We, the Orthodox Jewish community in the United States, should feel deeply ashamed. In a recent interview with Mike Huckabee, President Trump said the following about moving the U.S. embassy Israel to Jerusalem:
“I get more calls of thank-you from evangelicals, and I see it in the audiences and everything else, than I do from Jewish people. And the Jewish people appreciate it, but the evangelicals appreciate it more than the Jews, which is incredible.”
Huckabee responded by saying, “It’s not a surprise, though, Mr. President, because evangelicals are people of the book. And they believe that you kept a promise that was fulfilling really a 3,000-year-old commitment to recognize Jerusalem as the capital.”
In response to that, Trump said, “I think it’s a nice thing to say because it really affects Jewish people in theory more, but, as you say, ‘people of the book’…‘people of the Bible.’ But the evangelicals really appreciate it and that makes me feel good.”
Jews are taught to show hakoras hatov (gratitude), to properly credit a person for the good deeds he or she has done. Now, President Trump may not be a modern-day Cyrus approving the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash (bimheirah ve’yamaynu!), but he has certainly done more than many former presidents in both advocating for and supporting Israel on many different levels.
It is actually amazing to see the president of the most powerful force for good on the planet take an active role and interest in securing Israel and proclaiming Yerushalayim the eternal capital of Israel. But what does President Trump notice for all his hard work? That most Jews don’t even thank him!
Now, the majority of American Jews are overwhelmingly liberal and no doubt bear a visceral dislike for anything President Trump does, whether it benefits Jews, Israel, or even themselves. But, why must President Trump remind the Trump-supporting segment of American Jewry, which skews overwhelmingly Orthodox, to say thank you?
In addition to being common courtesy, the president needs to know that the Orthodox Jewish community stands behind his support of Israel, contrary to the Jewish BDSers and their cohorts who dominate the media and academia and even a number of Jewish communal organizations. We frum American Jews have been publicly shamed by the president of the United States. We have caused a tremendous chillul Hashem.
Luckily, though, we can easily do something to ameliorate matters. We can all go on whitehouse.gov, and send a simple e-mail to the president thanking him for his support of Israel and moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem (you may also want to thank him for appointing Nikki Haley to the UN while you’re at it!). Maybe even point out that you support his decision as a believing frum Jew. For those without access to e-mail, call the White House. The phone number 202-456-1111. You can also write a letter and send it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500
Should the president of the United States have to hear from Mike Huckabee that evangelical Christians are the people of the book? That evangelical Christians firmly believe in Hashem’s promise to the Jewish people regarding Eretz Yisrael and Jerusalem but, by implication, American Jews do not?
Christianity for millennia advanced “replacement theology” – that Hashem’s covenant with the Jewish people had been replaced (chas v’shalom) with a new covenant with the Christians. Hence the Christian book referred to as the “New Testament.” Let us not let them replace us as the foremost supporters and boosters of Israel!
The support of the evangelical Christian community for Jews and Israel is truly astounding and should be welcomed and encouraged with open arms, but let us not let the world forget that we are the original people of the book!
Please take a moment to let our president know of your approval of his pro-Israel policies, and show hakoras ha tov where it is truly warranted!
