Dilemmas

We are faced with a situation in which difficult choices have to be made.

The story of creation which we read in Synagogues last week tells us in the first few sentences that the world was void and that darkness prevailed.

Surveying the state of the world today one can almost come to the conclusion that we have again returned to that period of darkness when chaos ruled and order had not yet been established.

The approaching date of 5 November will mean different things to different people in various continents and countries.

For those living in the UK, its occupied territories and remnants of a past English empire this date represents the anniversary of the gunpowder plot when terrorists tried to blow up Parliament and take power. For the vast majority of revelers who still light fireworks and burn effigies of Guy Fawkes the historical lessons are most likely lost in the mists of time. Forgotten is the fact that the aim of the plot was to assassinate the Protestant monarch and install a Roman Catholic successor.

As usual the Jews were caught in the middle of this mayhem and not for the last time had the challenge of deciding which side might be best to support. Given the lamentable track record of the Roman Catholic Church this was not such a hard choice.

Scroll forward to the current situation and we find that once again British Jews face dilemmas of determining how to navigate between a rising Islamic jihadist movement and politicians who speak with forked tongues. On the one hand political parties profess to combat Jew hate while at the same time condemning and sanctioning the Jewish State for tackling terror. This, in turn, generates anti-Jewish incitement and violence.

This year, 5 November will be a defining date for American Jews as they cast their ballots in an election which promises to be full of fireworks and explosive repercussions no matter which side wins.

One thing can be confidently predicted.

The legal profession will be having a field day challenging the results while trying to prove fraud, illegal voters and tampered ballots. When one looks closely at the US electoral system one has to wonder exactly how fair and democratic it actually purports to be. Instead of the winner being chosen by the popular vote there is an electoral college representing the states of the union which allocates votes according to the size of each state. Thus, on many occasions the winning Presidential candidate received a minority of votes.

Even worse is the ludicrous situation whereby in many places no identification is required in order to cast a ballot. This in turn enables non citizens and illegal individuals to vote. No wonder every four years there is an uproar with this year promising to be a vintage and vitriolic outcome.

An American friend of ours who originally hails from Chicago remembers the time when the Democratic mayor of that city urged people to vote early and often.

The very concept of fair and free elections should be the ability of citizens to choose from as wide a selection of candidates as possible. In the vast majority of democracies this is indeed the case. However in the “land of the free” voters only have two realistic choices when it comes to choosing a President and Vice President. Someone who is neither a Democrat nor Republican has zero chance of ever being elected.

How representative of a diverse society can that be? It in effect disenfranchises large sectors of the population. Furthermore, when the two alternatives on offer are uninspiring or plainly unsuited, where can voters turn to look for someone more qualified? In the USA they can either refuse to vote or waste their ballot on a protest candidate who everyone knows has no chance of making it to the White House.

Perhaps this is the reason for historically low voter turn outs when compared to other democracies.

All these factors will be crucial as 5 November looms.

American Jews face a dilemma as they prepare for Election Day. Historically they have voted almost en masse for the Democratic Party especially since the days of FDR. It is somewhat ironic that they became “genetic democrats” given that the Party was closely tied to slavery and racial discrimination in the south and that FDR refused sanctuary to Jews fleeing Nazi genocide in Europe. Whatever the reasons for this generational loyalty, the current trends in both political parties should give American Jews some serious things to think about this time around.

Here is the conundrum.

For those eternally wedded to the Democratic Party, do they ignore the steady erosion of support for Israel and an increasing progressive anti Israel animosity?

Will “Trump derangement syndrome” override doubts about the drift of the Democrats to the leftist fringes of unhinged hate against Israel?

Rising assimilation and detachment from anything to do with Israel is growing among millennials. On the other hand, can those for whom Judaism and Zionism are synonymous, still stick with a candidate who prevaricates about support for the Jewish State?

Jews are no longer safe on the streets of many American cities where crime and rising hate endanger them and their communal buildings.

Much is made of the second gentleman being Jewish but his attachment to anything Jewish is merely an electoral mirage. Apart from Kamala making a “mean” brisket and his latest promise to put up a mezuzah at the White House any manifestation of Jewish solidarity is fleeting.

Trump at least has a Jewish daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren whose commitment to Judaism is absolute and not fake. His previous term as President produced the Abraham Accords, recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital, transfer of the US Embassy to the city and recognition of the Golan as part of Israel. In addition, Iran and other terror groups were left in no doubt as to the consequences of their continuing campaigns of murder and mayhem.

One of the dilemmas facing Jewish voters is the doubtful and shady characters which associate themselves with both candidates. Knee jerk haters of Israel and Zionists on the left and conspiracy theorists, isolationists and Jew haters on the right make a lethal combination.

How will American Jews navigate between these extremes?

Will they close their eyes, shut their ears and hold their noses as they vote for Harris despite her word salads and less than clear commitment to Israel’s security? Will her willingness to accept lies and slanders against Israel as valid positions rather than unacceptable libels make any difference?

Will Trump’s unpredictability and association with dubious holocaust deniers turn off potential Jewish voters who no longer see the Democratic Party as their natural home?

An overwhelming percentage of Jewish Israelis polled prefer Trump (66%) to Harris (17%). Will this pattern repeat itself in the USA? It seems highly unlikely.

These questions highlight the USA’s totally bizarre electoral system whereby there is only a choice between two possibly unacceptable candidates.

Last but not least, 5 November this year is a holy day in Australian life. It is the day when one of the world’s famous horse races takes place. Melbourne Cup day is an occasion when for a short while, time stands still as the horses race towards the finishing line and money is won or lost.

I cannot help but compare this event with what will happen in the USA on this day.

Australians will have a wide choice as up to 24 horses will compete. Contrast that with the miserable choice of only two competitors offered up to Americans.

Horses with unacceptable handicaps are scratched (cancelled) before they even reach the starting gate. Contrast that with the US where anyone no matter how unqualified and unsuited they may be still qualifies to compete.

In the Melbourne Cup there is a clear winner and it is not always the most favourite. There is no dispute about who crossed the finishing line first. Contrast that with the legal mayhem surrounding the US race and the declared winner.

The horse race is conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Contrast that with the murky shenanigans associated with every American electoral contest.

This 5 November promises to be a vintage occasion in every respect.

Place your bets and sit back to watch the inevitable resulting fireworks.

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.