Talking the Case Against Trump on Rosh Hashanah…
Let this Coming Year, 5785, Be the Sweet End of Donald 🍎🍯
Rosh Hashanah is a time for family gatherings, new beginnings, and reflection. And in 2024, that reflection will inevitably lead to discussing the November election. What kind of new beginning do we want? A world without Donald Trump.
As you sit down to enjoy Grandma Rothman’s matzah ball soup, it’s a good time to lob some facts at your Trump-curious relatives gently. This has been a tough year for Jews, and political divides are sharper than ever. Frame the conversation to encourage open dialogue, and keep these things in mind:
- A lot of people are feeling real fear.
- Despite some past successes with Israel, Trump has yet to state one plan for Israel policy. Not. One. He just says Israel won’t exist if he doesn’t win. What is he 15? Israel will exist. No vision has been discussed. Ask your relatives about Trump’s Middle East vision and read an article. Hold them accountable for the future, not the past.
- Urge undecided and uncommitted family and friends to look closer, and the other existential severe risks associated with not voting. It’s a vote for Trump.
- Reinforce that neither party is perfect on Israel or Jews; no one ever has been; our issues are bipartisan for a reason.
- Don’t bother with family members using Israel and Jewish safety as a cover for tax breaks and bigotry. Yikes, but true. We all know this.
Wouldn’t it be nice to go back to voting on “lighter” issues like democracy and abortion?
Don’t worry, Bubbelleh, you’ll be ready to make the case against Trump with facts, humor, and a few brisket-passing moments. We’ve got real facts—not alternative ones. And it’s easy to forget how traumatizing Trump’s first term really was.
For Your Uncle Who Thinks Trump Guarantees Security for Israel 🇮🇱
- Trump has weakened Israel’s security, not strengthened it. His "strength" is chaotic and inconsistent. Real strength is about being reliable and having clear, strategic alliances.
- Trump has cozied up to dictators like Russia, China, and Hezbollah—all enemies of Israel. His actions destabilize Israel’s security in the region.
- Post-October 7th, Trump called Hezbollah “very smart” and criticized Netanyahu for not assisting with the Soleimani assassination, showing Trump prioritizes his grievances over Israel’s safety. Complimenting Israel’s enemies emboldens them.
- Fact: Trump never sent U.S. troops to the Middle East to aid Israel. He hasn’t clarified whether he would keep current U.S. troops there. Ask him!
- Reality check: Trump’s foreign policy has alienated U.S. allies through his “America First” isolationism and threats to withdraw from NATO. As John Bolton, Trump’s own former National Security Advisor said, "Trump’s support for Israel in a second term isn’t guaranteed."
- Cabinet Rejection: Over half of Trump’s 42 former Cabinet members—including Mike Pence, John Bolton, and Mark Esper—those most focused on National Security, refuse to back him in 2024.
- Pass the Brisket: Trump has made zero statements outlining a future security plan for Israel. ZERO. His only concrete Middle East strategy seems to involve safeguarding his real estate investments in Dubai.
For Your Nephew Who Thinks Trump Was Tough on Iran and Good for Israel 🛑
- Trump’s Iran policy sparked Zionist joy, but in the longer term, has shown its weakness for Israel’s security. Scrapping the Iran Deal without a backup plan led to greater instability in the Middle East and a shift towards the emboldening of the Axis of Evil! His "maximum pressure" campaign was all rhetoric with no actual results.
- Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA, without any strategy to replace it, has been characterized by many senior Israeli intelligence and military leaders, including three former Mossad director-generals, the former head of IDF Military Intelligence, the former Defense Minister, and the former head of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, among others, as a reckless move that made Israel less safe than it was under the JCPOA. Source A and Source B.
- After Trump withdrew from the Iran Deal, Iran ramped up its nuclear program with support from new friends. Meanwhile, Trump was busy tweeting about his total control over them.
Matzah Ball Moment: Trump discussing foreign policy is like your friend explaining how to solve the Middle East conflict after one Birthright trip.
For Your Mom Who’s Worried About Campus Safety 🎓
- Antisemitic incidents surged under Trump. And still do. His failure to condemn white nationalists emboldened hate groups, leading to a rise in attacks on Jewish communities. Remember Charlottesville? Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides” while neo-Nazis carried swastikas through the streets.
- Trump talks about protecting Jews, but his allies want to gut the Department of Education as part of Project 2025, which would eliminate the Office for Civil Rights. This office investigates antisemitism on campuses—removing it means removing the legal protections for Jewish students that exist specificaly today.
- Fact: Trump’s promises to “defund” campuses over antisemitism are unrealistic. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration has taken real action to combat antisemitism, both at home and abroad. No one is perfect. But all Turmp is doing by blaming the Jews if he doesn’t win the election is putting a target on our backs. Facts show.
Reality: Trump pretending to protect Jews is like a fox guarding the henhouse. We know how that goes in history. How about them apples, honey?
For Your Sister Who is Uncommitted (no emojis for sis)
- Now is the time to weigh all the pros and cons of Donald Trump and understand how much he is stoking the flames of anti-semitism, anti LGBTQ+, anti-women, anti-immigrant policies.
- Stacking the Courts: Trump appointed far-right judges—Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett—advancing Christian nationalist goals like overturning Roe v. Wade, and removing other human rights protections. We must keep the courts out of the hands of Trump. If for that reason alone…
- Worried about the far Left? Leaving the top of the ballot blank for a loud antizionist faction that has way less institutional power than powerful and accepted antisemitism on the Right IS giving the left wing more power. A protest vote against them IS to stay in your party and for the Dems. They want you to leave. STAY HOME IN YOUR PARTY. It’s where you want to be. Keep them accountable on Israel and issues you care about.
Nu? Trump & Vance do not have records to gamble your personal freedoms with. Not remotely.
For the "Simple Son" (Wrong Holiday, Same Table): More Brisket
- Trump has empowered Christian nationalists, a movement that seeks to merge Christian beliefs with American nationalism. This is dangerous for Jews.
- Antisemitic rhetoric: Trump has made repeated antisemitic remarks, even telling his supporters to “blame the Jews” if he loses the election.
- Pushing QAnon: Trump’s tacit support for QAnon, a conspiracy theory that sees Trump as a messianic figure, has energized Christian nationalists who view this as a spiritual battle against evil forces.
Pass-the-Brisket Moments: Things You Might Not Know About Trump
- Trump secretly tried to negotiate with Iran?! After pulling out of the JCPOA, Trump actually considered easing sanctions to get Iran back to the table. And FAILED! Then got embarrassed and ran away from them. Read more about it here. Tough guy, huh?
- Trump likes to boast about his tough approach to terrorists, but his recklessness has deeply endangered Israel. He praised Hezbollah as "very smart" and pushed Israel to resolve their conflict “fast,” treating a complex geopolitical issue like a fast food order.
- Insulting Netanyahu—again: Trump loves to claim credit for his support of Israel, but when Netanyahu congratulated Biden, Trump’s response was, “F**k him.” Some ally, right?
- A bipartisan group of 741 former senior national security leaders, comprising over 230 general and flag officers, 15 retired four-star generals and admirals, tens cabinet secretaries, 10 service secretaries, and 148 ambassadors, has endorsed Vice President Harris.