250 rabbis urge Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to address Israel stance

A group of 250 rabbis organized by Nonnegotiable Michigan urged Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and former President Barack Obama to address five demands on Israel at an October 24 rally. Neither headliner mentioned the movement. Organizers are now seeking a national platform.

Shortly before an October 24 rally in Detroit featuring Michigan US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and former President Barack Obama, 250 rabbis from across the country urged both to take their concerns about El-Sayed's position on Israel more seriously. The rabbis, speaking on behalf of a group called Nonnegotiable Michigan, demanded El-Sayed commit to five demands including support for Jewish statehood and safety for Zionist Jews. Neither headliner mentioned the movement or its demands onstage. The movement's organizers remain undeterred and are seeking a national platform for liberal Zionist Jews. The effort has expanded to college campuses at the University of Michigan, where student organizer Jacob Reich said he felt torn between his Jewish identity and his identity as a Democrat. Some rabbis friendlier with El-Sayed have argued the movement is ineffective and could boost Republican policies.