|
 | JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT. |
| WHAT’S DRIVING THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONVERSATION |
|  | | Vance says U.S. and Israeli interests may not always align, Hezbollah appoints new leader, and CNN bans pundit who threatened pro-Palestinian commentator.
Plus: Learn how to talk about the elections in Yiddish and meet the Jewish guy who invented the World Series. |
| | |  | Sen. Bernie Sanders differs with Harris over Gaza. “But,” he said, “we cannot sit this election out.” (Getty) |
| What Jews are talking about a week before elections
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a critic of the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza, nonetheless encouraged people to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. He argued that former President Donald Trump would be worse on Gaza and said the war “is not the only issue at stake.” Go deeper ►
Related: Though prohibited as a nonprofit from making endorsements, Rabbis for Ceasefire encouraged its followers to vote for candidates who support liberal policies.
Plus… Chaos ensued on CNN when Ryan Girdusky, a Republican strategist, told Mehdi Hasan, a pro-Palestinian commentator, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” referring to Israel’s sneak attack on Hezbollah terrorists. After a commercial break, CNN apologized to its viewers and banned Girdusky from coming back on the network. … Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL CEO, said Girdusky’s remark was “absolutely grotesque.”
Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, said Israel and the U.S. would sometimes “have distinct interests,” adding: “And our interest very much is in not going to war with Iran.”
The Green Party’s vice presidential nominee, Rudolph Ware, celebrated the Oct. 7 attack on a hip hop album, according to a new report. He is running alongside Jill Stein, who Democrats fear could peel away key votes in a close election. (Jewish Insider, JTA)
Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, criticized the “antisemitic and racist speeches at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally,” during a Monday speech, where he offered his closing pitch to Jewish voters. (Haaretz)
Refuting recent claims that he is a fascist, Trump called himself “the opposite of a Nazi” in a speech on Monday. (Washington Post)
The Amish rarely vote, and only comprise a tiny sliver of the electorate, but Republicans are putting money into getting them to the polls in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. (AP)
|
|  | When it comes to Israel, there are key policies where Harris and Trump agree. (Getty) |
| Common ground
Where do Trump and Harris stand on Middle East issues? Behind the blustery campaign rhetoric, their policy positions are not so different. Both support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, want an end to the war and a return of the hostages. They also support Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah and want to expand normalization deals between Israel and its neighbors. Where they differ is in the fine print. Go deeper ►
Opinions… American Jews on different sides of the political spectrum must stop demonizing each other, writes Rabbi Jay Michaelson.
Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally demonstrated what’s at stake for Jewish voters, writes Emily Tamkin.
In case you missed it: Emily joined our editor-in-chief, Jodi Rudoren, and Josh Glancy, a British journalist, for a Zoom event on what’s at stake for American Jews as they head to the polls. Watch it here ►
|
| | |  | A Palestinian boy walks past a UN vehicle at an UNRWA health center on Tuesday in Gaza. (Getty) |
| The latest… The Knesset voted Monday to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating in Israel, citing the participation of some of its employees in the Oct. 7 attack and the holding of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The U.S. urged against passage of the law, which takes effect in 90 days. (Jewish Insider, New York Times)
Hezbollah named Naim Qassem as its new chief, succeeding Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last month. (Reuters)
The Israeli military said it captured 100 Hamas fighters at a hospital in Gaza. (Reuters)
South Africa filed a 750-page document to the U.N.’s International Court of Justice that lays out its case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has until July 2025 to respond. (Times of Israel)
The majority of Israelis, 66%, prefer Trump in the upcoming election, according to a new poll; 17% want Harris. (Times of Israel)
Opinions… Could ceasefire talks really work this time? Qatar holds the key, argues our columnist Dan Perry.
What should a prosecutor do when the key defendants die before trial? With Hamas’ Sinwar dead, the International Criminal Court should stop or suspend Israel’s prosecution, argues Joel Margolis of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists.
|
| | – From our Sponsor: JFNA– |
| | Join Us on November 10 at Stand Together in Washington, D.C. |
| Building on the momentum of the historic March for Israel in 2023, it is time to Stand Together. Join us at an event for unity, strength, and resilience for the Jewish community. Together, eventgoers will stand with Israel, for the hostages, and against antisemitism. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | |  | Gavin Lux of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides home safe during last night’s World Series game. (Getty) |
| Pray ball
The Dodgers could clinch the World Series tonight. Here are three stories to prep you for the big game… |
|  | Billy Crystal and Jacobi Jupe in Before, a spooky new series. (Apple TV+) |
| Plus… Apple TV+ debuted a new horror series just in time for Halloween — with blood, gore and Billy Crystal.
Speaking of horror and incongruous celebrities, Bob Dylan apparently wants to write a book of scary stories.
Should a real-life mensch wear a T-shirt that declares him a mensch? Ask our editor-in-chief, Jodi Rudoren, who gave one to her husband.
|
| |  | | WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY |
|  | Novelist Sally Rooney has a history of criticizing Israel. (Getty) |
| ✍️ Hundreds of prominent authors — including Jhumpa Lahiri, Jonathan Lethem, Sally Rooney and Jia Tolentino — signed an open letter pledging to not work with Israeli cultural institutions. (LitHub)
👮 Police on Monday charged a Muslim man with attempted murder, accusing him of shooting a Jewish man in a yarmulke as he walked to synagogue Saturday morning in Chicago. An Orthodox City Council member criticized the police for not classifying the attack as a hate crime. (JTA)
🇬🇷 A pro-Palestinian TikTok influencer was arrested for tearing down what she thought were Israeli flags at a gyro shop in Montclair, New Jersey, last spring. They were Greek flags. (JTA)
🎙️ Jon Stewart extended his contract and will continue to host The Daily Show on Monday nights through 2025. (CNN)
Mazel tov ► To Renee Kutner on becoming the first female CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
Shiva call ► Rabbi Walter Jacob, the longtime leader of Pittsburgh’s Rodef Shalom Congregation and the founder of a Reform rabbinical seminary in Germany, died at 94.
|
| | |  | In this short video, our Rukhl Schaechter teaches you how to talk about the elections in Yiddish. So let’s mobilizirn di veylers and see who the voters oysklabyn. |
| Thanks to Louis Keene, Lauren Markoe and Arno Rosenfeld for contributing to today’s newsletter, and to Jodi Rudoren for editing it. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com. |
| | Jewish journalism you can trust! |
| Invest in the future of Jewish journalism. Become a monthly member during our High Holiday Donor Drive to support the Forward all year long! |
| |  | |
|
|
|
| |
|
