Do Not Stand Idle in the Face of Trump: Vote.
A September survey by the American Jewish Committee suggested that American Jews overwhelmingly prefer Hillary Clinton (61%) to Donald Trump (19%) in the race for the U.S. presidency. While a wide margin was likely expected, some may find surprise in the fact that Trump has the support of any Jews at all, as his campaign has struck anti-Semitic nerves, time and again, apparently hoping to energize a certain “base” of voters. But even beyond anti-Semitism in and of itself, Trump’s xenophobia is likely to strike a chord deep in the vigilant heart of any American Jew who has sat down at a Seder for the Passover holiday—or waits in line to cast a vote today.
Passover celebrations are built around a special Seder dinner ceremony, which features the recitation of the story of the Exodus out of Israelite bondage in Egypt, among other rituals. And this holiday—perhaps the most culturally significant to American Jews—goes a step further. The Seder insists that we were the recipients of God’s grace at Mount Sinai. Exodus was about our escape from slavery. Every spring, we remind each another, “We were slaves.”
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