By Elchanan Poupko
In an unprecedented move, 120 rabbis from across the political spectrum have called on “all Jewish people, their allies, and any person who stands against hate not to support or collaborate with North Carolina’s Democratic Party leadership.”
This unusual call for a boycott came in response to the North Carolina Democratic Party’s recent resolution advocating for a total arms embargo on Israel, as well as what the rabbis described as the “cruel” and “bigoted” treatment of the party’s own Jewish members.
The statement appeared today as a full-page ad in the Charlotte Observer. It was signed by some of America’s most prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Kehilath Jeshurun—one of the nation’s oldest synagogues—Rabbi Leonard Matanky of Chicago, Rabbi Adam Starr of Atlanta, Rabbi Pini Dunner of Beverly Hills, Rabbi Joel Finkelstein of Memphis, and several local North Carolina rabbis.
Strong reactions quickly followed. Georgia Democratic Representative Esther Panitch publicly urged party leaders to respond, saying: “y’all have anything about this? Your silence has encouraged this to fester.”
Despite the letter’s condemnation of antisemitism in the North Carolina Democratic Party and its opposition to the arms embargo—which also bars paid weapons purchases—former Ohio State Senator and Bernie Sanders ally Nina Turner countered: “Why is it the job of the Democratic Party of North Carolina to commit to arming Israel?! It’s not. See how ridiculous that sounds?”
The letter also invoked the historic alliance between Jewish and African American leaders, calling for renewed solidarity in the face of what it described as a “wave of antisemitism and hate” in North Carolina:
“We are nonpartisan, hail from across North America, and represent both sides of the political aisle. As represented by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama, rabbis and leaders of the Jewish community will spare no effort to help any neighbor.”
As of now, the North Carolina Democratic Party has not issued an official response to the letter.
