The election is over. The blue wave is real.
“Who is wise? One who learns from every person,” teaches Pirkei Avot (4:1), an ancient collection of Jewish ethical teachings. These words challenge us to examine uncomfortable facts, take others’ experiences seriously, and recognize that different priorities do not necessarily signal hostile intentions.
Whatever you’re feeling about the election, there are lessons worth considering:
How our leaders treat people matters—both within our country and across the globe. Disagreement does not excuse disrespect. Crude language and dismissing people’s concerns have consequences. Threats and political violence have no place in resolving differences. Those entrusted with power have a particular responsibility to exercise restraint and protect human dignity.
Many Americans are hurting financially and turned off by nasty politics. The price at the pump shapes their daily lives. They deserved a clear, consistent explanation of why the United States went to war with Iran and how negotiations and military action fit into a coherent strategy. Last night’s results show the current administration failed to provide a convincing answer.
For a large number of American Jews, this election has raised questions about our place in the political process. Congressman Jared Moskowitz, a Jewish Democrat from our own South Florida community who won reelection last night, has spoken about Jews feeling “politically homeless,” committed to longstanding values, yet uncertain where our concerns about antisemitism, Jewish safety, and support for Israel will be taken seriously. Many of us have felt that raising questions about a candidate’s rhetoric, associations, and even a tattoo gets us labeled as overly sensitive. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, herself Jewish, urged Jewish voters to place “the needs of the world above even our own self-interest and, yes, even our own survival.” Some may agree with her broader political calculation. But our safety and belonging are part of the world’s wellbeing, too.
Today, Vice President JD Vance blamed Republican losses on the Iran war and cited voters calling to “change our relationship to Israel.” President Trump has agreed with his analysis. As Republicans assess their losses, the Jewish community must be alert to efforts to turn Israel into a scapegoat for the administration’s own decisions.
Now that the election is over, we as Jews—whatever our party label—must work with our elected officials and parties to ensure that our concerns are heard and addressed. We need to reclaim our voice in the political process: asking difficult questions, building relationships, and holding leaders accountable—including those we helped elect. No party should take our support for granted or expect our silence as the price of belonging.
Fighting antisemitism is urgent. Many candidates who won last night clearly stand with us in this fight. Some winners, however, deepen fears in the Jewish community. Those fears deserve to be heard. Many voters do not make combating antisemitism a deciding factor in their vote. For many of us, that is difficult to comprehend, especially when the threat feels so personal. A vote for another candidate should not automatically be understood as a vote intended to hurt Jews.
For those of us deeply committed to Israel, some of last night’s victories are difficult to absorb. But Israel is not a priority for many American voters—including many Jewish voters. Israel had a just cause in going to war against Hamas. Its government nevertheless failed to communicate that case effectively and to adequately address concerns about its conduct. Those failures, alongside Washington’s handling of Iran, have made sustaining American support for Israel harder. But those failures do not excuse the intense hostility toward the Jewish state. Some candidates who won last night promote deeply concerning views that go beyond criticism of Israel’s government or policies. Their victories deserve attention, even when many of their voters were motivated by priorities unrelated to Israel.
For many voters, this election was about deeply held commitments—including commitments to democracy, reproductive freedom, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, economic security, immigration, public safety, Jewish safety, and Israel’s future. Each person weighs values, concerns, and priorities differently. Someone you love may have voted differently because of what matters most to them—not because they dismiss what matters most to you.
If a winning candidate’s positions on Jewish safety or Israel concern you, that victory does not silence your voice. Nor should it obscure the many members of the incoming Congress, including several from South Florida, who remain committed to Jewish security and Israel’s future.
For those celebrating the blue wave: today has brought joy and renewed hope for the country’s future. For many, the results represent an opportunity to protect rights, strengthen democracy, and make everyday life more affordable. Now comes the work of turning those hopes into reality and holding those elected accountable. As this work is done, it is worth remembering that loved ones may feel unsettled or afraid. Making room for those feelings may not be easy, but it is part of building bridges and moving beyond the divisions of recent years.
For those unsettled by last night’s election: your friends and family who are celebrating are not your enemies. The blue wave reflects deep frustration with the current administration and its response to Americans’ everyday struggles. The celebration of those close to you need not be seen as a rejection of you or what you hold dear. You still have a voice.
“Who is wise? One who learns from every person.” Pirkei Avot does not limit that teaching to people who agree with us. An election victory does not mean there is nothing left to learn. And dismissing those who voted differently closes the door to understanding why they made those choices.
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