(JTA invited supporters of the five leading Republican and Democratic contenders for their parties’ presidential nomination to submit opinion pieces in support of their candidate. Other responses can be found here.)
(JTA) — I am executive vice president and chief legal officer of The Trump Organization. I have been working with Donald Trump for over 19 years. I am an observant, committed Jew.
What comes to my mind when I think of Donald Trump?
Inspiration. He inspires people of all kinds to work hard and do their best. He inspires people to dream and fosters an environment where people can advance their dreams. He will not take no for an answer, and he crafts creative solutions to problems.
Loyalty. Many of his employees have worked for him for 20 to 30 years or more. Trump values each of his employees. In turn, we believe in him, in his vision and in his ability to achieve his goals. He has created an atmosphere of family within the organization. He promotes people from within to allow them to succeed further, and when people have difficulties, he stands by them.
Achievement. He genuinely wants people to achieve their dreams, and he will lead the country in a way that encourages success. Over the course of many years, I have seen him assist others to achieve personal and career success. His desire to create jobs and opportunity stems from a lifelong passion.
Tenacity. I have seen him put together, negotiate and implement complex transactions that others thought could never get done.
Respect. He respects people for who they are.
Success. He has a unique combination of business savvy and global vision that has enabled him to achieve tremendous success. That is what our country needs.
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Each week I navigate the complex intersection of family, religion, community and career, each of which is extremely important to me. The most obvious tension of being a Sabbath observer and having a job with significant responsibility is the simple fact that each week, I am disconnected from work for Shabbat and typically several days at a time during certain months as a result of Jewish holidays. In all instances, Donald Trump has always been extraordinarily respectful of my religious beliefs and requirements. Because of him, my career has never been at odds with my other priorities of family, religion and community. Donald Trump allows me to live up to the values and goals that my wife and I have established for ourselves and our family.
Like so many of you, I attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., in late March. To me, Trump’s speech stood out more than the others for its conviction. He recognizes what Israel stands for, and why it is so important to the United States and to the world. He recognizes that the United States, a country that my wife and I are blessed to live in and raise our children, has an unbreakable friendship with Israel.
Donald Trump will work tirelessly to stem the flow of weapons and funds from Iran to its puppet states and terror organizations, and to stop payments made by Iran and others to terrorists and their families. Trump recognizes that those terror networks are problematic not just to Israel but also to the United States, and he will strive to eradicate Iran’s global terror network.
READ: No experience necessary: Meet the Orthodox lawyer advising Trump on Israel
Donald Trump is deeply passionate about bringing peace to Israel. He recognizes it is one of our time’s most difficult challenges, but believes the time has come finally to achieve this goal. With his skills, talent and perseverance, and with the changing times — including Israel’s formal and informal relationships with many of its Arab neighbors – Trump has the ability and the environment to finally make it happen.
Jason Dov Greenblatt (Courtesy of Greenblatt)
I have been by Donald Trump’s side on many complex, thorny negotiations over the years. If anyone has the potential to help facilitate and shepherd one of the most complicated and emotional negotiations such as this one, it is Trump.
He also recognizes that one-sided initiatives that the United Nations or others may attempt to impose on Israel and the Palestinian Authority will do nothing to achieve peace. He believes that both sides must come to the table in order to realize a lasting, just peace – one that allows the citizens of Israel to live in safety and provides for mutual recognition, including the recognition by the Palestinian Authority that Israel is, and always will be, a Jewish state.
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With Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States can play a vital role as a facilitator in this daunting process.
Trump will treat Israel with the great respect it deserves. He recognizes that Israel is America’s most reliable ally and is a country built on the same values and principles as the United States. He will push the Palestinian Authority and countries that preach hate to stop indoctrinating their children to hate Israel and Jews. That is the only way to break this vicious cycle of hate and terror.
So why Donald Trump? He is a visionary who would make a great leader. Our country needs a talent like his for the benefit of us all. I am a proud citizen of this special country, a country that in the 1940s and 1950s gave refuge to my grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, who all benefited tremendously by being able to raise the next generation in freedom.
I believe Donald Trump can do an outstanding job for all of us. Our country can prosper, be secure and be unified. As a proud Jew who cares deeply for my religion and Israel, I know that my family and I will be in great hands.
(Jason Dov Greenblatt is executive vice president and chief legal officer of The Trump Organization.)
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