"Jewish Leaders in Michigan Urge Support for El-Sayed's Senate Bid"...
...here's an excerpt from the Paper of Record...an example of Critical Thinking and Prudential Judgement..
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A group of Jewish voters in Michigan is urging support for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the state’s Democratic nominee for Senate, in an open letter that acknowledges concerns among some Jewish voters about his candidacy and his criticism of Israel.
The letter, signed by more than 500 people who identify as Jewish leaders or voters in the state, says that the election of Dr. El-Sayed, a staunch critic of Israel, is “clearly the better choice for Jews” compared with his Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers.
“Some of us are enthusiastic supporters of El-Sayed,” the letter, published on Wednesday, reads. “Some of us have reservations: There are disagreements with El-Sayed on important issues, including aspects of his approach to Israel and the language used by some of his allies. These concerns remain serious for many of us, and we will vote for El-Sayed.”
It comes after a coalition of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders warned in a petition drive last week that they would withhold their support for Dr. El-Sayed if he did not change his tone and rhetoric on Israel, and as the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus continues to withhold an endorsement from its party’s nominee.
The signers of Wednesday’s letter wrote that Dr. El-Sayed would provide a check on President Trump’s power and champion positions they supported on health care, democracy and voting rights, abortion access, public schools, immigration and social welfare.
“We understand that a vote is not a valentine; it’s a strategic chess move,” the letter continues.
It was signed by Eli Savit, the Democratic nominee for Michigan attorney general; former Representative Sander Levin, a Democrat who was a firm supporter of Israel during his more than three decades in the lower chamber; his son, former Representative Andy Levin; Alicia Chandler, the past president of the Detroit chapter of the American Jewish Committee, a pro-Israel group; and Decky Alexander, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus.
A coalition of Jewish former elected officials, ambassadors and other foreign policy specialists — including former Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota — also broadcast their support for Dr. El-Sayed late last week.
The show of support for Dr. El-Sayed appears to be aimed at countering a push from other Jews in Michigan who oppose him or are threatening to.
These critics have pointed to his stance opposing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state; his comment that “hurt people hurt people” after an antisemitic attack on a suburban Detroit synagogue; and his ties to the left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, a fierce and sometimes inflammatory critic of Israel. Some Democrats have worried that the divisions could hinder Dr. El-Sayed’s ability to win a state crucial to the party’s hopes of retaking the Senate.
Michigan has roughly 130,000 Jewish residents. Since last week, 16 Jewish leaders have signed onto the petition drive demanding that Dr. El-Sayed support “Jewish sovereignty in Israel,” including the president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis and 14 of his colleagues.
And more than 475 people have signed a different letter saying they are Jewish Democrats and independents who plan to vote for Mr. Rogers because they feel “threatened and alienated by the politics and allies” of Dr. El-Sayed.
Dr. El-Sayed narrowly defeated a pro-Israel opponent in the primary, and he has faced the task of bringing on board nearly half of the state’s Democrats who voted for her. Tensions from the divisive primary have lingered as he pivots to the general election.
Mr. Levin, the retired congressman, endorsed Dr. El-Sayed publicly in addition to signing Wednesday’s letter. In a social media statement on Tuesday, Mr. Levin, who is 95, said that Dr. El-Sayed would be a “strong advocate” for democracy and his party’s goals on health care, workers’ rights and social welfare programs. He also criticized what he called “terrible anti-Muslim bigotry” against Dr. El-Sayed.
Mr. Savit, who is running for attorney general, said he had signed the letter to emphasize the high stakes of the race, including its potential impact on future Supreme Court appointments. Mr. Savit said that when he served as legal counsel to the mayor of Detroit, he worked with Dr. El-Sayed, who was the city’s health director from 2015 to 2017.
“I’ve seen his mind work,” Mr. Savit said in a phone interview. “I’ve seen how thoughtfully he approaches problems and issues. And I think that’s something that we should look forward to in our next U.S. senator.”