When Insiders Make Us Feel Like Outsiders

by Leo Markman

Imagine watching a bull fight with two bulls. Both bulls are Jewish.  The spectators are not Jewish except for a couple of faces. That's what Chuck Schumer's floor speech in the Senate, before his peers, 91 percent of whom are not Jewish, seemed like. Senator Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, called for early elections in Israel because he does not approve of the Netanyahu government’s handling of the conflict in Gaza. Schumer’s call came from a government official but also a Jew. Much of the controversy surrounding Schumer's statement stemmed from the fact that a US senator appeared to be interfering with another democracy. The question of whether Schumer has a right to insert himself into Israel’s democratic process has been dissected by the Jewish community and many media outlets. Schumer and other Jewish leaders must find a way to criticize Israel with grace while not weakening Jews and Israel. Did he meet this bar?

Debate and open disagreement are time-honored Jewish traditions. But Schumer did not simply disagree with Netanyahu. He embarrassed many Jews in the Diaspora by making them feel uncomfortable, even self conscious, about supporting Israel. Through his words, some Jews undoubtedly heard that even a Zionist can't help but hate the Israeli government in these times. Regardless of Schumer's intention, this is how many non-Jews also perceived his comment. Schumer’s comments fed into the perception that there is a lack of solidarity among Jews. He fed into the division that threatens to weaken the Jewish community when it needs to come together.

Expressing one’s opinion is at the core of what it means to be Jewish. And yet disagreement must come from a place of understanding of the wider implications. This is where Shumer fell short in his speech. Calling out Netanyahu so personally put millions of Netanyahu-supporting Israelis and American Jews in a difficult position. They are left to choose between their loyalty to Schumer, a Democratic leader, and Netanyahu, the leader of the Jewish state. The Jewish people cannot afford to be so divided at this moment. To live in the Diaspora is to live outside. For many Jews across the world, this speech left them feeling more outside and isolated than ever before.

Image Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/sen-schumer-says-2-objects-shot-down-over-alaska-canada-believed-to-be-balloons

April 5, 2024