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    • ‘Democracy, abortion and the economy’: JDCA backs Kamala Harris
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    ‘Democracy, abortion and the economy’: JDCA backs Kamala Harris

    Harry Posted on

    Jill Goldenberg, a board member of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, has knocked on dozens of doors since September in different neighborhoods in both Pennsylvania and Michigan, speaking with likely Democratic voters about electing Vice President Harris and the Democrats on the ballot.

    Although he knocks on doors in predominantly Jewish communities, Goldenberg said he doesn’t engage in much conversation with voters about Israel.

    “The most important issue for Jewish voters is democracy, the second is abortionThe third is the economy,” Goldenberg said. to mail While walking through a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia on Sunday morning. “And (Jewish voters) continue to care about Israel and know Democrats are with them on this.”

    He said it really depends on values ​​and who shares the values ​​of the Jewish community.

    Goldenberg said persuading and persuading Democratic voters to go to the polls is about understanding and empathy.

    Voting for Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election (Source: SHUTTERSTOCK)

    “It’s about understanding that someone else cares about being authentic,” he said. “So if you don’t know what they care about, you share what really matters to you.”

    Goldenberg described how on Saturday he knocked on the door of a Jewish voter in his 90s who was determined to vote for Harris but was skeptical of Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is running for a fourth term.

    Democratic voters support Israel

    Goldenberg shared that he cares a lot about voters IsraelVoters also said they care about Israel.

    “I said, ‘You know Bob Casey is trustworthy, right?'” Goldenberg told voters.

    Goldenberg said he had some conversations with Jewish voters on different campaign weekends who said, “I don’t like Harris, but I’m going to vote for him because I can’t stand what I think (Trump) is going to do.” to our country.”

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    Goldenberg said his answer has always been: “A vote for Kamala is a vote for democracy and sanity. However you got there, thank you for that.”

    When it comes to convincing friends and people in your personal life Harris’ support for IsraelGoldenberg relied on the trust he built as former president of the Greater Boston Jewish Community Relations Council and former board member of the Federation.

    Goldenberg explained how he was able to tell his friends: “You know me. You know that I’m a staunch defender of Israel, and I’m telling you (Harris supports Israel).”

    But Goldenberg found she hadn’t felt the need to give that kind of reassurance to anyone in her life since the Democratic National Convention in late August, which took place a full month after President Biden dropped out of the race and Harris launched her campaign.

    Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin’s presence in prime time from the convention stage concluded that this assurance was given.

    Goldenberg called Republicans’ efforts to mislead American Jews about Harris’ record on Israel “despicable” because he believed the misinformation and disinformation were calculated to bring the Jewish community into disarray.

    “And Israel needs every friend it can get,” he said pointedly.

    “Just to smear him with lies,” Goldenberg continued. “Harris is a consummate advocate and ally, and I trust him. I don’t trust him.”

    He accused Republicans of blatantly lying about Harris’ record, who she is and what she’s done for the Jewish community.

    He added that the more disinformation coming from the right, the less likely the Jewish community is to feel safe.

    “(Harris) makes us feel safe,” Goldenberg said. “The disinformation is designed to intimidate the Jewish community and strike fear into their hearts.”

    JDCA Communications Director Jacob Spiegel, who met with Goldenberg on Sunday, acknowledged there was a learning curve for Harris as she entered the race late and that the Jewish community both wanted and needed to know her record on Israel.

    “And once they did that, they were convinced,” he said. “I think we’ll see that in the vote totals as well. It’ll play out the same way it has for Democrats for years.”

    Neither Goldenberg nor Spiegel faced any pushback or harassment while campaigning wearing Jewish Democrat shirts or Hebrew buttons.

    Goldenberg laughed and said that on Saturday, a woman noticed the “Jews for Kamala” button and said, “This is a very Jewish neighborhood. I’m not Jewish, but you’ll do well here.”

    On Sunday, Goldenberg and her husband, Sidney, surveyed a diverse neighborhood in a Democratic stronghold with Spiegel and JDCA’s Communications Director Sara Grostern. They’ve connected with a handful of voters who said yes, they’ll go to the polls on Tuesday, and yes, they’ll vote Democrat all the way.

    A woman walking on the sidewalk with her daughter and grandson noticed the Harris shirts and stopped the group.

    “My grandchildren are Puerto Rican,” the woman said, unprompted. “It’s disgusting. It’s disgusting. And I’m Jamaican. We don’t do that.”



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