2016 Election Blog #22: Trump’s Acceptance Speech: Implications for America and its Jewish Community
The Trump address at the Republican National Convention was one of the most unique performances by an American public figure. It would represent a distinctive combination of a populist spokesperson filtered with a mix of traditional Republicanism. His remarks would reflect the same type of social appeal that would mark Andrew Jackson’s campaign 1828, while it included elements of Wendell Willkie’s 1940 Republican campaign.
The mixture of “America First” ideals as seen in Willkie’s candidacy and Richard Nixon’s focus on “law and order” would frame this 75-minute address. His closing of borders and his rejection of immigrants coming to this nation from specific regions and countries would resonate both to this historic posture of early 20th Century Republicanism and more directly to elements of his political base.
On occasion the Republican nominee would introduce several traditional conservative principles, especially in connection with the Supreme Court nomination process, his views on the Second Amendment, and his position on church-state. But outside of these specific references, the Trump effort would be singularly populist in style and content, aiming to tear apart support for trade agreements, a core feature of past Republican Administrations and to move away from other principles of Republicanism.
Critics point to the dichotomy created by Mr. Trump when noting the rise in urban crime and his commitment to make government work for inner city youths, while in the same context describing himself as the “law and order candidate” embracing the power and role of the police.
His assault on American engagement in world conflicts would likewise reverse a core doctrine of Republican interventionism and in particular the Neo-Conservative commitment by replacing failed regimes with democratic institutions of government. His rejection of US interventionism at least on the scale promoted by Reagan and Bush Administrations would mark a major break with his host party.
Indeed, as with all major political addresses, it would introduce the necessary pro-Israel declaration. Yet unlike any other political platform in American history, the Israel statement of the 2016 Republican Party specifically rejected language affirming the party’s commitment to a two-state solution. The statement can be seen as one that could embolden those in the Jewish State who seek to annex the West Bank as part of a greater-Israel platform.
How will America’s Jews respond in the aftermath of the Republican Convention to Donald Trump’s candidacy? The Trump campaign, and more directly his July 21st speech, will arouse some interesting concerns, as well as conversations on his view of America and its future:
Church-State: Donald Trump referenced his desire to reverse Lyndon Johnson’s 1954 legislation to insert into IRS Regulations, a stipulation that if religious organizations, churches and synagogues endorsed political candidates they could lose their 501 ©3 tax exempt status. Trump’s decision to roll back this stipulation is seen as altering the public role of churches and synagogues in the public square. While such an initiative is clearly favored by evangelical groups, most mainstream groups have historically held to this division of church and state.
School Choice: In a brief one-line statement, the Republican nominee endorsed school choice, failing to clarify what specific changes he would propose in changing the options available to parents. Was he suggesting that the government support parochial and private schools?
Second Amendment: Mr. Trump endorsed the support offered to him by the NRA as he embraced the principle that Americans have the right to bear arms as provided for in the Second Amendment; yet, he did not address the rise in gun violence within the society and what steps if any he would propose to deal with the availability of guns in the public square.
Supreme Court: He embraced the appointment of a future justice to the Court who held the same judicial temperament as Justice Scalia.
Environmental Priorities: Trump’s call to revive the Keystone XL oil pipeline project places him in direct opposition to environmentalist groups and to many within the Jewish community who have expressed concerns about such projects.
US Global Role: While some American Jews may welcome Mr. Trump’s desire to withdraw and contain this country’s involvement in world affairs, his retreat from international trade agreements and other commitments that have historically bound this nation to its partners would seem to run counter to the globalist view that has been adopted by most Americans, including many within the Jewish community.
Anti-Semitism: One of the outcomes of concern to the community were a number of reports, as shared by various reporters, confirming a significant amount of social media anti-Semitism, especially following Governor Linda Lingle’s speech on Monday evening and additional anti-Jewish messaging that would unfold over the last several days of the RNC meetings.
Wherever one may be on the political spectrum, the Trump address of July 21st will evoke significant debate. Does his view of America depict the positions and concerns of Jewish Americans or does it represent a message that will be seen as highly problematic to Jewish political priorities?
Dr. Steven Windmueller is the Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Service at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of HUC-JIR, Los Angeles. His writings can be found on the
JJ Inside The Print
One of the cool and fashionable expressions in modern Jewish life is to say you’re “post-denominational” — that is, you’re a Jew who doesn’t fit...
An old friend recently sent me a music video of the song “Thunder” by the pop-rock group Imagine Dragons, with the note: “This is you,...
As a workaholic, the last thing I think about before I go to sleep and the first thing I think about when I wake up...
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart...
Last week, the media fell hard for the story of Jussie Smollett. Smollett, a gay, black actor on the TV show “Empire,” falsely claimed that...
This article contains spoilers from the Netflix series “Russian Doll.” The new Netflix series “Russian Doll” is so splendidly Jewish. The eight 30-minute episodes in...
Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff, author of “Modern Conservative Judaism: Evolving Thought and Practice,” is a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate...
“You know what I just realized? ‘Oy’ is the funniest word in the entire world.” Thus spake Lorelai Gilmore, the older of the two eponymous...
The Fyre Festival and the “Palestinian cause” have a lot in common. In 2017, the Fyre Festival was promoted to the American public on social...
“Marcus, you are an idiot. I told you three times to stop doing that.” My teacher had repeatedly told me not to pronounce the four-letter...
When she was 14, Danielle Bukra made a list of things she wanted to accomplish by the age of 30, including living on a desert...
The State of Israel has done a few successful things since its establishment, but in one mission it certainly has failed. If the leaders of...
Orthodox, Conservative and Reform embrace the fundamental principle that Judaism is a work in progress. All three movements originated in Germany in the early 19th...
One verse, five voices. Edited by Salvador Litvak, Accidental Talmudist. “And you, speak to the children of Israel and say: ‘Only keep My Sabbaths! For it...
The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Frank Sinatra, the Rockettes, Broadway, Times Square, hot dogs, the Yankees, bagels and a New York slice...
On March 8, dozens of high schools across Los Angeles, including several Jewish ones, will send out notices of admission. It’s a stressful time for...
Seated between Rabbi Sharon Brous and author Jonathan Neumann, Rabbi David Wolpe said, “My chair is exactly equidistant between our two participants.” Wolpe was referring...
For nearly two decades, a San Diego-based family has been trying to retrieve a valuable painting relinquished under duress to the Nazis during the Holocaust. ...
After conducting more than 50,000 interviews with world leaders, dignitaries and celebrities, Larry King may have met his match last month in Marthe Cohn, a...
“Tuesdays With Morrie,” Mitch Albom’s memoir about his relationship with his college professor Morrie Schwartz, was published in 1997 and became a worldwide best-seller. Two...
This is how I’d kill my father: Take him out for yogurt at the mall near the dementia place, order him a chocolate cone, slide...
A decade ago, during his first crack at the musical “Ragtime,” Benjamin Schrader was a member of the ensemble and an understudy in the show’s...
Comedian Judy Gold emerged on stage at an Upper West Side theater on Feb. 11 and screeched, “Oh my God, I’m so excited,” as she...
Among the remarkable individuals whose names are recorded as signers of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Rush has been mostly overlooked. Of course, he was...
Rishel Alpert died Jan. 17 at 93. Survived by daughter Gaby (Ramon) Galindo; son David; 4 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; brother Iz (Nadine) Levy. Mount Sinai ...
Al Vorspan, a leader of the group that eventually became the Union for Reform Judaism and was lauded as the “personification of Reform Judaism’s social-justice...
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, and with February being...
The nominees for Best Way to Present Wine as a Hostess Gift are: the paper or plastic bag it came in; a gift bag from...
NewGround: A Muslim and Jewish Partnership for Change honored recipients of its Trailblazer and Change-maker awards at a luncheon at the Skirball Cultural Center on...
FRI FEB 22 Mental Awareness Shabbat Hoping to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health issues, Temple Ahavat Shalom holds a Mental Health Awareness Shabbat. The evening...
Eli Beer was just 7 years old when a bus exploded in front of him as he was walking home from school in Jerusalem. A...
BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee’s 1970s-set film about a black police detective who poses as a white man to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, is nominated for...
When he was 3 years old, Rodney Rothman made his parents drive by the local movie theater so he could find out what was playing....
When directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West watched the Academy Awards nomination announcements on Jan. 22, they were surprised and thrilled to hear that their...
On Feb. 28, 1939, 20,000 people filled an arena for a political rally. Before an enormous portrait of George Washington, they pledged allegiance to the...
Composer Marc Shaiman has Tony and Grammy awards for the Broadway musical “Hairspray” and its cast album. He earned an Emmy for his contribution to...
Oscar-nominated for best documentary short subject, “End Game” follows patients with terminal illnesses, their families and the palliative care professionals making them comfortable. Filmmakers Rob...
The Annexation Issue The exercise of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria is the correct and logical continuation of Zionism (“Annexation Is a Pernicious Issue...
By Tzachi Yaffe “Agamon Hula: Light,” 2015 Cranes at the Hula Nature Reserve in Upper Galilee, Israel. “Agamon Hula: Light” was part of...
For more of Greenberg's artwork, visit his website.
We call this format a Timesaver Guide to Israel’s Coming Elections. This will be a usual feature on Rosner’s Domain until April 9. We hope...