Like many other I watched with amazement as Ami Magazine’s chief political correspondent Jake Turx asked what seemed to be a very respectful and respectable question.
The Haredi reporter began by telling the president that no one in the Jewish community where he lives has accused him or his staff of anti-Semitism. Most obviously reminding everyone that Trump has Jewish grandchildren. Turx even threw in that Trump is their zeidi. At which point Turx asked about the rise in anti-Semitism since the Trump victory last November which has included 48 recent bomb threats against Jewish centers. He said:
What we are concerned about and what we haven’t heard you address, is an uptake in anti-Semitism and how the government is planning to take care of it.
A belligerent Trump had enough, was anything but respectful and respectable, and ordered Turx to sit down. The President went on to misunderstand the question as an attack on his fidelity to the Jewish community as compared an opportunity to set it clear that his administration is there to take action and make the country safe for its citizens ( including his daughter and grandchildren). Now, Trump bumbled on to say:
So here’s the story folks. No. one, I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life. No. two, racism. The least racist person. In fact, we did very well relative to other people running as a Republican.
When will Trump stop running for office and actually just focus on filling the office? Turx knows that Trump is “least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life”. The Jewish community is looking for a solution(other than any final one) to keep our kids safe.
It is interesting to contrast Trump to Yitro from this week’s Torah portion. At the start of our reading Yitro, Moshe’s non-Israelite father-in-law, coming to visit. There we read:
Now Yitro, the priest of Midian, Moshe’s father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moshe, and for Israel God’s people, how that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. And Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moshe’s wife, after he had sent her away, and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said: ‘I have been a stranger in a strange land’; and the name of the other was Eliezer: ‘for the God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.’ And Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moshe to the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God. (Exodus 18:1- 5 )
It makes sense that in response to hearing about all of the trials, travails, miracles, and wonders that happened to his son-in-law that Yitro came to see Moshe. It even makes sense that he brought Moshe’s family for a reunion. What would not make sense is that Yitro would be so narcissistic to change the conversation to be about himself. I do not actually think that Trump is anti-Semitic, but it is clear that this zeidi is not up the job and should probably retire to Florida.
Said to Myself 
0 Responses to “Poor Zeidi: Trump and Yitro”