NEW YORK, Nov. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, congratulates Donald Trump on his election as the 45th President of the United States. “American democracy has spoken after a long and bitterly-fought campaign,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “We wish President-elect Trump well, as he prepares to assume the highest position in…
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Robert Bank, president and CEO of American Jewish World Service, wrote: I am writing to you at this defining moment in history, as you are a friend who is fully committed to the dignity and rights of every person on this planet. As a supporter of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), you have joined with us time and again to stand with the poorest and most oppressed communities worldwide as they fight for their own human rights and work with us to build the kind of world we want to live in. That world is anchored by equality and justice; celebrates diversity; and draws inspiration from the eternal teachings of our tradition to respect the essential value of every person.
Presidents, governments and elections come and go—and some make our work much easier and others much harder. Regardless of who is in power, we are guided by our enduring belief that it is our obligation to build more just and equitable societies. We are committed to working across cultures and continents to repair our broken world. We are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain. We are spiritual, religious and secular. We are American, African, Caribbean, Latino and Asian. We are gay, straight, trans and intersex. We live and love in different ways, and we are proud of who we are.
The Indian writer and social activist Arundhati Roy once wrote: “Another world is not only possible; she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”
Even when facing the greatest heartbreak and devastation, we somehow always hear that other world breathing and know a better world is possible. At this moment in our history, the promise of that world must inspire all of us to work together to make sure it is on its way.
Ezra Friedlander of the Friedlander Group wrote:
“As a supporter of Secretary Clinton, I feel its important to state its our duty as Jews & Americans to pray for President-Elect Trump and his success-may he merit divine inspiration & bring together our nation. Elections are sacred & the moment its over we are united under the leadership of the President- elect.”
Daniel Sokatch of the New Israel Fund wrote the following:
The world just took a huge step backwards.
The United States is one the best ideas the world has ever known; the election of a candidate who trucks in ultra-nationalism, isolationism, racism and misogyny is one of the worst ideas the United States has ever had. This election threatens to upend the very notion of what America means, to ourselves and to the world. We now join the ranks of countries around the globe that seem to be moving away from democratic values and liberal ideals.
It is shocking and terrible, but for those of us who live and breathe Israeli politics, it is not completely unfamiliar. We’ve witnessed and pushed back against the erosion of our democratic values there too. We’ve weathered attacks against our sector and against our own organization, and we’ve rallied together to stand up and speak out for what we believe in. We’ve learned how to take fear and anger and resentment, and to channel it into something better: a loud and proud movement for social change.
Now, we are going to have to apply those lessons here in the United States as well. And we’ve had the best training there is.
Like so many of us, my daughters are distraught. My 11 year old was inconsolable last night. At one point, she sobbed, “how can I grow up as a girl in a country with a president who thinks women are objects?” She’s embarrassed, ashamed, frightened.
I know exactly how she feels. I told her that, at times like these — when things are very dark — it is our job to not let the lights go out, to guard the flame, and to keep it burning. I reminded her that we are part of a community of conscience that will never stay silent in the face of injustice, no matter how hard speaking out might sometimes be. We talked about how it must feel to be a Muslim American or a Latino American or a disabled American right now, and how it was our responsibility — as their allies — to make sure that they never feel alone, that they always know that there are millions of people of conscience who will stand with them, shoulder to shoulder, no matter what happens.
We agreed that we would allow ourselves to cry today, but that tomorrow we would roll up our sleeves and get to work.
I know that we are not alone. Just as our colleagues in Israel have always known that they have partners in the United States and around the world, we must remember that we have allies too: they have our backs, just as we have theirs. Because it is increasingly clear that we are in the same struggle, on both sides of the ocean and around the world, for the souls of our countries. We are committed to the same things — democracy, humanism, compassion and a prophetic commitment to justice — and we will defend them together everywhere.
We need each other. We cannot afford to hunker down in our misery and detach from the world. We cannot afford the luxury of despair.
So let’s allow ourselves to feel depressed and anxious and frightened. And then let’s get back to work to build a better Israel and a better America.
Today, we grieve; tomorrow, we organize.
Americans for Peace Now issued the following statement:
As Israelis and Palestinians struggle to make sense of this week’s presidential election results, so are we, Americans who support Israeli-Palestinian peace, anxiously wondering about the fate of our mission under President-elect Donald Trump.
The American people have spoken. We at APN obviously acknowledge the results. We doubt, however, that by electing Trump, the people have spoken about their desired foreign policy priorities. Candidate Trump did not clearly indicate such priorities. His foreign policy agenda was sparse and ambiguous, often confused. What will President Trump’s foreign policy be? What will his Middle East Policy be?
For us, these questions are not something to passively ponder. They are a call to action, a moment to recommit to what we hold so dearly: A secure Israel, a Jewish state that is a strong democracy, which lives side by side, in peace, with a sovereign Palestinian state.
As we observe Washington’s new political landscape, we acknowledge that advancing an Israeli-Palestinian peace agenda, based on a two-state solution, will be difficult.
We also know that we always work with all national elected officials – regardless of their party affiliation or worldview – to bring about the peace and security that Israelis and Palestinians need and deserve, a two-state solution that has long been and continues to be one of America’s chief national security objectives.
Change can bring about opportunities. We must do our utmost to turn this development into an opportunity for advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory and his selection by the American people as the 45th president of the United States, and pledged to work across communities to rally all Americans around rebuilding the sense of shared society after a difficult campaign.
Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:
We congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on last night’s election victory. This is American democracy at work. The voters have spoken, Secretary Clinton has conceded, and the civil transition of power is underway.
We welcome Mr. Trump’s pledge that he will be president for all Americans, and that he will seek the common ground and reconciliation that has been the hallmark of American elections and the transitions that follow.
Democracy is more than simply what occurs at the ballot box or during a particular election. Democracy encompasses the full collection of our laws, our norms and institutions that enshrine and protect our freedoms. That work begins today to reinvigorate the idealism of e Pluribus Unum and to ensure that America remains a land of economic opportunity and personal freedom for all people regardless of their gender, race, class, faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation or political preference.
The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure fair treatment and justice to all. We will continue to remain steadfastly dedicated to that task.
The following statement was released by Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, Dean and Founder and Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center on the election of Donald Trump
“The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights NGO joins with all other Americans in congratulating Donald Trump on his election to be the next President of the United States.
We are buoyed by Donald Trump’s unambiguous commitment to a strong and safe democratic Israel and his recognition of Jerusalem as its eternal and undivided capital.
We look forward to working with President Trump on a wide range of other issues including, Iran, International Terrorism, Human Rights, online hate and the burgeoning scourge of anti-Semitism here at home and globally.
The Wiesenthal Center looks forward to leadership from the Trump Administration in defeating BDS and ensuring an intimidation-free campus environment for Jewish students at our nation’s universities.
Finally, we commend Mr. Trump’s commitment which he made last night to strive to be the President of all Americans, including those who voted against him. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is committed to working together with all sectors of our society, along with the Trump Administration for the betterment of all Americans.
Reform Movement Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election
WASHINGTON – The people have voted and American democracy is strong. We respect that vote and we extend our hand to President-elect Trump. We also extend our hand to the members of the 115th Congress. These leaders will have critical decisions to make that will weigh on the future of our nation, our communities, our families and the entire world. We hope that they govern with wisdom and righteousness to create a space where all Americans are respected.
President-elect Trump has the opportunity to use his office to bring Americans together, and to move us toward a brighter future. If he does so, we will be ready to work with him for the common good. If he does not, we also stand ready to be fierce advocates for the values that guide us: inclusivity, justice and compassion.
This week we read Parsha Lech Lecha with its clarion call to “go forth.” Just as Abraham went out into a place of great uncertainty, we now find ourselves in an unanticipated time and place. But we know, like Abraham, that our faith and enduring values will be a strong foundation as we move forward. We love the stranger, feed the hungry and care for the orphan and the widow.
Throughout our Reform Movement’s history, our congregations, institutions, rabbis, cantors, other professionals and lay leaders have striven to bring all of us together to strengthen and to sustain one another, and to work together in the pursuit of justice for everyone. We welcome all: Jews and non-Jews, people of all races and religions, of all sexual orientations and the immigrants among us. That welcome is the essence of who we are as a community, and who we are as a country, and that remains as true today as it has ever been.
As we pray each week in our synagogues on Shabbat in the Prayer for our Nation, we ask God for guidance for ourselves and for our nation, to grant our leaders the wisdom and forbearance to govern with justice and compassion. We ask God to help us appreciate one another and to respect the many ways that we may be faithful to the ways of righteousness, and to keep our country sound in body and spirit.
Union for Reform Judaism
Daryl Messinger, Chair, North American Board of Trustees
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Rabbi Denise L. Eger, President
Rabbi Steven A. Fox, Chief Executive
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Isabel P. Dunst, Chair, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director
Advancing Temple Institutional Development
American Conference of Cantors
Association of Reform Jewish Educators
Association of Reform Zionists of America
Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism
Men of Reform Judaism
North American Federation of Temple Youth
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Rabbinic Network
World Union for Progressive Judaism
Following Donald Trump’s victory in in the 2016 presidential election, Bend the Arc Jewish Action CEO Stosh Cotler released the following statement:
“It is traditional in America after an election for the defeated party to say, ‘We accept the results.’ And while we do accept these results as legal and binding, we cannot call the idea of Donald Trump as president acceptable.
“We have opposed Donald Trump because of the things he has threatened to do if elected: Forcibly detain millions of immigrants. Institute religious tests at the border and a national registry for American Muslims. Eliminate long-standing Constitutional protections for the free press and other parts of civil society. Jail his political opponents. In the conduct of his campaign he has encouraged violence as a tool of politics and has emboldened an alt-right movement that is awash in explicit antisemitism. All of this has frighteningly reminded us of the fascist regimes America has stood against for decades, and which our parents and grandparents came here to escape. We consider Trump’s vision of the country to be fundamentally un-American, and American Jews will protest and resist these plans with passion and courage.
“Over the next weeks and months, there are many questions we will have to answer. One set of questions will have to focus on how we got here. How did we fail to highlight the danger that Trump presents and fail to convince enough of the American electorate to stand against him? What message of his was more compelling and more resonant to the many Americans, most of them fundamentally good people, who chose to vote for him? Why were so many of our fellow Americans drawn to a more authoritarian vision of our nation, at odds with our democratic and civic institutions? And most centrally, why did so many white Americans respond to Trump’s message linking their future prosperity and safety to the demonization of people of color, immigrants and religious minorities? This will take a great deal of introspection at all levels of society and the leadership of Bend the Arc will not spare ourselves from that self-examination.
A second set of questions will focus on how much this electoral result was influenced by structural inequalities, such as the concerted efforts by the Republican Party to suppress the vote in communities of color, an agenda aided by the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act. We will have to decide how to address and mitigate those inequalities in elections to come. Third, we have to assess where the greatest immediate threats are to the safety, liberty and dignity of targeted communities in this new political reality. Who is most at risk under a Trump Administration? What tools will such an administration use and who will its allies be in the corridors of power?
“And finally, we will have to come together as an intersectional, multi-faith, multi-racial, multi-issue progressive movement to devise a plan to help and protect those people who may come under attack. We must be clear-eyed and serious about the danger, and we must challenge ourselves to rise to this moment. It is possible that actions of this administration will demand a response involving widespread use of peaceful direct action. The future is uncertain, the stakes are high, and we must be willing to be courageous because the consequences of our decisions will be great.
“Therefore, as we go through the coming months of questioning and planning, I urge all of us to remain true to our deeply held moral beliefs, which may come under assault from without and within. Many will call on us to “respect the will of the people,” and accept without question the actions of a Trump presidency, no matter how vile or immoral they are. Our own inner demons may tell us to do the same, out of guilt or shame or fear. The hardest step for many of us will be that first one, where we decide not to listen to these voices, but to remain true to the values extolled by the ancient prophets, handed down to us by our courageous ancestors, and which have guided our lives and our actions — no matter how unpopular those values may seem or how uncomfortable they may make some of our decisions. The Bend the Arc community has done tremendous work over the past year to fight this outcome, and we should take from that a hope and a belief in our own strength and tradition of standing up for what’s right. It is a challenging road ahead for our community and our country. We will walk it with faith, love and seriousness of purpose.”
Bend the Arc Jewish Action has been a leader in the Jewish community’s work to combat the extremism and bigotry seen in this year’s presidential race. Bend the Arc Jewish Action has mobilized tens of thousands of Jews against Donald Trump’s campaign of hate for over a year, and its affiliated Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC officially endorsed Hillary Clinton in July. Last week, Bend the Arc Jewish Action organized a massive ‘Let My People GOTV’ initiative that mobilized Jewish activists nationwide to personally knock on the doors of over 20,000 voters for Hillary Clinton in the critical swing states of Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In September, Bend the Arc Jewish Action organized an anti-Trump ‘Book of Life’ Day of Action in the spirit of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), and released a viral video message from the older generation to today’s young voters. In June, Bend the Arc Jewish Action organized a series of anti-Trump Vigils Against Violence in 50 cities (see the report on the action here). Bend the Arc Jewish Action also strongly denounced Trump’s plan to start a government registry of Muslims last fall and has repeatedly called on the Trump campaign’s chief Jewish supporter – the Republican Jewish Coalition – to rescind its endorsement. Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s sister organization, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, also launched a televised campaign, “Heard it Before,” comparing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the presidential campaign to what Jewish immigrants faced a century ago. To date, 30,000 American Jews have signed petitions denouncing Trump and joined Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s effort to defeat his campaign.
For more information about Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s work to oppose Trump, visit http://www.weveseenthisbefore.org, or contact Elliot Levy at elliot.levy@berlinrosen.com or 202-800-7409.
AIPAC congratulates President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence on their election victory. We also congratulate the elected and re-elected senators and representatives who will be part of the most pro-Israel Congress ever, and look forward to working with them and the new administration to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.
In his speech at the March 2016 AIPAC Policy Conference, President-Elect Trump made clear his commitment on issues critical to the U.S.-Israel relationship:
On the importance of the relationship:
“We will send a clear signal that there is no daylight between America and our most reliable ally, the state of Israel.”
On the importance of stopping Iran’s regional aggression and holding Iran accountable to prevent the regime from attaining nuclear weapons:
“We must enforce the terms of the previous deal to hold Iran totally accountable…We will totally dismantle Iran’s global terror network. Iran has seeded terror groups all over the world.”
On efforts to impose a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the U.N. Security Council:
“An agreement imposed by the U.N. would be a total and complete disaster. The United States must oppose this resolution and use the power of our veto.”
Despite their deep differences on a range of issues, both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates notably shared a common commitment to the U.S.-Israel alliance. Strong bipartisan support for the Jewish state is also reflected overwhelmingly in the incoming Congress. We look forward to working with the new Congress on key legislative initiatives to strengthen the relationship between our two democracies.
This election once again demonstrates that support for Israel transcends partisan differences. The shared values and common interests between the United States and Israel are great constants that endure.
Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) President Morton A. Klein issued the following statement:
The Zionist Organization of America happily congratulates President-Elect Donald J. Trump, Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, their beautiful families, their national advisers, their Israel advisory co-chairs Jason Dov Greenblatt and David Friedman, and the entire Trump/Pence campaign team on their historic victory last night.
ZOA President Klein has known Vice President-Elect Mike Pence since his days in Congress, and has seen first-hand that the Vice President-Elect is a great friend of Israel and America’s pro-Israel community. President–elect Trump’s platform on Israel is the most pro-Israel platform any American political party has ever put forth.
We look forward to a Trump/Pence administration that will rebuild America, heal America’s internal divisions, inspire all Americans and people throughout the world, and be a great friend to the State of Israel.
This morning, ZOA invited Trump/Pence Israel advisory co-chairs Jason Dov Greenblatt and David Friedman to attend and speak at ZOA’s upcoming national gala dinner on Sunday evening November 20, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt in NYC. ZOA is thrilled that Mr. Friedman has already accepted our invitation! We hope that you will join us at this exciting event. Honorees include Bernie Marcus, founder of Home Depot, Israel’s Amb.to the UN, Danny Danon, Cong. Ed Royce, Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Alan Dershowitz.
The recent Joint Statement from Jason Dov Greenblatt and David Friedman, Co-Chairs of the Israel Advisory Committee to Donald J. Trump, spelled out Trump/Pence administration policies that will enhance American-Israeli friendship and the safety and well being of both nations. ZOA is extremely pleased that the Trump/Pence administration’s policies will include:
U.S. recognition that Israel is the state of the Jewish people, who have lived in that land for 3,500 years;
U.S. recognition that Israel is a staunch U.S. ally and a key partner in the global war against Islamic jihadism;
U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish state; the Trump/Pence administration will move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem;
continuing growth in U.S.-Israeli military cooperation and coordination, and recognition of the tremendous benefit that this two-way street relationship brings to both nations;
ensuring that Israel receives maximum military, strategic and tactical cooperation from the United States; and ensuring that the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will not limit the support that Congress and/or the administration gives to Israel;
U.S. vetoes of United Nations resolutions that unfairly single out Israel;
U.S. work in international institutions and forums and with the EU, to oppose efforts to delegitimize Israel, impose discriminatory double standards against Israel, or impose special labeling requirements and boycotts on Israeli products;
cutting off U.S. funding for the UN Human Rights Council, and recognizing that the UNHRC is dominated by dictatorships devoted to slandering the Jewish State; and recognizing that UNESCO’s attempt to disconnect the State of Israel from Jerusalem is a one-sided attempt to ignore Israel’s 3,000-year bond to its capital city, and is further evidence of the enormous anti-Israel bias of the United Nations;
U.S. adoption of strong diplomatic and legislative measures to thwart the anti-Semitic boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel (BDS); and recognizing that BDS “is just another attempt by the Palestinians to avoid having to commit to a peaceful co-existence with Israel; “
rejection of the false notion that Israel is an occupier;
Justice Department investigations of the coordinated attempts on college campuses to intimidate students who support Israel;
U.S. recognition that Israel’s maintenance of defensible borders is necessary to preserve peace and stability; and that “pressure should not be put on Israel to withdraw to borders that make attacks and conflict more likely”;
U.S. recognition that “a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians appears impossible as long as the Palestinians are unwilling to renounce violence against Israel or recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state”; and recognizing that “the Palestinian leadership, including the PA, has undermined any chance for peace with Israel by raising generations of Palestinian children on an educational program of hatred of Israel and Jews” and by regularly teaching hatred to the larger Palestinian-Arab society “on Palestinian television, in the Palestinian press, in entertainment media, and in political and religious communications”; and recognizing that “the two major Palestinian political parties – Hamas and Fatah – regularly promote anti-Semitism and jihad”;
affirming that “the U.S. cannot support the creation of a new [Palestinian-Arab] state where terrorism is financially incentivized, terrorists are celebrated by political parties and government institutions, and the corrupt diversion of foreign aid is rampant” and that “the U.S. should not support the creation of a state that forbids the presence of Christian or Jewish citizens, or that discriminates against people on the basis of religion”;
recognizing that a comprehensive and lasting peace involves free negotiations between those living in the region;
counteracting Iran’s ongoing violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran deal) and Iran’s noncompliance with past and present sanctions and agreements, by implementing tough, new sanctions when needed to protect the world and Iran’s neighbors from Iran’s continuing nuclear and non-nuclear threats; and
recognizing that “the U.S. State Department recently designated Iran, yet again, as the leading state sponsor of terrorism – putting the Middle East particularly, but the whole world at risk by financing, arming, and training terrorist groups operating around the world including Hamas, Hezbollah, and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.”
ZOA again congratulates the President-Elect, the Vice President-Elect and everyone involved with their historic victory – a victory that we believe will help heal America and our relationships will Israel and other nations throughout the world.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the representative body of 125 local Jewish community relations councils and 16 national organizations, congratulates Donald J. Trump on his victory.
“We wish President-elect Trump well moving forward,,” said David Bernstein, JCPA’s President and CEO.. “We commend him on the message of unity he conveyed in his acceptance speech, and urge him to continue to work toward bringing the country together.”
“The American people have spoken,” stated Cheryl Fishbein, Board chair of JCPA. “And as our great democratic tradition dictates, it’s time for a peaceful transition of power.”
“We call upon the President-elect to continue to assure the nation, particularly constituencies feeling most vulnerable, that the country will live up to its highest ideals and respect the rights of all people,” stated Bernstein.
Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations today congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory and commended Secretary Clinton on her hard fought campaign.
In a statement, Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO said, “We congratulate President-elect Trump on his election victory and welcome his clear commitment to be a President for all Americans and to “bind the wounds of division” after a long and bruising campaign. The strength of our great nation is in the enduring dedication of the American people to our pluralistic democracy and institutions. The Conference stands ready to contribute to the hard work of healing the divides in our country which were revealed at times in stark terms during the campaign.
We look forward to working with President-elect Trump and his advisors in the transition before his inauguration and in the years to come during his presidency on the issues facing our country, as well as of specific concern to the American Jewish community including strengthening the special U.S.-Israel relationship, the rise of anti-Semitism and the security of the Jewish people at home and abroad.
We commend Secretary Clinton on her hard fought campaign and extend our deepest gratitude for her lifelong accomplishments in public service on behalf of the American people.
The Republican Jewish Coalition released the following statement from Executive Director Matt Brooks:
“Tonight’s historic victory for Republicans up and down the ticket is a sound rejection of the failed policies of the Obama Administration. Whether it’s the Iran nuclear deal, or the erosion of support for Israel in the Democrat Party, it’s clear the American people are ready to turn the page on the past eight years.
“The RJC could not be happier with the election of Donald Trump and our Senate and House majorities. Whether it’s the millions of dollars we have raised, the paid advertisements, and the door-to-door grass roots activities, we are proud of all we have done to assist all our candidates in their victories.
“After a long, grueling campaign, it’s time for the nation to come together. While there are bound to be bruises on both sides of the aisle – Republicans, Democrats, and Independents must move forward and heal our differences, for the good of the country.”