American Jews: Trump is yours

1.

Next time an American friend – I have many – tells me that the Israeli political system is impossible to understand and detrimental to my country's future – and they often tell me that – I will respond by giving him the spreadsheet of the delegation count for Super Tuesday.

2.

Next time an American friend… maybe I should make it more specific: next time an American Jewish liberal friend tells me that Israel keeps electing leaders whose character and views are impossible to fathom and detrimental to my country's future – I will also respond by giving him the spreadsheet of delegation count for Super Tuesday.

3.

Many years ago, in Slate Magazine, I had an interesting and somewhat testy exchange with Jeffrey Goldberg that I later used in my book as well (Hebrew).

In one part of the exchange, I was struck to witness Goldberg do something that I interpreted as him disowning a part of America that did not sit comfortably with his way of conceptualization of the American Jewish community.

He wrote this:

I've always thought the reason so many Israelis lack humor is because Israel has an air force. Who needs jokes when you have F-16s?

To which I responded by saying this:

You say that Israelis don't have a sense of humor, because who needs one when he has F-16s. But don't American Jews have F-16s? America definitely has them—and if American Jews are part of America, it is fair to say that they have them, too; more of them, in fact, than Israeli Jews.

Why do I bother you with this ancient exchange of little significance? Because of Donald Trump. Because soon enough it will once again be the time for me to remind my American Jewish friends that Trump is theirs as much as Israel's problematic politicians are mine.

4.

In other words: US Jews can't be perplexed by former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman's blunt manner, or angered by the tendency of Haredi MK's to use insult as a political weapon, or infuriated by an Israeli leader's language as he speaks about foreign workers – without acknowledging the irony of America having the exact same problems with a likely Presidential candidate of a major party, possibly the President.

Lieberman is blunt? But what about Trump?

Haredis use insults? But what about Trump?

Israel's leaders use improper language? Look in the mirror!

5.

I know: few Jews in America are going to vote for Donald Trump. I know: few Jews in America fly F-16s.

They are still yours. He is still yours.