This is certainly not the outcome we hoped for when many New York Jews, in our individual capacities, made phone calls, canvassed, knocked on doors, and ultimately voted. It’s a devastating moment for our nation and for our people, and I hope this finds you holding yourselves and your loved ones close. We know in our grief that we will not give up on the things that matter to us as liberal Jewish New Yorkers.
We successfully campaigned for Prop 1- New York’s Equal Rights Amendment – and fought against the anti-democratic NYC power grab that was Props 2-6. We are grateful to NYJA ally State Senator Liz Krueger for authoring the bill, and to all NYJA allied elected officials who pushed for this critical protection of our freedoms. Thanks to the massive push from our communities and values-aligned leaders, our state constitution will now protect us from discrimination by the government. It couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.
It is more important than ever to fight for the world we want to see right here in New York. We will continue to build our base of liberal Jewish elected officials across the city and state, so they can organize and plan together, and we can collectively support their work. We will also continue to work and organize with other elected officials and leaders who share our values and vision for New York and beyond.
Exit polls indicate that around 79% of the national Jewish vote went to Harris/Walz. We knew going into this election what a huge portion of our community cared about: reproductive justice, defending liberal democracy and pluralism, protecting our climate, an economy that works for all of us, systems that protect and defend all Americans. Sadly, it was not our will that was done; it is not our vision that will be enacted.
New York is our immediate community, our sphere of influence, and must remain a beacon of liberal values. As Jews we are vulnerable at this moment, but so are many of our neighbors. We need each other; we need to recommit to talking across lines of difference because shared society depends on it. The road ahead is daunting, but our work at NYJA is clear: tend to New York and New Yorkers. Build our base. Fight like hell for our freedoms and for social justice.
In the meantime, sending you strength and chesed (loving-kindness). May we all be gentle with ourselves.
Phylisa Wisdom, Executive Director
Nancy Kaufman, NYJA Board Chair
