In the avalanche of articles, op-ed pieces and letters supporting Donald Trump that appear in your paper week in and week out, it was extremely refreshing to read Zachary Ottenstein’s letter in the September 19 issue questioning how a so-called “frum” Jew could favor a morally and ethically bankrupt and unprincipled individual such as Trump. Did I mention that he is a convicted felon and subject to a multimillion dollar judgment for sexual assault? A demagogue who has floated suspension of the Constitution? And likely divorced from reality — pet cats and dogs for dinner in Springfield, anyone?
As if that were not enough, his latest remarks — at a Jewish gathering about antisemitism, no less — cry out for condemnation. In one of his most disgusting statements to date, he announced that if he loses the election in November, “the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss” by virtue of their voting for Kamala Harris, whom he referred to as “the enemy.”
While it might be unduly alarmist, his words could be interpreted by extremists to set the stage for an American Kristallnacht. It would occur shortly after the election was called for Harris, upon an ambiguous statement from Trump about why he lost, similar to his comment to his supporters to “be wild” on Jan. 6, 2021. In my view, it’s at least remotely possible that today’s modern-day brown shirts (aka Proud Boys, Oathkeepers and other assorted militias) could start attacking identifiably Jewish places of business as retribution for Jews’ “treasonous, un-American” actions (i.e., voting Democratic).
While we hope and pray that this never occurs, we need to take to heart Mr. Ottenstein’s reminder regarding the “horrific impact that small-minded bigotry can have on our safety.” Bigotry and pure hate are what Trump inspires and stokes — against immigrants, Muslims and now, Jews. And should this worst-case scenario come to pass, members of the Republican Jewish Coalition would be as vulnerable as other Jews, just as service in the German army in World War I did not shield German Jews from the Holocaust.
