Kamala Harris Hosts ‘Kamala Shabbat’ Dinners to Woo Jewish Voters

Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff said, “I promise you that she's deeply invested in the security of Israel and in the protection of Jewish people.”

Vice President Kamala Harris has been encouraging campaign supporters to hold “Kamala Shabbat” dinners aimed at engaging Jewish communities through traditional Shabbat meals. 

These gatherings, part of a larger strategy to win back Jewish voters who have historically leaned Democratic, are designed to encourage dialogue and build support for Harris in the upcoming presidential election.

The idea behind “Kamala Shabbat” comes as Harris faces the lowest level of support from Jewish voters for a Democratic candidate since 1988. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, has been central to this outreach effort, hosting events in key swing states like Michigan, which hosted a number of people. 

The initiative has faced mixed enthusiasm. Some Jewish voters, the very group Harris hopes to win over, have criticized the effort. A notable incident occurred when radio host Ari Hoffman called out significant errors in one of the ads for a Chicago “Kamala Shabbat” event, fueling skepticism online. Law professor Adam Mossoff also criticized the effort, pointing out past missteps, such as Emhoff’s retelling of the Hanukkah story during previous outreach efforts.

The criticism comes at a delicate time for Harris, as the escalating conflict in Israel has placed her in a difficult position. She is facing pressure from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian factions within her own party, further complicating her attempts to bridge divides among Jewish voters.

At the inaugural “Kamala Shabbat” dinner, Emhoff took direct aim at former President Donald Trump, accusing him of stoking antisemitism during his time in office, stating that Trump “foments antisemitism wherever he goes.”