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AJC CEO David Harris issued a tweet on today's situation in Washington, DC.

Rather than in bloodshed and disgrace, the presidency of Donald J. Trump could have ended on a high note.

After years of sowing uncertainty about America’s commitment to global leadership, the Trump administration in its final months proved a powerful force for Middle East peace and cooperation, playing a key role in tripling the number of Arab states that have normalized relations with Israel – and advancing strategic cooperation among eastern Mediterranean democracies.

What history will surely highlight, however, is not the foreign policy achievements as President Trump neared the end of his term, but the grave dangers he posed to American democracy and the rule of law by his refusal to accept that end – culminating in the violence he provoked at the U.S. Capitol.

This piece originally appeared in Washington Jewish Week.

The best political bumper sticker I ever saw evoked raw emotion. It was crystal clear, simple and touched a nerve.

It read: “NO!”

The sticker embodied the spirit of our times, when ideas must be easily digestible and appeal to our base instincts. That’s what made it so effective — and dangerous.

In this week's Shabbat Table, we reflect on how Abraham, an obedient servant of God who spoke up when he saw injustice in God’s plans, models advocacy. As we redouble our efforts to advocate with passion for the Jewish people, Israel, and justice for all, Abraham offers an example of righteous resolve and a diplomatic pursuit of justice. We remember two dark moments in Jewish history: the Nazi pogroms against Jews in Germany, Austria and Sudetenland known as Kristallnacht; and UN Resolution 3379 that declared Zionism to be racism. Following a bitter presidential election, we reach into the AJC Archive for some inspiration and comfort. And we provide some discussion prompts for talking about the meaning of citizenship in a deeply divided country.