Biden has done a 'pretty good job... while juggling very hot balls' - Michigan Jewish community

Record ID: 1768863

  • Title: Biden has done a 'pretty good job... while juggling very hot balls' - Michigan Jewish community
  • Date: 26th February 2024
  • Summary: BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 25, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JEWISH AGENCY OF ISRAEL, ISRAELI EMISSARY FOR DETROIT, LIOR ZISSER-YOGEV, LEADING PRESENTATION, "ISRAEL AND GAZA," AT TEMPLE BETH EL OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHIGAN RESIDENT, COMMUNITY COLLEGE KINESIOLOGY PROFESSOR, CAROL PLISNER, SAYING: "Israel culture is something that
  • Embargoed: 11th March 2024 14:12
  • Keywords: American Jews Bloomfield Hills Detroit Israel Michigan primary
  • Location: BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • City: BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001346226022024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The situation in Gaza and the Middle East has become a focal point in the U.S. presidential campaign, with much focus on states with large Arab populations.
    None has perhaps come under sharper focus than the Arab communities in Michigan, who will hold primaries this week. But the Mideast swing state also has a sizable Jewish population of about 100,000.
    And members of the Beth El synagogue in Bloomfield Hills held a meeting Sunday (February 25) to discuss the latest happenings with an Israeli emissary to the Detroit Jewish community present.
    "I think Biden has done a pretty good job," said Pleasant Ridge resident, Suzanne Levin. "I believe that he is juggling very hot balls right now, and I think the way the world treats Israel… is such a displaced, unfair way."
    But the members also acknowledged both how central Israel is to their politics as well as how diverse the community's views are.
    "Israel culture is something that is deeply embedded in American Jews. It's something we teach our children right from toddlerhood. So when Israel hurts, American Jews hurt," said Carol Plisner, a Michigan resident. "And I think that there is a very divided feeling among American Jews about the current political status in the United States. I think it's not a one size fits all idea of whether Democrats or Republicans will serve the cause better."
    But whereas there is much talk of apathy or voting uncommitted, Jewish leaders do not expect such a result from their community.
    "I think that the Jewish community has a very high level of participation in elections and civic responsibilities. I expect that to continue and maybe even be higher right now, given the stakes," said Mark Miller, the rabbi at Beth El in Bloomfield Hills.
    (Production by: Hussein Al Waaile and Dan Fastenberg)
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