by Dalya Attar
Dear Baltimore Community,
I recently saw a phrase being used regarding the upcoming
election that stuck with me:
“Act now, or don’t complain later.”
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how
perfectly it applies to this election.
Over the past several months, I have heard a consistent
message from our Rabbanim and community leaders: Vote. I’ve
heard speeches about it. I’ve received calls about it. I’ve listened to
Rabbanim emphasize it from the pulpit. In fact, I’ve even heard some say that
just as we are careful to eat kosher, we have an obligation to participate in
elections that directly impact our community.
The message could not be clearer.
But if everyone understands the importance of voting, then
why do we keep repeating it?
The answer is simple: Because too many people still do not
vote.
And in an election that is expected to be one of the closest
our community has seen, that reality matters more than ever.
I am not simply running against another candidate with
different ideas or priorities. I am facing forces that have become increasingly
comfortable expressing antisemitic views openly and unapologetically. We live
in a time when antisemitism is no longer whispered in private conversations –
it is increasingly said out loud, defended, and even normalized.
I still hear people in our community complain about the
election of Zohran Mamdani in New York. Yet when you look at the numbers, the
outcome was not inevitable. The votes were there. The opportunity was there.
Had enough members of the frum community participated, the result could
have been different.
Instead, many people stayed home, and now the New York frum
community must live with the consequences.
Complaining after an election is easy.
Voting before an election is what matters.
Until now, I have conducted my campaign both inside and
outside our community with a positive message. I believe in talking about
accomplishments, ideas, and service. I believe in bringing people together. I
believe in focusing on what we can achieve rather than what divides us.
But I would be doing you a disservice if I did not share the
reality of what I am seeing.
My predecessor, someone with whom I worked professionally
for years, told me that I was an effective legislator and that I had served
constituents well. Yet she also made clear that she could not support me
because I am Jewish.
Her exact words to me were: “A Jew shouldn’t
represent the district.”
Think about that for a moment.
Not because of my record.
Not because of my work.
Not because of my qualifications.
Simply because I am Jewish.
That is why I am writing to you today.
You can flip through the rest of this publication and read
about the work I have done on behalf of our community. You can review the
legislation I have passed, the funding I have secured, the projects I have
supported, and the countless constituent issues my office has helped resolve.
But this article is not about my accomplishments.
It is about something bigger.
People often ask me whether I enjoy this job.
That is actually a difficult question.
Representing the community is one of the most rewarding
experiences of my life. Being able to help a family navigate a state agency,
secure funding for an important project, or solve a problem that seemed
impossible to solve is incredibly meaningful.
But public service also comes with tremendous sacrifices.
The attacks can be relentless.
The scrutiny can be exhausting.
The impact on my family can be difficult.
And despite what many people assume, the position pays
significantly less than most realize. It is technically considered a part-time
position, even though the work is anything but part-time.
People frequently ask me why I would choose this headache.
The honest answer is that I wouldn’t.
I don’t wake up every morning hoping for more attacks, more
stress, or more controversy.
But I believe Hashem guides each of us toward the place
where we can best serve our community and fulfill our responsibilities. This is
where He has placed me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.
I have also been told by respected community leaders that if
we lose this election, it could set our community back fifteen years.
That is not a statement I take lightly.
And that is why I am asking for your help.
Not for me.
Not for Dalya.
For our community.
For our future.
For every member of your household who will be 18 years old
by November 3rd, please make a plan to vote.
Between June 11 and June 18, you can vote early
at the: Public Safety Training Facility
3500 W. Northern Parkway.
Or you can vote on Election Day, June 23rd, at
your assigned polling location.
If you will be out of town, please request a mail-in ballot
immediately and vote by mail.
Do not assume others will carry the burden for you.
Do not assume the outcome is guaranteed.
Do not assume your vote will not matter.
History repeatedly proves otherwise.
The truth is that in many elections, only about 30%
of our community participates.
Think about that.
Seventy percent of eligible voters from our community stay
home, and then many wonder why outcomes do not reflect our values or
priorities.
We can do better.
We must do better.
Because when elections are decided by a handful of votes,
every vote truly matters.
So I will leave you with the same message that inspired me
to write this letter:
Act now, or don’t complain later.
The future of our community depends on what we do today.
Sincerely,
Senator Dalya Attar
