By CLINTON FEIN
September 14, 2025

In the wake of his assassination by some gun-toting extremist raised on the same toxic brew of God, guns, grievance and performative aggression masquerading as masculinity that Charlie Kirk himself peddled, we’re witnessing a stomach-turning attempt to rewrite history. His widow, awash in grief, has vowed to continue his “work” through Turning Point USA, as if spreading hatred and division is some noble calling worth preserving.

I’m writing this from my perspective as a Jew, something I don’t typically lead with since I’m not particularly religious. More than anything, I enjoy the community, traditions, and celebrating holidays with family. Oh, and I attended a Jewish day school, so I kinda know my shit when it comes to Jewish ethics and values, even though I was kicked out of class most of the time. I’m not going to pretend I’m some perfect adherent to every Jewish teaching either. I’m not. But I know enough about the ethical framework of Judaism — the emphasis on truth (emet), justice (tzedek), compassion (chesed), and responsibility for others (areivut — to recognize when an organization is taking a flamethrower to these values while claiming to represent “traditional” morality.

The gap between those values and Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA is wider than the fucking Red Sea. And it’s precisely why I can’t, and won’t, stay silent while watching certain self-righteous Jews, many of them friends and family even, bend themselves into moral pretzels defending Kirk like they do Trump and his authoritarian bullshit under the paper-thin justification that he’s “good for Israel.”

This claim is so demonstrably false — or at best, wildly subjective — that it barely deserves acknowledgment. Yet these same people, cognitive dissonance notwithstanding, defend right-wing anti-Semites like Elon Musk, who knowingly lied about Kirk’s murderer being some left-wing liberal to his 250 million followers, deliberately stoking violence and hatred. All while positioning himself as some free speech warrior for battles he neither fought nor won.

These enablers wield accusations of antisemitism like a cudgel against anyone — including fellow Jews — who dares criticize Trump, his cabinet of sex offenders and criminals, or the toxic MAGA movement, and now Charlie Kirk. They have the unmitigated gall to question the Jewishness of those who criticize Israel’s policies or Netanyahu’s documented corruption. It’s weaponized identity politics from the very people who claim to despise identity politics.

So let’s examine Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA through a Jewish ethical lens, shall we? Because if we’re going to talk about values, let’s actually fucking talk about values.

Judaism emphasizes core principles like truth (emet), justice (tzedek), compassion (chesed), and responsibility for others (areivut). By these measures, TPUSA isn’t just problematic, it’s a moral abomination.

Truth and integrity (Emet & Yosher) are foundational Jewish values.  Judaism places emet (truth) at the center of ethical life. The Talmud teaches that God’s seal is truth, and bearing false witness is explicitly forbidden in the Ten Commandments. TPUSA  has built its entire brand on conspiracy theories and outright lies. Election fraud bullshit? Check. Covid vaccine misinformation that literally got people killed? Double check. Their “Professor Watchlist — a McCarthyist hit list of educators they deem too “woke” — isn’t about protecting students; it’s about intimidating teachers who don’t parrot right-wing talking points.

What about justice and righteousness (Tzedek & Tzedakah)? TPUSA leaders and affiliates routinely attack minorities and LGBTQ+ communities with racist, homophobic, and transphobic rhetoric. The violations of tzedek (justice) are equally blatant. Judaism demands we pursue justice relentlessly: “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” commands Deuteronomy. Yet TPUSA actively works against justice for marginalized communities. They’ve platformed white nationalists, attacked LGBTQ+ rights, and undermined efforts to address systemic racism. Their opposition to DEI initiatives isn’t about “merit.” It’s about preserving systems of privilege that Judaism explicitly calls us to challenge.

Videos of TPUSA events show speakers mocking transgender people to uproarious laughter. From a Jewish perspective, this isn’t just politically repugnant, it’s a violation of the command to love your neighbor as yourself. The Torah repeatedly emphasizes protecting the vulnerable: “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.” When TPUSA targets the most vulnerable in our society, they’re not just being callous assholes — they’re violating a core ethical principle that Judaism holds sacred. TPUSA’s entire ethos is built on fear and hatred of the “other,” whether that’s immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ+ people, or anyone who challenges their cruel, myopic vision of America.

The sanctity of life (Pikuach Nefesh) is supposedly paramount in Jewish ethics. The principle that preserving human life overrides virtually all other religious obligations. During the pandemic, TPUSA actively discouraged vaccination and mask-wearing, directly contributing to preventable deaths. Kirk himself helped organize the “Stop the Steal” rallies that led to the January 6th insurrection, where people died. These aren’t just political positions; they’re moral failures of the highest order.

Kindness and compassion (Chesed & Rachamim)? TPUSA’s demonization of transgender people and the racist incidents tied to their chapters show cruelty rather than kindness. Kirk’s last words before he was shot were designed to push a dangerous false narrative that transgender shooters are disproportionately represented” among school shooters, which is not supported by statistical evidence. In fact, depending on the population baseline used, they are more likely underrepresented.

Responsibility for others (Areivut)? Their undermining of educators, journalists, and minorities rejects the concept of shared responsibility for communal well-being. Responsibility for one another is fundamental to Jewish ethics. “All Israel is responsible for one another,” teaches the Talmud, and this principle extends to our responsibility for all humanity. TPUSA’s entire worldview rejects this interconnectedness. Their hyper-individualistic, “fuck you, I’m alright Jack” approach to social policy stands in direct opposition to Judaism’s emphasis on communal responsibility.

Respect and honor (Kavod)? The Professor Watchlist shames teachers rather than engaging with their ideas. Many of the professors on that list have been targets of hate, vitriol, and death threats. For daring to encourage or articulate independent thought, a cornerstone of Jewish education.

Peace and harmony (Shalom)? TPUSA thrives on polarization and culture wars, with events like AmericaFest featuring rhetoric that encourages “war” against political opponents. Before Kirk’s killer’s father turned him in, Kirk’s supporters, along with the despicable anchors on Fox News and the right-wing influencers and the fucking President of the United States, were pushing for a war of vindication.

Obviously, these all represent a political position I disagree with. But they also represent a fundamental violation of Jewish ethical principles. And I’m not talking about minor infractions. These are core values that Judaism has maintained for thousands of years.

What’s as ugly as it is infuriating is how these Kirk-worshipping, MAGA-supporting Jews weaponize accusations of antisemitism against anyone — including other Jews — who criticizes Trump or questions Israeli policies. They have the audacity to question the Jewishness of those who don’t fall in line with their political orthodoxy, as if supporting a corrupt, authoritarian movement is now a prerequisite for Jewish identity. Having these accusations hurled at me with self-righteous malice prompted this very writing.

So to my fellow Jews who continue supporting this movement while wrapping yourselves in the Israeli flag: stop pretending this is about protecting Jewish interests. It’s about protecting your political tribe, your tax cuts, or your comfort with the status quo. At least have the fucking intellectual honesty, if not the balls, to admit that.

The Torah doesn’t say “pursue justice, unless it’s inconvenient for your political allies.” It doesn’t say “love the stranger, except transgender people or immigrants you don’t like.” It doesn’t say “don’t bear false witness, unless the lie helps your preferred candidate.” It doesn’t say “don’t violate any commandments unless it helps you own the libs.” Should we fucking burn the Torah now, because it’s too woke?

I’m not naive enough to think that pointing out these ethical disconnects will change many minds. TPUSA’s supporters aren’t generally looking for moral consistency. They’re looking for validation of their grievances and prejudices. But for those of us who claim to take Jewish ethics seriously — who believe that truth matters, that justice must be pursued, that compassion is non-negotiable — the conclusion is inescapable: TPUSA represents a profound moral failure when measured against the ethical standards of Judaism. Period. Full fucking stop.

For those who will inevitably accuse me of being a “self-hating Jew” or “not Jewish enough” because I dare to criticize Kirk, Netanyahu, Trump and MAGA: save your breath. Don’t expect my silence in the face of moral bankruptcy, whether it comes from TPUSA, USA, Israel, individual hypocrites or anywhere else. True respect for Judaism means holding ourselves and our leaders accountable to its highest ethical standards, not twisting those standards to justify hatred and division.

Charlie Kirk’s death was tragic. On a human level, a man with a young family was destroyed with one bullet. Violence is never the answer, and I condemn it unequivocally. But his life’s work stands in stark and direct opposition to core Jewish values, and no amount of posthumous whitewashing can change that fact.