The Righteous Among The Nations

Children of Israel Are Never Alone

Mar 22, 2024

Hey, tribe.

If you’re not familiar with the term The Righteous Among The Nations, the phrase is Israel’s honorific for non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Oskar Schindler was one such heroic soul. So was Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who, over six feverish weeks during his post at the Lithuanian consulate, manually wrote out visas for thousands of Jews fleeing the Holocaust.

As the New York Times describes it:

Day and night he wrote visas. He issued as many visas in a day as would normally be issued in a month. His wife, Yukiko, massaged his hands at night, aching from the constant effort. When Japan finally closed down the embassy in September 1940, he took the stationery with him and continued to write visas that had no legal standing but worked because of the seal of the government and his name. At least 6,000 visas were issued for people to travel through Japan to other destinations, and in many cases entire families traveled on a single visa. It has been estimated that over 40,000 people are alive today because of this one man.

With the consulate closed, Sugihara had to leave. He gave the consulate stamp to a refugee to forge more visas, and he literally threw visas out of the train window to refugees on the platform.

Many of the Jews I know keep a mental checklist of our own Righteous Among The Nations — the clear-eyed and informed non-Jews in our lives who see anti-Semitism for what it is and refuse to be complicit with it, even at real social and professional risk to themselves. I know I do, and some readers of this substack are etched in stone within it.

I wanted to devote today’s post to five such luminous souls in Congress. I encourage any impulse you might have to thank them and assist them in their re-election campaigns. All of them incur an immense amount of hostility for standing with us, but not one of them has wavered for a moment. They deserve our devout gratitude, respect and support.

1. Rep. Ritchie Torres

At the very top of my list is Ritchie Torres, who represents New York’s 15th Congressional District in the South Bronx. His district is the poorest in New York State.

At only 36, Torres is the first openly gay Afro-Latino elected to Congress. He describes himself as “the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive” and his first trip to Israel as “a life-altering experience.” He also fights daily for affordable housing, climate reform, LGBTQ+ rights, a livable minimum wage, quality health care for all, reproductive choice for women and the reduction of racially concentrated poverty.

He rejects calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as the false accusation that Israel is committing genocide. Here are just a few of his very consistent and ongoing tweets in support of the Jewish nation:

Friendship does not get any better than this.

2. Senator Cory Booker

The next Congress member I want to highlight is Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.

Senator Booker has such a deep and abiding love of Judaism and the Jewish people that he is practically an honorary Jew, and he has made a weekly study of the Torah for many years.

Less than a week after the October 7th massacre, he delivered a speech at a solidarity Shabbat service at Temple Bnai Jeshurun in Millburn.

I know it’s long, but I hope at least some of you will listen because in all my life, I have never heard a more electrifying speech. It was the first response to the massacre that let a sliver of light into the darkness I was drowning in that week. I don’t know how he had time to create a talk of this magnitude and beauty in such short order.

But it was iconic.

It was presidential.

It was gospel.

It was a lifeline.

His love for our people and for Israel comes through in a way that can leave not a shred of doubt about its authenticity.

If Cory Booker ever decided to run for president, I would move to New Jersey and be a full-time slave to his campaign.

3. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

The next lion of Zion in Congress is unanimously elected House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York’s 8th Congressional District — the highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. He has also served as the whip of the Congressional Black Caucus.

He has fought valiantly for a range of issues including gun control, reproductive freedom for women, LGBTQ+ equality, support for Ukraine, and criminal justice reform.

He has also been called “one of the most pro-Israel Democrats in the House” by the Times of Israel.

The following screenshots are excerpts of his statement in support of Israel one month after the massacre:

4. Senator John Fetterman

The fourth member of Congress I want to laud is Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Fetterman is a consistent champion of American manufacturing, clean energy, lower taxes for the working middle class, health care cost control, reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and dignity and equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

He is also a fearless fighter for Israel, making headlines for his headstrong opposition to his fellow progressives — even stating a willingness to relinquish the label “progressive” if it requires him to condemn Israel.

I am devoutly grateful for his integrity and fortitude.

5. Rep. Ted Lieu

Finally, I’d like to spotlight Representative Ted Lieu of California’s 36th District, who currently serves as the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Rep. Lieu has fought for no end of very important causes during his two decades in politics. He has authored laws against conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth, child sex offenders, domestic violence and climate collapse, while fighting for education and health care reform, veterans’ issues and reproductive freedom.

Rep. Lieu’s support for Israel following Hamas’ attack on 10/7 was swift, unequivocal and consistent. It began with a statement that could not have been worded in stronger terms:

In response to the gaslighting and accusations that Israel was exaggerating or lying about Hamas’ atrocities, Rep. Lieu immediately sent a missive to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, requesting a screening of October 7th footage for over 100 Congressional Representatives as well as members of the media.

And finally, he has issued sharp rebukes to news outlets that carelessly and falsely smear Israel in the press:

So as we go into Shabbat, I hope it’s a comfort to know that we actually have fierce and righteous warriors in our corner on the left — even many who aren’t Jewish, but simply attuned to the truth.

I hope your evening and day tomorrow are restful, peaceful and beautiful. I’ll be back with you on Sunday.

L’chaim!

Shabbat Shalom, and…

Am Yisrael Chai.