It's the Jews Fault

With the political ground zero currently centered in Michigan, the expression of “the ground is shifting under our feet” feels more apt. Abdul El-Sayed campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Michigan; he has repeatedly argued that American tax dollars sent to Israel should instead be spent addressing problems at home. In discussing healthcare, he says that the military aid to Israel can be redirected to Americans so it can afford the so-called “Medicare for All” program. Rising healthcare costs in the United States frustrate most people. Beyond higher premiums, rising out-of-pocket costs strain many budgets. El Sayed promises a panacea that will supposedly solve everything: “Medicare for All.” The claim is that we would be able to afford this expensive program if only America discontinued aid to the Jewish state. In other words, one of the biggest challenges in American life of our generation is that the world’s only Jewish state is milking U.S. taxpayers. There is so much to unpack here that it is hard to know where to begin. Firstly, it’s important to understand the numbers. Although it’s hard to know exactly what “Medicare for All” would cost taxpayers, many estimates put it at about $4 trillion annually. The staggering figure would be added to the federal budget. America provides $3.3 billion in aid to Israel. Although that is a lot of money, it comes to 0.075% of the proposed Medicare for All cost. Israel also spent nearly $60 billion in 2026 on military needs alone. While America contribution is very significant, it represents about 5% of Israel’s military budget. This should give someone pause the next time one hears that American taxpayers are financing the war in Gaza. For thousands of years, citizens across many countries have been told that the reason for their suffering is because of the Jews. In 2026, in Michigan (and other places), Americans are being told that the reason for debilitating healthcare costs and rising gas prices is because of the Jewish State. Let that sink in. For decades, American Jews had thought that the hatred and bigotry towards our people were in the rearview mirror. We need to internalize this changing landscape and lean into our identity and heritage in more substantive ways. We study the Book of Bereishis at the beginning of the Jewish calendar to remember our story, how G-d created th e world, and how He chose Avraham as the father of His chosen people. One cost of being chosen is that not everyone likes us because of it. That might make us uncomfortable, but as we learn from our Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Bereishes, it sometimes requires walking between the raindrops. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch