying, and have said, to liberal Jews.
Moreover, this is not a fight that Trump-supporting Jews started. For years, Jews who supported Trump -- or even who were deemed to have failed to oppose him loudly enough -- were accused of being accessories to antisemitism. I heard this from people who were formerly close to me; I heard it from anti-Trump Jews on Twitter, e.g.:
https://twitter.com/search?q=joelpollak%20from%3Ajpodhoretz&src=typed_query&f=top
And it didn't start with Trump. In 2008, comedian Sarah Silverman told liberal Jews to make "the Great Schlep" to Florida to canvas among elderly Jewish voters, whom she accused of being too racist to vote for Obama, whether they were Democrats or not.
https://theweek.com/articles/511720/sarah-silvermans-great-schlep
In addition: this is what Trump does: calling out uncomfortable truths. Maybe it's not the best role for a presidential candidate, but it also lets the bullies in the Jewish community know that he has their number.
Finally, it has to be said: Trump is right. No president has done more for the Jewish community, and received less acknowledgment, except from conservative groups like ZOA.
Jewish groups that have attacked Trump have treated it like a free punch, assuming there will be no long-term cost. But as Danny Danon, an Israeli conservative politician with a long history of diplomatic work in the U.S., put it last week in an interview with a Hebrew-language newspaper, leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu need to be more careful about giving Trump credit. For example, if there is to be a Saudi-Israeli peace deal, it must have support from Trump, who could be the next president -- which means that Trump must be given public credit for kicking off the process with the Abraham Accords. Continuing to treat Trump like a pariah, often on spurious grounds, could eventually have serious geopolitical implications.
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
