NEVER AGAIN:

When Donald Trump was one of more than a dozen would-be Republican candidates for the White House, his initial forays into savaging his opponents, calling for a ban on Muslims in the U.S., announcing his intention to build a wall on the Mexican border to keep out the killers and rapists, were met with astonishment. But as the outrageous statements continued--mocking a military hero like John McCain should have been enough to disqualify him among Republicans -- Americans became somewhat inured to his behavior. Some wrote him off as a buffoon, more a form of entertainment than a political force. Watching him in debate was like watching a gross reality TV show -- who knows what he'll say next? How can we turn away? The longer he was tolerated, the more difficult it became for Republican leaders to stand up to him. And now, after all the exposed falsehoods, refusal to apologize for outrageous racist and biased statements against minorities and women, after witnessing his lack of discipline, substance and self-control, after seeing him lash out at critics and former allies alike -- even his loyal vice presidential candidate -- we are faced with a pivotal moment in American history.

Never before has a candidate so ill-equipped for the demands of the Oval Office -- in temperament, experience, character, compassion and humility -- been so close to its doors. [...]

This newspaper has not endorsed political candidates in the past. But this election is an exception. It's not just about politics. It's about character, competence and compassion. It's about values that are American, and rooted in the Bible: Seeing all men and women as created in the image of God, having empathy for "the other" among us, recognizing the power of community, building bridges rather than walls.

We endorse Hillary Clinton not only because Donald Trump presents a danger to this country but because we believe she shares that biblical vision and strives for those goals. For the past year we have seen a Trump who believes his own lies, whose campaign is based on instilling fear in Americans, doubling down on divisions among us, describing virtually every aspect of society as broken, corrupt, defeated. He is too self-centered to listen to others, see beyond his own interests, or appreciate the need for self-reflection.

In his long career Trump has embodied only the first half of our sage Hillel's famous adage: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? IfI am only for myself, what am I?"

We deserve more -- for ourselves, and for others. We who have allowed our hearts to be hardened to the anguish of a Syrian refugee child, multiplied by the tens of thousands, need to open ourselves up to what we can accomplish as a caring society. Donald Trump is incapable of fulfilling such a vision; Hillary Clinton has the ability and promise to do so. That's what can continue to make America great.

If Donald Trump lost his second smackdown with Hillary Clinton, it's because the Jews sabotaged him or spun his performance to their own advantage, say his most ardent backers in the "alt-right" blogosphere.

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