ELI NEWMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
T

he adage could very well 
describe every seder night 
debate since the first 
machloket (dispute) between Hillel 
and Shammai. But now, the maxim 
also applies to the future of the 
United States. 
For the first time in modern 
history, millions of American Jews 
have the option to vote for not one, 
but two Jewish men to hold the 
highest office in the most power-
ful country in the world. Vermont 
Sen. Bernie Sanders and former 

New York City Mayor Michael 
Bloomberg, a pair of septuagenari-
an East Coast Jews, will both be on 
the ballot for the Democratic pres-
idential primaries when the contest 
reaches Michigan March 10. 
The two men embody two whol-
ly different visions for the nation. 
And, in good, old haimishe (famil-
iar) fashion, Jews have strong views 
about them.
Two weeks before the primary, in a 
stately modern home off the 18-hole 
golf course of Franklin Hills Country 
Club, Florine Mark, the president and 
CEO of the WW Group (formerly 
known as Weight Watchers), is host-
ing a “Jews for Bloomberg” event. 
“We’
re here to tell the American 
people what we can do for them,
” 

12 | MARCH 5 • 2020 

Jews in the D

 
On the eve of Michigan’
s 
primaries, Jewish voters 
weigh their options.

A Jewish President 
in 2020?

TOP: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a rally at Cass 
Technical High School in Detroit before a crowd of 
more than 4,700 on Oct. 27, 2019.
FACING PAGE: Mike Bloomberg speaks in Detroit 
on Feb. 4 at Eastern Market. Local Jewish voters 
listen to speakers talk about Bloomberg at a house 
party hosted Feb. 25 by Florine Mark.

 BRYAN GIARDINELLI/BERNIE SANDERS 

CAMPAIGN

on the cover

“If you ask two Jews, 
you’ll hear three 
opinions.
”