The key to this presidential election is not entirely “it’s the economy, stupid.” Of course the economy always matters, in this election and all others.
But when you look at constituencies where Harris is under-performing compared to Biden last time, and you look at Trump being even less attractive and stable than last time, and you look at the insults Trump is peddling, there is a simple explanation.
This race is about misogyny and racism, both of which are very much alive and well in America. If a voter is inclined to a lesser or greater degree in those directions, Harris is a difficult choice, if not a nightmare. A woman of color in the White House? No way, they think, not if I can help it!
This is not to deny amazing strides America and many Americans have made. We did, after all, elect a black president twice. On the other hand, the legitimacy of his presidency was questioned from day one. And Trump’s favorite term for women of color—especially women of intelligence and achievement—remains “a nasty woman.” A nasty woman in the White House is a bridge too far for some. Maybe not for many, but maybe enough to swing the election.
There is a myth that lemmings, Arctic rodents, commit mass suicide by throwing themselves off cliffs.
The durable myth has been perpetuated by many cultural instances, the most egregious of which is a Disney documentary from 1958. The producers imported a small number of lemmings from Norway, and then threw them off a cliff to simulate a behavior that didn’t actually exist.
We don’t know whether there are other creatures who actually do mindlessly follow each other en masse over cliffs. Or whether, as they descend, they shout about being good Americans, or Republicans, or Christians, or whatever. Or whether they expect that they will land softly and safely and triumphantly at the bottom, because of parachutes or because God will save them.
Please be kind to the actual lemmings, who don’t deserve their reputation.
You might plan on getting up around dawn to catch the full moon setting. Or you can just wake up that early and be surprised. If you plan on capturing the setting moon, you have to be quick. As soon as you notice it happening, the moon is already sinking fast behind the hills.
Today begins the Jewish festival of Sukkot. It is known as the harvest festival—hag ha-asif—and as the season of our joy—zeman simchateynu.
Today I received a desperate email from the International Rescue Committee, whose work I’ve talked about before. The content of the email is copied below.
GAZA: The IRC is extremely concerned by reports of an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Aqsa hospital grounds where displaced people, including those recently told to leave the north, were sheltering. The strike caused a fire which killed at least four people and injured dozens. Hours earlier, Israeli airstrikes hit a shelter school in Nuseirat, killing 20 and injuring more.
Can you help fund lifesaving aid for children and families in Gaza and other crises?
The conflict-induced humanitarian suffering in Gaza is catastrophic–with every person in Gaza now in need of humanitarian assistance and more than two million Palestinians (half of them children) living without access to sufficient water, food and medical care.
EMERGENCY UPDATE: The International Rescue Committee is extremely concerned by reports of an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Aqsa hospital grounds where displaced people, including those recently told to leave the north, were sheltering. The strike caused a fire which killed at least four people and injured dozens. Hours earlier, Israeli airstrikes hit a shelter school in Nuseirat, killing 20 and injuring more. International law must be upheld, which demands protecting civilians and the infrastructure on which they depend, including hospitals.
The IRC continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, one that seeks to fully protect Palestinian lives, secure the release of hostages, and safely scale up humanitarian assistance and service delivery.
Children and families in Gaza urgently need food, safe water and medical supplies. The IRC is working directly and with local partners to deliver immediate aid to those in desperate need.
“The IRC is working around the clock, alongside incredible Palestinian partners, to do everything we can to save lives.”
– Bob Kitchen, the IRC’s Vice President of Emergency Programs
We need your immediate support. Please rush your donation for families facing crisis, in Gaza and around the world.
Over the past year in Gaza:
The IRC has deployed 12 emergency medical teams on a rotational basis.
We’ve launched a community-based management of acute malnutrition program and delivered 1,700 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food (a nutrient-rich paste for malnourished children) to northern Gaza.
We’re distributing 100,000 liters of clean drinking water per day.
The IRC is also working with 11 partner organizations to deliver: early childhood development, child protection, women’s protection and empowerment, health, nutrition and basic needs.
Trump said he would send troops to take care of the “enemy within”, by which he specified, among others, members of congress who oppose him and cause him trouble. Even Republican leaders are concerned.
Trump cut short a town hall in Pennsylvania to dance (sort of) on stage for a half hour.
Trump said that Kamala Harris and the Democrats want to ban cows and windows in buildings. (Note: When I heard this, I was confused, thinking he meant that they wanted to ban cows in buildings, which didn’t make sense, but neither does any of it. Also, cows will supposedly be banned because red meat will be banned, but at the very least, we will still have cows for milk, something Trump has not considered.)
That was just in the last day or so, and isn’t even a complete list.
We have to be honest, all partisanship aside. Trump may have lots of problems with truth and principles of constitutional democracy. That’s one thing. But the thing that is becoming obvious in the campaign is that he is having serious issues with reality and psychological stability.
The irony, and not a happy one, is that Trump was for a long time depending on Biden’s cognitive issues as a smooth path to the White House. When Biden was replaced by Harris, Trump was knocked off balance. For a while, and still sometimes, he has tried to claim that Harris is an idiot (she’s not) and that she has worse cognitive issues than Biden, saying directly that she is “crazy” (she’s not).
But maybe, likely, Trump currently is. We are so used to Trump acting “different” that we may have trouble seeing “different” is sliding inexorably into “unstable.” Or has already slid there.
They arrived. The ghosts of Gaza stood back Behind the last pews From the first words of Yom Kippur To the last. Kol nidrei All vows Adonai, hu ha’elohim Adonai is God. They mouthed the words In awe of the same God God of compassion Rachamim Eataf. The great blast sounded From the horn of the ram Of the desert they shared. The sun set The congregants ate The ghosts left.
A day of fasting A feast of soul-twisting Confession and contemplation. Of course the morning after is dislocating. Would we rather peacefully abstain Or stay shaken and stirred? Why is this day after different?
Yom Kippur, beginning on the evening of October 11, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year, on which we fast from sundown to sundown.
When we miss meals, we save on the groceries and restaurant meals we might otherwise pay for. Why not take the money we save—from a few dollars to much more—and donate it to help those who, through no fault of their own, are malnourished or starving?
One place that is occurring is in Gaza. Whatever the individual views and ideologies, whatever and wherever blame is assigned, we can all agree that having malnourished and starving children is not good, and that any efforts we make to mitigate the situation are good.
Over half a million Palestinians are suffering from severe malnutrition, and children are dying of starvation. Right now the IRC and its partners are working to deliver urgently needed emergency food, medical supplies and other crucial humanitarian aid to displaced families.
Your gift today will help families in Gaza and conflict zones around the world survive, so please don’t wait. Make an emergency gift to the International Rescue Committee and help people in crisis.
Right now all gifts MATCHED up to $3,500,000.
All gifts, up to $3,500,000 will be matched by generous donors until 11:59 PM on January 2, 2025, or until the match total is met. Gifts received after the match amount has been met will not be matched but will be used where needed most.
Wishing all who fast an easy fast, and all, Jews and non-Jews alike, a good, sweet and peace-filled New Year. All of us deserve it.
Today Is the Birthday of the World (1955), Ben Shahn
The art of Ben Shahn (1898-1969) is, I think, maybe a little out of style these days. This may say something about where we are, as Americans in general and as Jews in particular. From the 1930s through the 1960s, his work as a photographer and artist reflects, in theme and content, an uncompromising commitment to social justice and to the core of his faith. His works are guides through the struggles of the Depression, World War II, postwar economic difficulties, civil rights, and more. He had a special love for Jewish scripture and culture.
I was planning to exhibit some of his artwork promoting voter registration and voting, which I will soon. But given the time of year, I found a couple of his works specifically focused on the High Holidays, which are here right now.
Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books (1953), Ben Shahn. (Note: The Hebrew word at the upper right is machzorim, prayer books for the holiday.)
Please enjoy and explore Ben Shahn. He will be back in these pages, because he is needed.
Bob Schwartz 