By Donald H. Harrison
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SAN DIEGO – From across the seas and across party lines, past and present Jewish public officials denounced the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu messaged shortly after the incident occurred, but before many details were known, “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. “We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
Two Jewish members of U.S. President Joe Biden’s Cabinet – Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — also spoke out:
“The FBI, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Department’s National Security Division are currently working with the Secret Service as well as state and local enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Garland messaged. “My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack. We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”
Mayorkas, who Homeland Security Department includes the Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of the President and major presidential candidates, commented: “DHS and the Secret Service are working with law enforcement partners to respond to and investigate the shooting. We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today. We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security. Maintaining the security of the Presidential candidates and their campaign events is one of our Department’s most vital securities.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) messaged, “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”
Ivanka Trump, daughter of the former President, is a Jew by choice and, along with husband Jared Kushner, is raising their children as Jews. She wrote, “I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country. … I love you Dad, today and always.”
U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) said, “I’m wishing President Trump and all those who were injured a speedy recovery. Those responsible for violence at President Trump’s rally must be held accountable.”
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona) who was wounded in a 2011 assassination attempt, commented: “Political violence is terrifying. I know. I’m holding former President Trump, and all those affected by today’s indefensible act of violence in my heart. Political violence is un-American and is never acceptable – never.”
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Preceding culled from news sources. Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.
The following reactions came to San Diego Jewish World via our email:
The Religious Zionists of America is deeply saddened and appalled by the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump’s at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Acts of violence have no place in our democratic society, and we unequivocally condemn this attempted assassination.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Trump and his family as well as the families of a murdered rally-attendee and two other victims injured during the attack.
RZA president Stephen M. Flatow said, “it’s time to lower the heat in America’s political discourse. America thrives on civil discourse, respectful disagreement, and the peaceful exchange of ideas, not shootings. Such acts endanger not only public figures but also the very fabric of our democracy.”
The RZA calls upon all Americans to reject violence and embrace dialogue. It’s time to reaffirm our shared values, and work towards a future where political disagreements are resolved only through the ballot box.
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Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg of Edison, New Jersey, messaged:
We are enduring existential threats in Israel, but we are fighting back despite the hate and false criticism. Even at such a time I am praying for the safety of Donald J. Trump and the soul of America that has been critically damaged in the last four years. We pray that you will find your way back to the traditional values that made America the Shining Beacon of Western democracy.
I support conservatism, fairness, love of country, and most of all the right of Jews to be free of anti-Semitic attacks and the public discrimination proclivity. Already when Donald Trump ran in the primaries, I had faith not only that Trump would be a good president for all Americans, but he would turn over the hostile tide President Obama established against the State of Israel.
To determine his support, I met with Trump’s team in the Trump’s Tower, in Manhattan, New York City, in order to be assured his vote is the right choice. The follow-up was founding the ‘Rabbi for Trump’ group.
As a Rabbi and a teacher at Rutgers University I was harassed and threatened by a former student, who used anti-Semitic slurs and name calling against me because he received B+ grade. The media and the Jewish organizations remained silent. Till today I did not receive a single call from the university president’s office or its communications department, where he taught. The Rutgers police investigation of this case remains unconcluded.
For years I have been reporting about anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism at Rutgers University to no avail. I believe that behind the silence and oblivion hide the fashionable politically correct behavior. People prefer to stand idly by in the face of wrong and evil. Sometimes till it is too late.
I am the son of Holocaust survivors, Jewish parents who escaped from being murdered by the Nazis during World War Two. In this mass murder action the Nazis and their collaborators murdered one out of three Jews who lived in the world at that time. My parents were Jacob and Rachel Rosenberg. During the war Rachel was a slave laborer in a Nazi munitions factory. Later on she was sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. My father, Jacob Rosenberg, was sent to Auschwitz. Their entire families, except for my father’s half-sister and niece, were murdered, including my father’s first wife and children. I wake up each day with a sweat. I will not keep silent in light of any anti-Semitic incident.
My worries have now doubled with the Democrat Party veering toward anti-Israel polity, anti-Israel dogma.
Its been a surreal 20 some hours as we watched the event over and over again and see newscasters and politicians try to absorb and report what happened and almost happened.
My hope is that we can move forward here, in this little corner of the universe, to tone down the passion and hopefully come together and appreciate each other more.
Stay safe,
Rene Roussel
The attempted Assassination happened about 8 am New Zealand time Sunday. It is coming up to 1 am Monday morning and I have been watching Tv news all day and I have it on as I write this.
I have a rifle with Iron sights. I have shot rabbits at 180 yards from my front porch of my home on the farm. You cannot buy AR type rifles in New Zealand. You have to wonder why a shooter was able to get onto a building roof 130 yards from President Trump. That is not a hard shot to make.
I am sure I can speak for all New Zealanders when I offer my condolences to the family of the deceased and my best wishes to the families of the wounded men, including Donald Trump.