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Aug. 9-22, 2024 Devarim • 5-18 Av 5784 • Vol 23, No 27
Reach the Star: Editor@TheJewishStar.com • 516-622-7461 ext 291
Another Squaddie is squashed
Hamas-loving, Jew-baiting Bush is ‘Bowmaned’ in Missouri By The Jewish Star St. Louis voters “Bowmaned” Rep. Cori Bush, one of Israel’s nastiest critics on Capitol Hill, ousting her 51.2% to 45.6%, with an estimated 96.7% of the votes counted, according to an unofficial tally as of 11:20 pm on Tuesday. She was the second member of the left-wing anti-Israel “Squad” to fall, following the defeat in June of BronxWestchester Rep. Jamaal Bowman. As the new Democratic nominee in Missouri’s heavily blue 1st CD, Wesley Bell, a progressive with more moder-
ate views on the Israel-Hamas war, is favored to win the November election. Since taking office in 2021, Bush staked out a position on the antiIsrael fringe of her party. That year she was one of only eight Democrats to oppose US funding for Israel’s Iron Dome. Soon after Oct. 7, she called Israeli retaliation an “ethnic cleansing campaign” and “a war crime.” In January, she was one of only two Democrats to vote against a resolution to bar from the US anyone who participated in the Oct. 7 attacks.
Midwestern sensibilities echoed Westchester wisdom as Missouri voters dumped antisemitic Rep. Cori Bush, just as New Yorkers earlier unseated Jamaal Bowman.
AIPAC’s super PAC spent nearly $9 million in the contest, and Bush faced criticism on a variety of issues beyond those involving Israel and Jews. In an interview with the New York Times published on Monday, Bush drew a parallel between Israel and Hamas, saying: “Have they hurt people? Absolutely. Has the Israeli military hurt people? Absolutely.” Remaining Squad members are Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Greg Casar, Summer Lee, and Delia Ramirez.
Sinat chinam? Take a deep breath, love your fellow Jew RABBi SiR JoNATHAN SAcKS zt”l
I do not need you to agree with me, just to care about me.
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s we approach the 9th of Av, we recall the tragedies throughout history that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which, according to the Sages, were brought about as a result of sinat chinam, baseless hatred and discord between individual Jews and within the Jewish people. Jews are an argumentative people. We say “The L-rd is my shepherd” but no Jew was ever a sheep. I remember once having a dialogue with the late and great Israeli novelist Amos Oz who began by saying, “I’m not sure I’m going to agree with Rabbi Sacks on everything, but then, on most things, I don’t agree with myself.” Ours is the only civilization I know
whose canonical texts are anthologies of arguments. The prophets argued with G-d; the rabbis argued with one another. We are a people with strong views — it is part of who we are. Our ability to argue, our sheer diversity, culturally, religiously and in every other way, is not a weakness but a strength. However when it causes us to split apart, it becomes terribly dangerous because while no empire on earth has ever been able to defeat us, we have, on occasions, been able to defeat ourselves. It happened three times. •The first was in the days of Joseph and See Sacks on page 2
Editorial: Let’s stop talking politics at our Shabbat table
TR
STOP
NO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS AT OUR SHABBOS TABLE
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e must distinguish between legitimate anger towards those who threaten our existence (Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and so on) and unwarranted hatred — sinat chinam — directed at fellow Jews whose opinions differ from our own. Our Sages instructed, and we’re reminded on Tisha B’Av, that such sinat chinam leads to disastrous consequences. Even in our religiously observant and Zionist communities, with a broad
consensus on current issues, there are individuals who hold alternative views. We should acknowledge and respect this diversity and remember that only Hashem has infallible insight; as certain as we are in the correctness of our views, both we and our dissident neighbors may be wrong. Last week’s Jewish Star ran a front-page banner promising a “100% Trump and Harris free” edition, with the goal of enjoying a “presidential-
politics-free Shabbat.” Trump and Harris are back in this week’s paper, but if you want to discuss one of our articles during Shabbat, consider one of the d’var Torahs by Rabbis Sacks, Billet, Etengoff or Freedman, or Kosher Bookworm by Alan Gerber. While advocating for a preferred candidate is our civic duty — as Americans, as Jews, and as Zionists — we must avoid letting political discussions turn so contentious that they fracture the bonds of
community. Excluding neighbors with differing views is equally problematic. Neither is in the spirit of Shabbat shalom. If turning down the heat is too great a challenge right now, consider displaying a “STOP” sign (found on page 21) to maintain a politics-free Shabbat table. Let’s strive to promote a harmonious atmosphere where love of our eternal Torah and klal Yisrael takes precedence over scoring fleeting political —Ed Weintrob, Editor points.