Michigan AG Tells Jewish Democrats to Put World’s Needs Above “Even Our Own Survival”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told Jewish Democrats on Sunday that concerns over Israel and antisemitism should not outweigh every other issue facing voters, arguing that Jews have a responsibility to consider the needs of the wider world.

Nessel pointed to Queen Esther, who risked her life to save the Jews of Persia, and suggested Jewish Democrats should now “follow in her path.”

“We have a moral imperative to place the needs of the world above even our own self-interest and, yes, even our own survival,” Nessel said.

Nessel, who is Jewish, made the remarks at the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus’ annual Summer Simcha gathering in Birmingham, where the organization honored her. During her speech, Nessel acknowledged the dilemma facing Jewish Democrats. She said some members of her own party seek the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state and place Jews in the Diaspora in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, she argued that Jewish voters must also weigh issues beyond Israel and Jewish security. She said Jewish voters should also consider issues including climate change, artificial intelligence and nuclear war when deciding how to vote in November.

Her comments came as Jewish Democrats in Michigan remain deeply divided over Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel who has refused to recognize the country specifically as a Jewish state.

Nessel has not endorsed El-Sayed and has repeatedly criticized his approach to Israel and antisemitism. However, she has also said she will not support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in November.

El-Sayed also attended Sunday’s Jewish Democratic gathering and again apologized for remarks he made following a March terrorist attack on Temple Israel near Detroit, when he linked the violence to the wider conflict involving Israel and Lebanon. El-Sayed asked members of the caucus “for forgiveness and a moment of grace” over his response to the attack. Nessel previously accused him of appearing to make excuses for domestic terrorism.

The remarks drew criticism from some Jewish commentators, who argued that the comparison reversed the meaning of the Purim story. They noted that Esther endangered herself specifically to protect the Jewish people rather than asking Jews to sacrifice their own survival for others.

Nessel’s speech came only weeks after she said she would skip the Michigan Democratic Party convention because she did not feel safe attending. She said at the time that she expected harassment, shouting and hostility over her pro-Israel views and raised concerns about growing antisemitism within her own party.