Rabbi's Week in Review Blog

The news of Donald Trump’s conviction on all 34 felony counts brought against him is too big to ignore, and I couldn’t if I wanted to. Following are some observations, particularly in response to the subsequent numerous attacks by Trump sycophants on our judicial system and our democracy.

Trump was not indicted by President Joe Biden, the Biden administration or the DOJ. He was indicted by New York citizens serving on a grand jury more than one year ago. Likewise, he was convicted by a jury of his peers — 12 citizens chosen by both the prosecutor and the defense counsel.  

Trump was not convicted by Judge Juan Merchan, who has come under unfair, untrue and persistently dangerous attacks by Trump. A change of venue requested by the defense was properly not granted. Trump has been a New Yorker his entire life; the jury of New Yorkers was a jury of his peers. Further, it was a particularly racist reference by Trump to allude to the judge’s background, having been born in Bogotá, Colombia, as somehow compromising the judge’s ability to act impartially.

None of this is to say our judicial system and/or our democracy is perfect — far from it.  However, to tear it all down rather than doing the things we need and aspire to do to make it better, will only lead to ruin.

I say all this because the slew of unfounded and highly misleading attacks on our judicial system  are attacks on our democracy, and threats on democracy never turn out well for the Jewish people. I highlight in particular the reference to New York DA Alvin Bragg “being funded by George Soros.” I have previously pointed out that any reference to someone being connected to George Soros (often a lying reference) is an antisemitic trope alluding to some grand Jewish conspiracy. Anytime a politician refers to George Soros as a negative, you might as well substitute “dirty Jew.”

The movement toward anti-democratic authoritarianism is not limited to the United States.  Likewise, the threat to democracy is a reality in Israel. Both are threats to Jewish people all over the world. In this moment, we as Jews, who have been exemplary U.S. citizens in working for a more democratic and just country, must do all we can to participate in strengthening our democracy; we must vote and we must work to support those who are on the front lines of preserving our democracy.  

Likewise, as diaspora Jews, we have both the right and the obligation to advocate for a more democratic Israel — even now and especially now in this most challenging moment in Israel’s relatively short history.