Jackson Spotlights Bonds Linking Jews, Christians

Editor’s Note: The AJT invited Keisha Lance Bottoms to submit an Op-Ed, reminded her campaign of the deadline, and followed up with her campaign several days before press deadline. Bottoms still intends to publish her Op-Ed that will appear on the AJT website.

Amid the hustle and bustle of my campaign for governor of Georgia, I got a text one morning early this year that made my week. The message showed a picture of young adult Georgians getting baptized in the Jordan River. The group had all aged out of foster care and were attending college through the Fostering Success Act. It was their first time out of the country.

For a decade, I have sponsored 10 students to go to Israel through Passages, a Christian group similar to the Birthright program enjoyed by Jewish Americans. It sends young people to the Holy Land for a spiritual experience that brings the Bible to life. This year, I funded the trip for these former foster kids. I know what it’s like to walk in their shoes because I came out of the foster care system, too, and it gave me great joy to have played a part in providing this life-changing opportunity.

This story reminds us of the many shared bonds between Jewish and Christian people of faith. We both see Israel as sacred ground, and the commonly used “Judeo-Christian values” denotes a mutual foundation of moral principles.

The focus of the Passages program goes beyond the cities and landmarks from the New Testament. It also teaches these Christian students about modern Israel and the dangers of antisemitism – a crucial mission at this time when anti-Israel sentiment and prejudice against Jews is growing in our country.

As governor, I’ll lead from the front in the fight against antisemitism. In recent years, out-of-touch academics have allowed hate speech that has left many Jewish students feeling intimidated on their own campuses. Thankfully, the University System of Georgia took a strong stand against such dangerous intolerance, and as the chief executive of the state, I’ll stop at nothing to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for Jewish students at our colleges and universities.

More broadly, the General Assembly rightly added antisemitism to our state’s hate crimes law, and I’ll enforce those important safeguards. Beyond that, I’ll also provide public safety resources to protect schools and houses of worship that are threatened, and I will not allow funding for schools from countries that promote antisemitic ideology.

We’re at a moment in history when Israel needs friends internationally as it faces an enemy determined to destroy it. I have vowed that my first economic development trip will be to Israel, as not only a show of solidarity with the country but also for the mutually beneficial business partnerships that could result.

Israel is a global leader in technological development, and Georgia – with the globally elite Georgia Tech and first-in-class Internet infrastructure in Metro Atlanta – has the tools needed to become the next Silicon Valley. Israel’s leadership in cybersecurity has great synergies with our state, the home of U.S. Army Cyber Command. Working cooperatively, we could bolster the defense and prosperity of both countries.

I see this as consistent with my goal of promoting the best interests of 11 million Georgians, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. I’ll fight to earn every vote, and I believe I can do more for Georgians who don’t vote for me than anyone they have voted for.

Georgia has thrived under the conservative leadership of the past quarter-century. I am the only candidate in this race for governor who can take our state to the next level, following in the tradition of Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal, and Sonny Perdue. If I’m elected, Jewish Georgians will continue to have an ally in the Governor’s Office, and together we can keep Georgia as the best state for business and families.