Why Ilhan Omar is Good for the Jews

I’m Jewish, I live in Ilhan Omar’s district, and I helped organize the signature drive, “We’re Jewish, and We Support Ilhan Omar.” We’ve collected 180+ signatures from district residents so far, with more people signing on every day.

Each of us had different reasons for signing. Here are mine.Each of us had different reasons for signing. Here are mine.

Social and economic justice are core Jewish values, and so is welcoming the refugee. Locally, organizations like Jewish Community Action have been at the forefront of the struggle, especially in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, and the uprisings that have shaken Minneapolis.

Ilhan Omar’s personal story is one of overcoming those challenges, and fighting for those values — for fair housing, defending the rights of refugees, fighting poverty and inequality and combating racism and xenophobia.. In her first term in Congress, she has consistently upheld the social justice legacy of our late beloved senator Paul Wellstone.

Her career has also been an inspiration to under-represented segments of our society — immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women — and many are following in her footsteps, running for office at every level of government. That’s a healthy thing for our democracy, and a very good thing for the Democratic party.

But most importantly, she — along with AOC and Elizabeth Warren and that cranky old Jewish prophet Bernie Sanders, has helped transform the national political…