A couple of weeks ago, my friend Joseph Kaplan of Teaneck wrote a column about the upcoming election, in which he stated the following: “I can only express bewilderment that people who study in the same classes, attend the same lectures, read the same essays, and hear the same sermons about middot and Jewish values that I do, can cheer for someone whose every malicious and misogynistic action … violates the essence of everything I’ve been taught to hold dear.”

I challenged Joseph on this statement, and said that like him I have many smart and thoughtful friends who are also voting for Trump, but that I am not bewildered like he is, as I believe there are several rational reasons why Orthodox Jewish voters would be supporting Trump. I said that a better word to describe his feelings might be “saddened’ or “disappointed” rather than “bewildered.”

We agreed to disagree on this point. But it made me think that perhaps there might be some value in getting Harris supporters to better understand why many of their friends are supporting Trump in this election, and getting Trump supporters to better understand why many of their friends are supporting Harris in this election. Any why each side seemingly cannot fathom why their friends could possibly vote for the opposing candidate.

So, as we approach Election Day, I’ve composed two letters: 1) a letter from a Trump voter written to a Harris voter, explaining why they are voting from Trump; and 2) a letter from a Harris voter written to a Trump voter, explaining why they are voting for Harris.

I don’t expect to bridge the great divide that separates many of us this election season. However, if it makes each side slightly less bewildered, I will have accomplished my goal.

Dear Friend Who Is Voting for Trump,

I wanted to reach out to you personally, as I know we’re on different sides in this upcoming election. I’m supporting Kamala Harris, and I’d love to share some of the reasons why. I hope it’s all right if I explain a bit about what drives my support—maybe it will help you understand why I feel so strongly about her leadership.

First, I believe Kamala Harris represents a vision of inclusion and diversity that reflects the best of America. Her career is an example of breaking barriers, and I think it’s very important to have leaders who understand the challenges faced by different groups. As the daughter of immigrants, she brings a unique perspective to issues of immigration and opportunity. I trust her to address these issues with empathy and fairness, which is crucial in our diverse society.

Kamala also has a track record of standing up for justice and fairness. As a former attorney general and U.S. senator, she has consistently pushed for policies that hold powerful interests accountable. Her work on criminal justice reform, while not without controversy, demonstrates her commitment to improving the system from within. Her stance on addressing systemic inequalities really resonates with me.

Another key reason I’m voting for her is her dedication to climate control, which I believe is one of the most urgent issues of our time. Her support for investing in renewable energy and her commitment to reducing carbon emissions shows a forward-thinking approach to creating a sustainable future. This is something I feel will impact future generations, and I believe her administration would prioritize this issue.

On the economy, I feel confident that Kamala Harris will advocate for policies that benefit all Americans, not just the wealthiest. Her plans to expand healthcare access, reduce student loan debt, and support working families are laudatory. She seems focused on closing income gaps, helping small businesses, taxing billionaires more heavily, and strengthening the social safety net, which I believe is essential for a fair economy.

I appreciate her focus on restoring alliances and rebuilding the country’s global standing. I think Kamala values collaboration and respect on the world stage, and I believe she would handle international relationships thoughtfully, balancing America’s strength with diplomacy.

Finally, the most important issue to many Jewish voters is what each candidate’s position is on Israel and antisemitism.

Kamala Harris has been a strong advocate for the U.S.-Israel relationship and has shown support for Israel’s security, the two-state solution, and efforts to combat antisemitism. Here’s a closer look at her record and stances on Israel and the broader Middle East conflict:

Harris has consistently supported U.S. military aid to Israel. She voted in favor of renewing the annual $3.8 billion in military assistance to Israel as part of the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. Harris has also supported funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system, a critical part of Israel’s security against rocket attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah.

Harris has a long record of speaking out against antisemitism and has supported legislation aimed at addressing antisemitic hate crimes both in the U.S. and abroad. She also opposes the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, viewing it as counterproductive to peace efforts and potentially harmful to Israel’s security. She has described the BDS movement as undermining U.S.-Israel relations and has consistently voted against legislation supporting BDS.

As to her opponent, Donald Trump says that if he is elected again, he plans to prosecute his enemies, order mass deportations, utilize American soldiers against citizens, and abandon global allies. He is a convicted felon who will be a threat to American democratic principles if elected. I think he is a despicable character. While many voters will focus on policy, not character, when they are in the voting booth, I think character is more important, as one can always change their position on policies, but character virtually never can change.

I know we may not agree on most of these points, but I hope this gives you a sense of why I’m supporting Kamala. Regardless of the outcome, I hope we can come together after the election and work toward a better future.

Thanks for reading this.

Sincerely,

A Harris Supporter

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Dear Friend Who Is Voting for Harris,

While I know we see things differently in this election, I’d love to explain why I’m supporting Donald Trump. I think it might help you understand my perspective, even if we may not agree on everything.

One of the main reasons I’m supporting Trump is his focus on economic growth and job creation. Under his policies, we saw substantial growth in jobs, low unemployment, and a strong stock market that benefited not just investors but also retirement accounts and pensions for many Americans. His approach to cutting taxes and reducing regulations spurred business growth and kept more money in people’s pockets, especially for small business owners and working families.

Another big factor for me is Trump’s stance on border security and immigration. I believe that maintaining secure borders is critical to our national security, and his policies prioritize both security and lawfulness in the immigration process. His administration’s emphasis on strengthening border security gives me confidence that he will be committed to ensuring safety and protecting American jobs.

I also appreciate his foreign policy, which has been focused on putting American interests first. From negotiating better trade deals to reducing involvement in foreign conflicts, Trump has shown a commitment to protecting America’s role globally, while avoiding unnecessary entanglements. Trump isn’t afraid to stand up to countries that don’t play fair, which I see as critical for our long-term security and prosperity.

When it comes to judicial appointments, Trump has made significant strides in appointing judges who interpret the Constitution as it was originally intended. This has led to a more conservative
judiciary, which I think is important because it has strengthened the idea of a more limited government. I believe that these appointments will preserve constitutional values and safeguard the rights and freedoms that are so important to many Americans.

On healthcare, Trump has helped to make prescription drugs more affordable, increased price transparency, and given people more control over their healthcare decisions. He believes in creating a system that promotes choice and competition instead of government mandates.

I respect Trump’s stance on protecting free speech and opposing cancel culture. He openly discusses issues that many feel uncomfortable addressing, and I believe his approach gives people the freedom to express themselves without fear.

As to Trump’s position on Israel and antisemitism, I believe he has been the best president the American Jewish community has ever had. One of Trump’s most notable moves was recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating the U.S. Embassy there in 2018. This was a major policy shift, as previous administrations had avoided such a move, hoping to leave Jerusalem’s status to be resolved in a peace deal.

In 2019, Trump formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau captured from Syria in 1967 and formally annexed by Israel in 1981. This was seen as another major shift, affirming U.S. support for Israel’s security interests in the region.

Trump has also described the U.S.-Israel alliance as “unbreakable,” and increased collaboration on military, intelligence, and technology initiatives. He has been vocal about supporting Israel in international forums and working to limit resolutions critical of Israel at the United Nations.

Trump’s administration brokered the Abraham Accords, leading to normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These accords were considered historic steps toward regional peace and marked the first formal agreements between Israel and Arab states in decades. The accords aimed at improving economic and political cooperation in the region, bolstering regional security, and countering Iranian influence.

In terms of Iran, Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, arguing that it was ineffective in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and did not address Iran’s support for regional militias and ballistic missile programs. Following the withdrawal, he imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign, reintroducing and expanding sanctions on Iran to limit its influence in the region. Also, under his administration, Trump conducted operations to counter Iran’s influence directly, including the targeted killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Soleimani was a key figure in coordinating Iran’s regional militia networks, and his death was seen both as a major escalation and as a warning to Iran and its proxies.

Trump’s administration took strong stances against perceived anti-Israel bias in international forums, particularly at the United Nations. His administration withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council, citing the council’s focus on Israel. He also opposed resolutions that he and his administration deemed unfairly critical of Israel.

Personally, I think Trump is a sleazy character—and if given the opportunity, I would have much preferred to be voting for Nikki Haley rather than Trump. But I’ve
always placed policy over character—and I believe Trump’s record on Israel along with his position on other issues align more closely with my views than Harris’ record.

As to Harris, I have serious concerns about her position on Israel, as I think that if elected, she will likely abandon the traditional position of unequivocal Democratic support for Israel and instead try to please the more left-wing, anti-Israel elements of the Democratic party.

I’m also concerned about her positions on issues like healthcare, immigration, criminal justice, and the economy, as I fear that she may lean too far left on social issues or make policy shifts that could impact small businesses and middle-income families.

She also has limited experience in foreign policy compared to other prominent politicians, which raises concerns about her preparedness to manage complex international issues and crises.

Harris was also appointed to lead the administration’s response to immigration issues at the U.S. southern border, and her approach has been a complete and utter failure to address concerns about illegal immigration and border security.

I understand we might not agree on most of these points, but I hope this gives you a sense of why I feel strongly about supporting Trump. Regardless of who wins, I’m hopeful we can all find ways to work together and find common ground for a stronger country.

Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,

A Trump Supporter

Michael Feldstein, who lives in Stamford, Connecticut, is the author of “Meet Me in the Middle” (meet-me-in-the-middle-book.com), a collection of essays on contemporary Jewish life. He can be reached at [email protected].