How do we feel at the end of this election week? Fearful? Angry? Weary?

Likely a combination of all three.

New York’s election results are, for many in the Jewish community, not what we’d hoped.

But far more important than how we feel this week is how are we going to ACT next week — and in the weeks, months, and years that follow?

Let’s remember elections are not an end point.

Representatives must serve the people in their districts. All the people. The ones who voted for them and the ones who did not. And after two years, constituents once again cast their ballots for members of Congress.

In the meantime, we have numerous ways to promote our priorities and support candidates whose views align with our own. This is precisely NOT the moment to close off, to turn our backs on New York, on other New Yorkers, or to despair that we are powerless.

Assuredly, we are not.

But we also need to acknowledge a sobering new reality. Never in our lifetimes has Israel been less popular in this country. For some voters, this election became a referendum on Israel, and anti-Israel sentiment helped shape the outcome in certain races.

This is among the most pressing challenges facing our community. And all who believe in the vital importance of Israel as a Jewish and democratic homeland must do a far better job of coming together — left and right, across difference — to tackle this challenge with candor, focused strategy, and nuance.

UJA will keep a bright spotlight on our elected officials. Backed by the credibility and trust we’ve earned over many decades, we and our network partners will speak out and advocate for legislation that strengthens and protects the Jewish community, and we will oppose efforts that seek to marginalize or undermine it. We’ll use UJA Action to let everyone know when and how our voice can be heard across corridors of power. When a situation demands it, we’ll organize rallies, marches, and press conferences, as we’ve done in the past. We’ll use the full weight of our established roots across New York to build broader, stronger coalitions and find new allies.

Of course, we'll also continue our abiding work: helping vulnerable New Yorkers — people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds — move from crisis to stability. And strengthening Jewish life and education across every age and stage in our community.

That’s all of us, together.

Now to what each of us can do, individually…

• Show up. Sign up for UJA Action.
• Check our voter registration now. Many New Yorkers discovered too late that they were not registered with a party and therefore could not vote in the primary. Primary voting is often the de facto vote in New York.
• Thank elected leaders who stand with the Jewish community, express support for Israel, and take a stand against antisemitism. Positive reinforcement matters, and we often hear from our elected officials that while other groups reach out frequently, the Jewish community is quieter.
• Speak up when we disagree. Call, write, attend town halls, and let’s make our views known.
• Get involved locally. Join a community board, civic association, or neighborhood organization. Volunteer for a campaign, or even consider a run for office.
• Join our Civic Ambassador Network, a training program for individuals who want to help their communities get more civically engaged. Reach out to Will Berlin to learn more. 
• Learn more about the New York Solidarity Network, an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) that supports pro-Jewish candidates, develops emerging political leaders, and mobilizes voters in state and local elections. 

This is a new, uncomfortable terrain for us in New York. But there is a way forward.

For the fearful, angry, and weary, the beautiful words of UJA’s scholar-in-residence, Rabbi Menachem Creditor, offer some important perspective: “We can feel afraid and still show up. We can feel weary and still build. We can feel anger and still refuse hatred. We can insist on Jewish safety while also standing for the safety of others. That is not a contradiction. It is the deepest expression of who we are called to be as Jews.” 

We are the largest, most vibrant and diverse Jewish community in the world. We can shape our Jewish future. But we need to be in this together. 

For ourselves. For our children and grandchildren. And for generations of Jewish New Yorkers to come.

Shabbat shalom