Hebrew Academy students and faculty are apprehensive about president-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming term.
“Trump said he’s going to do all these things like build a wall and move the embassy to Jerusalem, but let’s see if he’s actually going to do all these things,” said Kayla Sedighim (10th grade).
On Tuesday, November 8, approximately 130 million out of the nation’s 250 million eligible voters showed up to vote in the 2016 United States Presidential Election. With a voter turnout rate of about 55%, this election had the lowest turnout since 2000. Though the votes haven’t been fully counted, Donald Trump won with a total of 306 electorial votes, topping Hillary Clinton’s 232. However, the Democratic nominee won the popular vote.
Many students feel that Trump may not be a perfect president, but rather that he is the lesser of two evils.
“Trump’s not great, but he’s better,” said Kayla Wolfson (9th grade).
Other students praised his potential Israel policies.
“Trump will be better for Israel and the economy than Hillary Clinton,” said Bryan Saka (9th)
History Department Head Mr. Matla expressed his concern about the new president-elect. “Trump will be horrible for America, but I hope I’m wrong,” Matla said. “I’d much rather be wrong than evacuate the school for a nuclear bomb shelter.”
Many echoed Mr. Matla’s thoughts, worried about what a Trump presidency will look like.
“May G-d help us,” said Adira Kahn (10th). “With a president like this we will need all the help we can get.”
As Rina Reich (11th) stated, this may very well be the “season finale of America.”
While the majority of the school’s population saw the election as a choice between a rock and a hard place, students like Joseph Abrahams (10th) feel otherwise. “Trump will be great for America, and he will fix the economy.”
Sophomore Zeev Rotenstein also believes that “Trump will be great for the country’s economy.”
Others disagree, saying Trump will be bad for America. “The stocks are already tanking and he’s not even president yet,” said Julia Ohana (12th).
A small contingency of students supported Hillary Clinton, but are prepared to move on.
“The people chose Hillary Clinton, but the electoral college chose Donald Trump. He won. I will do what I can to support the president of the country, no matter who it is,” said Sara Fuchs (12th). “But you can be sure that I will strongly support whoever runs against him in 4 years.”
President-elect Donald Trump followed his campaign victory with a similar message:
“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division; have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans…”
“Our candidate won’t always win, our candidate sometimes loses,” said Director of Student Activities Rabbi Ney. “Regardless if we took this election as a victoy or a loss, we are all on this boat together and we all share the same country that has given us so many great gifts and kindnesses. And we will move forward together and G-d bless America.”
By: Jack Benveniste-Plitt, 10th grade