In the 2022 election cycle, you would have been hard-pressed to find a member of our Jewish Orthodox community in Pittsburgh voting for John Fetterman over Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania's Senate election. While Jews as a whole remain firmly ensconced in the Democratic Party, Orthodox Jews in recent years have shifted toward the Republican Party, mostly in response how much the Democrats have been co-opted by the anti-Israel and increasingly antisemitic far-Left.
Yet just one year later, Sen. Fetterman was honored at the Orthodox community's annual menorah lighting, receiving fresh baked goods with handwritten thank you letters and long lines of men in yarmulkas lining up to greet him. Many local leaders came, but the excitement around Senator Fetterman outshined them all.
What explains this 180? Since October 7, the day Hamas terrorists launched a massacre of Israelis, Sen. Fetterman has emerged as an unexpected and glorious surprise. Fetterman came up politically in the progressive wing of the Democrat Party, where the likes of Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar have set the tone as decidedly anti-Israel. In the Democratic Senate primary, Fetterman ran to the Left of his more centrist opponent, Connor Lamb. He supports progressive platforms such as universal health care, legalizing marijuana, and abolishing the Senate filibuster. In 2018, Bernie Sanders called Fetterman an "outstanding progressive," and Fetterman would introduce himself at political events as "a Democrat and a progressive."
While on the campaign trail, Fetterman affirmed his support for Israel, but fellow progressives still assumed he would walk in lockstep with his comrades on the Left when crunch time came.
These same progressives now make up the worst elements of the anti-Israel and antisemitic movement in America. They fill the streets of our big cities by the thousands, calling, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
Yet instead of caving or pandering to his fellow travelers, Fetterman has been broadcasting his unapologetic support for Israel from the proverbial rooftops. Fetterman has been consistent in his opposition to a ceasefire in the current war Israel is waging to eradicate Hamas, which would hand Hamas a win. He filled the walls outside his Senate office with photos of the hostages taken by Hamas, draped himself in an Israeli flag, and hung one on the wall behind his desk.
While other Democrats keep trying to throw a bone to their liberal base, Fetterman has adopted a "f**k that" attitude that is as courageous as it is refreshing—much to the dismay of his biggest fans and even his staff.
Another profile in courage is Ritchie Torres from New York's 15th Congressional District. Even before Oct. 7, Torres proudly declared himself a pro-Israel progressive—an oxymoron in today's political climate. Since Oct. 7, he has ratcheted up his defense of Israel, regularly speaking out against its critics on X. He entered a public feud with the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) when they romanticized Hamas' terrorism as "resistance." He also routinely clashes with Squad members over his support for Israel.
Fetterman and Torres are bright spots in a dark time. For me and many Jews like myself, Oct. 7 represents a dividing line, and there is no going back. The antisemitism springing up in our communities is a terrifying reminder that the horror of Germany circa 1933 is not so far off, and viral videos like the one showing Fetterman being heckled by the ceasefire crowd while calmly waving a little Israel flag give Jewish people hope that "never again" is still a possibility worth clinging to.
That's what the Jewish community sees in progressives like Torres and Fetterman, who didn't follow the status quo and went above and beyond to show their unequivocal support for Israel in its war against a barbaric terrorist enemy. And they're not alone. Reps. Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and Darren Soto (FL-09) are members of the Progressive Caucus who voted with Republicans for the Israel aid package and supported the censorship of Rashida Talib for her antisemitic rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.
They have done this at no small risk to their popularity, which is everything in a business where the next election can cost you your job. Pro-Palestinian groups regularly protest outside Rep. Ritchie Torres's and John Fetterman's offices. And as the IDF continues its war against Hamas, the criticism from within their party only increases.
In Judaism, there is a concept of hakaras hatov, which literally means recognizing goodness. I disagree with progressive Democrats on a whole host of issues. Still, I recognize and celebrate the goodness in Sen. Fetterman, Rep. Torres, and others like them who are voices of moral clarity on Israel and combating antisemitism.
It is our unfortunate lot in life that Jews talk about "never forget." Never forget the terrorists and the lives they destroyed. Never forget the American leaders who turned their backs on the Jewish people in their darkest hour. There is a flip side to this mantra: Never forget the good people who suffered the slings and arrows of their friends and colleagues to stand with the Jewish people.
As one friend said about Sen. Fetterman, "I don't care what the heck he wears as long as he keeps supporting Israel."
Amen to that.
Mor Greenberg leads the communications strategy for prominent clients in the advocacy and nonprofit space. She enjoys combining her penchant for all things creative with her strategic political skills — a combination that has led to the creation of award-winning campaigns. Mor regularly secures client placements on top news networks and national publications leading them to increase their impact and growth. She can be found at https://twitter.com/Morjgreen.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
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2023-12-28 17:02:57Z
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