To the Editor:
I’m writing in response to Hank Russell’s recent op-ed criticizing Senator Chuck Schumer (“Schumer Abandons His Jewish Constituents,” July 8, 2025). As someone who is neither Jewish nor aligned with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, I understand the frustration that can arise from feeling that elected leaders are not doing enough in moments of rising antisemitism. But Mr. Russell’s piece takes that frustration and twists it into an unfair and overly simplistic indictment.
The suggestion that Senator Schumer has subordinated his concern for Jewish Americans to appease the far left ignores political reality. In recent months, Schumer has publicly clashed with progressive leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, particularly over issues such as federal funding and national security. In March 2025, for example, he supported a bipartisan stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown—despite strong opposition from progressives who accused him of betrayal. That’s not pandering; that’s leadership under pressure.
No one is saying Senator Schumer is beyond criticism. But to accuse him of abandoning the Jewish community, while turning a blind eye to the political tightrope he walks as Senate Majority Leader, is misguided. Antisemitism is not a left vs. right issue—it is a societal one, and it must be condemned, no matter where it appears.
If we’re serious about combating hate, we need to reject the kind of divisive rhetoric that Mr. Russell’s op-ed represents. Let’s demand accountability, yes—but let’s also deal in facts and reject the urge to turn political disagreement into personal betrayal.
Bruce Kennedy