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To the last moment, I’ve never faced an election as difficult as this year. Like many voters who found themselves “politically homeless,” there were many flaws with both leading presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. With the future of the country at hand, I cannot imagine sitting out the 2024 election.

In the course of the last year, there have been a number of politicians, pundits, and celebrities who have earned fame and notoriety on the back of speaking about Israel, Gaza, and the Jewish community.  Some, like John Fetterman and Ritchie Torres, earned it by being staunch defenders of Israel.  Others, like Candace Owens, earned it by attacking Israel.  All stood out because they were aberrations from what was expected from people on their political side of the aisle.  What we hear less about are those who are taking strong moral stances and becoming leaders within the expected political party.  One of those leaders is New York Congressman Anthony D’Esposito.

Oct. 7, 2024, marked one complete year since the Jewish world was turned upside down. The barbaric incursion of hordes of Gazan terrorists butchered more than 1200 Israelis and took hostage 250 people from more than 25 nations. In response, Israel has been involved in a multifront war with enemies determined to destroy it. Make no mistake: This is not a battle aimed at the creation of a Palestinian State. Hamas, in its Charter, and Iran since its founding as a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy in 1979, repeatedly state that their goal is the elimination of the Zionist State. Such rhetoric should not be ignored. On September 16, 1919, Hitler issued his first written comment on Jews. He defined the Jews as a race and not a religious community and characterized Jews as a “race-tuberculosis of the peoples.” Hitler stated that the ultimate goal of the German government should definitely be to remove the Jews altogether.

Early voting has begun, and tens of thousands of ballots have already been cast in the Empire State.  Well before any polls open on October 26, and certainly before election day on November 5, New Yorkers are receiving ballots via mail and filling them out.  Aside from selecting the President, Senator, State Senator, Member of Assembly, or the myriads of judges they may have to face in court someday, New Yorkers are flipping that ballot over and determining if men are allowed to violate women’s species and privacy.

Last week, former President Donald Trump made a special trip to the Ohel in Queens on the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel.  There, he was joined by Ben Shapiro, arguably the most famous non-rabbinical religious Jew in America, so they could say a prayer at the final resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.  

“Ufros alainu succot shlomecha” - spread upon us the sukkah (covering) of your peace. The joyous Yom Tov of Sukkos is rapidly approaching. (If you are reading this on Sukkos, well, it’s already here.) The song “v’samachta, b’chagecha, v’hayita…” is more associated with Sukkos than other Yomim Tovim. This is not a coincidence. Why is it that way?