Trump through a Jewish prism

   Can I write anything that has not already been written about the latest craziness of our despicable president?  I will give it a try. As you know, I often look at world events through a Jewish prism.  I take great pride in being part of the same tribe with Albert Einstein, Jonas Salk, Carl  and Sandy Levin,  and Hank Greenberg to name a few.  I have particular antipathy to any Jew who voted for Chump.  The antipathy has turned to abhorrence  for any Jew who continues to support Chump after this last week.  Jews are the primary targets of Neo-Nazis. In fact, during Friday night services at a synagogue in Charlottesville, neo Nazis stood across the street from the synagogue armed with assault weapons shouting vile antisemitic   epithets.  While African Americans are the primary targets of the Ku Klux Klan, Jews are secondary targets.  This may be in part because Jews historically have been an important element of the civil rights movement.  So here is my view through the prism.

      Start with Jared Kushner.  His father was a crook and he's a crook.  Nevertheless, I recognize the difficult  position his father in law has put him in.  Kushner's paternal grandparents were survivors of the holocaust.  German Jews watched in horror Nazi hordes marching through the streets with swastika flags.  I wonder if Jared imagined how his grandparents would have reacted to Nazis marching through the streets of Charlottesville with swastika flags.  Ivanka tweeted a relatively good statement about the evils of Nazism  and the KKK.  Jared has not yet been able to screw up the courage to rebuke his father in law.  The rabbi who converted Ivanka has signed a beautiful letter excoriating Trump.  Where is Jared?  We know the history of those who remained silent. 

       Chump's famous "news conference" happened on Monday. That was when he stated for the first time, but not the last, that there were many good people among the KKK  and Neo Nazi demonstrators.  He also said the counter protesters were equally to blame.  Standing directly behind Chump were Gary Cohn and Steven Mnuchin, both of whom are Jewish. Cohen is Chump's principal economic  adviser.    It has been widely reported that Cohn was terribly upset by Chump's remarks.  I would say that being "upset" is not enough   He should have been horrified.  Cohn is a huge philanthropist,  Much of his philanthropy is directed to Jewish organizations.  Cohn should have quit by now.  

        Mnuchin is our Secretary Of Treasury.  He was an early supporter of Chump.  It turns out that Mnuchin is a mini Trump.  He is a multibillionaire.  This year he married for the third time.  His new wife is a bombshell actress twenty years younger than him.  Also, it does not appear that he is at all philanthropic, just like Chump.   He may have made billions will owning a bank that aggressively foreclosed on people's homes.  Sounds like Chump tactics.  Wife no. 2 was very philanthropic, but Mnuchen dumped her. Wickepedia does not have any information to suggest that Mnuchin has any close ties to his Jewish heritage.  Nonetheless, in my narrow view of the world, born a Jew you stay a Jew.  Mnuchin has stayed silent.  He should have submitted his walking papers with Cohn on Tuesday.

        I just read that yesterday there was a rally of about 200 Trump supporters in Howell Michigan.  For those of you who do not know about Howell, it gained notoriety  a number of years ago for being the center of the KKK in Michigan.  Among the speakers at the rally was Lena Epstein.  Ms. Epstein is Jewish.  She is running on the Republican ticket against our beloved Senator Stabenow. She headed the Michigan For Trump campaign. After the Access Hollywood tape she was quoted as saying she would not want Chump to be her child's Sunday school teacher.  But he was not running to be a Sunday school teacher, he was running to be president.  She continues to support this sexual predator and enabler  of Neo Nazis. 

        I  am proud that Jews supported President Obama and Hillary Clinton by margins of about two to one. Many of those Jews who voted for Chump  now say they regret their vote.  So I view Kushner, Cohn, Mnuchin and Epstein as outliers.  Still, I am embarrassed that they are members of my tribe.

       Chump keeps on giving, even as I write this e mail.  I am sure there will be more to follow.  Thanks for listening.

                                                                           Richard 

                                                                          

P.S.  We need to give a shout out to our wonderful Senator Gary Peters.  Gary just received an award from the Viet Nam Veterans Of America for being the politician of the year.  Gary initiated legislation that had bipartisan support for veterans who were dismissed from the military for reasons that may have been related to suffering from PTSD or from being the victim of sexual assault.  Because they were dismissed they were not eligible for veterans benefits.  Gary saw this injustice and got it reversed.  Great job Gary.