For the past two years, I have taken a family vacation during the last week of July.  Next year, I need to pick a different week!

Last year, the war in Gaza and our “Stop the Sirens” campaign were the focus of my vacation. My time was consumed responding to countless emails and phone calls, addressing the concerns and needs of our community, donors, and partners, while ensuring that I was informed enough to advise our professional and lay leadership.  Fortunately, my family was understanding, equally concerned, and supportive of the work that needed to be done.

This vacation, what consumed me – and continues to consume me is - Iran!  Some might argue that the pending Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) agreement should not be a Jewish issue.  All lovers of freedom and democracy, all supporters of human rights, and all caring citizens of the world, should be concerned that any agreement with Iran is the right agreement.  “The best available agreement” should not be the standard of acceptance. The RIGHT agreement should be!

And so my vacation began.  Once again, numerous phone conferences, emails, personal phone calls, articles, information, and opinions for review and understanding.  Should our Federation oppose the deal?  Should we support it?  Should we, in fact, take any position knowing the diversity of opinion within our community and that taking a stance on international diplomacy is not something we normally do?

As Americans, we should each reach our own individual opinions and act on those opinions in a way that best meets our individual needs. As a major Jewish organization committed to the well-being of the State of Israel, it is imperative that we understand the implications of this agreement as it pertains to and impacts the Jewish homeland. It is in that light that many of the major Jewish organizations have decided to express their opinions on this agreement.

Yet it is also in that light that many others are framing the discussion and labeling those who oppose the agreement of having “dual loyalty”, being “war mongers”, and putting the interest of Israel ahead of that of the United States and the rest of the world. Suddenly, rather than a serious debate on a decision that will impact generations to come, it is a debate that raises historical Jewish fears.  Should Jews and Jewish institutions be “sha still” (passively quiet) for fear of awakening an anti-Semitic backlash? 

From that vantage point, it is imperative for us to be firm in our desire to stand by our beliefs and highlight how statements such as these can fuel an already smoldering fire of anti-Semitism.

If we don’t stand up for ourselves, who will?  Is it because of our close ties to Israel that Jews in America are anything but apathetic about this issue, unlike other Americans who may feel too distant about this issue and without any personal connection? Is it because we are so well organized that our voice seems dominant while others aren’t?

There is great concern by many about what will happen the day after Congress votes on the Iranian deal.  Supporters feel that it will burn bridges of international collaboration and impact the future respectability of the US if the agreement is defeated.  The US administration argues that such a defeat will result in war.  Opponents feels that if the deal is approved, a financially stronger Iran will help bolster an otherwise failing regime, a regime that will have access to over $100 billion dollars in released assets to fund its terrorist proxies and spread its evil through the Middle East. It is after getting their initial benefits that they fear Iran will fail to honor the agreement and march forward with its nuclear ambitions! 

At the same time, the American Jewish community is worried about being blamed and scapegoated if the deal is defeated. There is also concern about the divisiveness this issue may cause in the community among well-meaning people; people who should be entitled to have serious and thoughtful debates on what could be an existential threat to the State of Israel, and therefore, to the Jewish people themselves.

It saddens me that so many are painting Iran as a Jewish issue. This is not the forum to rebut that assertion, but if it is so perceived, it would not be the first time that Jews were singled out for unprecedented negative treatment, or that the State of Israel was forced to stand alone. Unfortunately, it will also not be the last time that Jews and the State of Israel will be forced to shed light on evil and inhumanity, having been cast in their traditional role as the proverbial canary in the coal mine.