Four years ago, Sen. John Ossoff was proudly sworn in by Georgia’s first Jewish senator using a book of the Hebrew Bible.
Now, some of his fellow Jewish Democrats have turned him on, but are also encouraging the most frightening Republicans who can challenge him in next year’s Marquee Senate race.
“We ask that you humbly consider running for the US Senate in 2026 as a bipartisan leadership group in the Metropolitan Atlanta Jewish community,” Kemp, from some of the state’s leading politicians. Please read my personal mid-December letter to. Leader of the Jewish community, reviewed by the New York Times.
“If we decide to run in the 2026 election, we won’t find any better friends, loyal allies or stronger supporters than we or our community.”
After Ossov voted to Israel to stop the transfer of certain weapons and criticised the act of war in Gaza, the letter highlighted his Jewish identity and numbered in security assistance. It was an incredible responsibilities of the senator who voted for billions of dollars. Israel.
And it clearly shows how the war scrambles and threatens the Democratic coalition, despite party officials being tense to get a unified response to President Trump.
“I was very proud to see a young Jewish man find the success he has,” said Isaac, a Democrat from a prominent Atlanta Jewish family who signed a letter to Kemp. Frank said. “I feel like he’s a bit of a disconnect from where our community is. 7.”
Small but potentially influential group of American Jews have been reordering their priorities on October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, and a surge in US anti-Semitism. There are signs that they have driven them away from the Democrats. It was endured throughout the first weeks of the Trump administration, according to interviews with nearly 20 Jewish community activists, donors and officials from Georgia and across the country.
These voters, long-standingly loyal to Democrats, often hate Republican domestic policies and the promotion of Trump and his far-right figure with a history of anti-Semitic remarks. Some see his proposal to view Gaza as eccentric or immoral, and are not fans of Israel’s right-wing government.
But the issues they have felt particularly urgent for since October 7th – defending Israel, cracking down on domestic anti-Semitism, especially on university campuses – they are increasingly saying Republicans are more cooperative. I’m watching.
A report released Wednesday by the American Jewish Commission could disapprove of how American Jews respond to anti-Semitism rather than how Republicans are responding to I found it to be slightly higher. The majority of Jews were unhappy with the approach of both parties.
A survey conducted late last year found that Jews were equally concerned about anti-Semitism regarding “extreme political rights” and “extreme political left.” But it was a notable change from four years ago, where it is far more likely that Jews would say that the extreme right represents an anti-Semitism threat.
“They don’t really know where they belong. I don’t think there’s a simple answer on either side,” said Deborah, a special envoy to the Biden administration, especially to monitor and fight anti-Semitism. E. Lipstadt said. Be strong commitment and identify Jews. “She said, “I personally don’t think I’ve seen such a time, “Where do we stand?” or “Where are our politicians?”
“Israel has risen in importance.”
The war in Gaza has split the Democrats since it began.
Many Arab Americans, Muslims, and young progressive voters, including some Jews, were furious at the Biden administration’s strong support of Israel. Other Jews often thought they were older, more moderate or conservative, but the administration saw them not adequately supportive.
“The Jewish community is not a monolith,” Ossov said in the first call of three calls with the Times on Thursday. “These are complex issues of national security and foreign policy, and the breadth of Jewish American public opinion reflects that.”
The sparse polls available suggest that many Jews support former Vice President Kamala Harris last year, hoping to protect abortion rights and democratic norms.
Iran Goldenberg, who led Jewish outreach for the Harris campaign, said most Jews viewed Trump as “a disgust” by their values. But many people have increased tensions, he said.
“The importance of Israel has risen – it’s probably still rising,” he said.
“What if the Republicans were Republicans 15 years ago,” he added. “You might have seen more movements,” he added.
Republicans are seeing an opportunity to win more Jewish voters at next year’s major contest. But in today’s party, the lasting question is whether candidates emerge from the primary can appeal to swing voters.
“If Marjorie Taylor Green is a Republican candidate, I cannot vote for her,” said state Senator Esther Panic, the only Jewish national legislator in Democrats and Georgia. I did.
But Panic didn’t rule out his support for Kemp if he ran.
“Kemp did what I fight every day,” Panic said. He pointed out a six-week signature to ban abortions. “But what Ossov committed was a different level of betrayal.”
Kemp’s spokesman Cody Hall declined to comment.
Navigate the “reeling and shock” community
Ossov suggests that no one should have been surprised by his stance.
“I expressed my concern over the harm and widespread levels of destruction for Gaza civilians during the early weeks of the war,” he said Thursday. “I have been a strong supporter of security support for Israel since October 7th, but I will not apologise for opposing the reckless murder of non-tumultuous people.”
“We’re in a history moment,” he later added. “Civilian protection, armed conflict laws and basic humanitarian values are in crisis,” he added.
His view is that in Georgia, which has a large Muslim population, the democratic mainstream and Georgia, many black voters and pastors embrace the Palestinian cause. Some Jewish officials also say he reflects much of the community.
“What I’m looking at is the Jewish community both here in Georgia and across the country, and it’s deeply concerned about hostages, and it’s also deeply concerned about civilian casualties among Palestinians.” said Emily Caiman, an Atlanta-based J Street employee. A pro-Israel group supporting Ossov.
For Ossov’s Jewish critics, the question is not whether he is consistent. That’s whether he’s fully open about Israel’s security and the rising anti-Semitism in the United States.
“When all this anti-Semitism was happening in this state and the Jewish community needed leaders, John wore his kipa and talis and found us all in a hug. “Hey, I wasn’t holding us all in a hug. I’m here with you guys,” said David Rubin, a Democrat from Dunwoody, Georgia.
Rubin’s 20-year-old daughter, Rose, was killed while serving as an Israeli border police officer. Ossov sponsored the resolution in her memory, but only Rubin pointed out after asking the senator to do so “very strongly.”
When asked if it was his recollection, Ossov replied, “I was proud to be able to pass a resolution in the US Senate honoring this Georgian killed in duties.” I did.
Ossov emphasized that he cares “deeply” about Israel’s security and that he first-hand understanding of the strength of anti-Semitism. “Simply open the email,” he said. “I am the target of malicious anti-Semitist attacks every day.”
He met with Israeli hostage families, worked on community events focused on Israeli and anti-Semitism, and voted to secure Israeli funding. He said he spent part of Thursday meeting with the father of an Israeli hostage, and stressed that he grasped the pain in the community.
“The Jewish community has been shaken, shocked and terrified since October 7th,” he said in his third call: And I can share and feel the same shock, same anger deeply. That’s why they supported unprecedented security assistance to Israel. ”
His opposition to the transfer of certain weapons is “based on my assessment of the national interests of the US and the core values at risk,” he suggested.
These failed measures, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, regardless of Vermont, were opposed to the Biden administration and were never expected to pass.
But in Atlanta, the backlash was real.
Around 50 Jewish groups and synagogues, including temples and reform synagogues, immersed in the history of civil rights where Ossov had his bar mitzvah, have been inscribed in a letter denying Ossov and Senator Rafael Warnock. I’ve signed it.
Signatories also included national footprint groups, including the Southeast Prevention Prevention League, the Atlanta Branch of the American Jewish Commission and AIPAC.
“Can you imagine all of these Jewish organizations agreeing to something with strong letters, strong declarations? They signed separate letters to Mr. Kemp and supported the main challenger to Mr. Ossov. Norman Radow, one of the state’s biggest democratic donors with an idea, said: “It’s a reflection of October 7th.”
I feel “abandoned” but I am happy to talk
To Mr. Ossov’s Jewish fans, the pushback was baffling and unbalanced as some of them signed with support for the counterletter. They argue that criticism from Jewish groups does not reflect the views of voters in the rank and file.
Robert Wittenstein of Dunwood, Ossoff’s supporter who calls him a “faithful Zionist,” said he had not detected a softening of the support.
“Most people in my circle felt that John’s actions were appropriate,” he said. “They understand that there is a role that will help Jewish senators to encourage Israel to do the right thing.”
Aaron Goldman, a democratic donor in Atlanta, was a former supporter of Ossov and a key contributor to Harris.
He said he wasn’t trying to become “someone who suddenly says it’s okay to be an election denier, or someone who says it’s okay not to stand up to the value of reproductive health.”
And he suggested that Ossov should know that the doors are open for further conversations with people who feel “are abandoned.”
However, despite his differences with Mr. Kemp, he also signed a letter to him.
“The existential threat to having the only Jewish state in the world is in an unprotected situation,” he said.
Ruth Igielnik contributed the report.
