A coalition of Jewish leaders in Michigan has launched a petition campaign, urging Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to clarify his stance on Jewish safety and his views on Israel. Representing around 40,000 Jewish residents of the state, the campaign calls on political candidates seeking their support to affirm five key principles: ensuring Jewish safety, allowing Jewish individuals to define their own identities, supporting Jewish sovereignty in Israel, welcoming full participation of Jewish Michiganders in American politics, and offering a clear, positive vision for the future of the Middle East. Rabbi Josh Whinston, one of more than a dozen rabbis leading the effort, explained that the campaign is not only about El-Sayed but also about a broader issue in American politics. He noted that the American Jewish community often feels caught between political ideologies. El-Sayed, a former state health official, secured the Democratic nomination after a contentious primary that included his criticism of the Israeli government and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group. El-Sayed has previously clarified that criticizing Israel or AIPAC does not equate to criticizing Jewish people. The focus now shifts to El-Sayed's upcoming matchup against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost to Senator Elissa Slotkin in the 2024 race for Michigan's other Senate seat. El-Sayed, who ran on a left-wing platform with support from progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has faced criticism for aligning with controversial left-wing podcaster Hasan Piker, who is known for his critical views on Israel. El-Sayed also drew backlash for saying "hurt people hurt people" in response to an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue in March, a statement he later apologized for. The petition, while not naming El-Sayed directly, urges any candidate seeking the support of Michigan's Jewish community to affirm the five nonnegotiables. It highlights that the American Jewish community has long been a strong Democratic base but now feels it must actively fight for the party it once considered its political home. El-Sayed's campaign has pointed to recent meetings with Jewish organizations and rabbis, as well as his attendance at a Jewish Democratic event and conversations with Slotkin, who is Jewish. After Piker faced criticism from Democrats in August, El-Sayed emphasized that only he and his campaign spokespeople represent the campaign. Rabbi Aaron Starr, president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis, welcomed El-Sayed's efforts to reconcile his past and present positions but hopes for more progress. He expressed the hope that either El-Sayed or Rogers would stand against violent rhetoric directed at Jewish people and support Israel's right to exist. The Michigan Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country this election cycle, with the outcome possibly determining which party controls the U.S. Senate. Many Jewish voters remain undecided, feeling uncertain about how to cast their votes. Whinston noted that many in his congregation are unsure how to proceed, emphasizing the need for both El-Sayed's campaign and the Democratic Party to help bring these voters into the political fold.