Rep. Ryan Berman and Sen. Jeremy Moss are a small number of Michigan’s 110 state reps and 38 state senators.
TThree of the three Jewish members of the Michigan Legislature, Rep. Ryan Berman, Sen. Jeremy Moss, and Rep. Samantha Steckloff, are all Oakland County natives with strong Jewish roots. They are a minority of Michigan’s 110 state representatives, and 38 state senators. Moss is the sole Jewish state senator, and Berman is also the only Jewish Republican in Michigan’s state legislature.
Every day, they are reminded of the fact that they are minorities when invocations are made in each legislative chamber. Steckloff said that the prayer ends in Jesus name and that they have just left them out of the prayer.
Berman states that invocations were traditionally given by Christian clergy before COVID. When it was his turn to speak, he invited Rabbi Paul Yedwab (Temple Israel) to do so. I had to explain to the rabbi why he did not recite scripture as the Christian clergy.
Steckloff led a Sukkot prayer that included a description the holiday’s pillars. She says that some members have never met a Jew.
Moss states that being Jewish legislator can be very isolating, due to antisemitism of the far right and far Left. Moss cites several legislators who have made comparisons between COVID mandates and anti-Jewish restrictions during World War II. He also claims that Israeli actions towards Palestinians are similar to German persecution of Jews. He says that some comments can be considered antisemitic. Moss explains that we hear things that are antisemitic, but others don’t.
Steckloff claims that the line between criticisms of Israel and antisemitism has been crossed too often. She is referring to speeches given in the Michigan House in May 2021, when there were violent clashes among Israelis and Palestinians. The state House considered a condemnation of Israel resolution, but Steckloff found that it was difficult to participate in the discussion.
Moss, who has served two terms in Michigan’s House of Representatives, believes there has been a significant shift in discourse in recent times. Although Democrats and Republicans were more likely than ever to agree on certain issues, he describes today’s atmosphere as very stressful. He says he doesn’t know if he will get COVID or be shot. Moss points out that there were armed men at the state Capitol, particularly during an organized protest in April 2020.
Steckloff states that 21 state representatives believe that former President Donald Trump stole the 2020 election. They believe in conspiracy theories and are very loud.
Decorum is gone.
Legislating at Lansing
Berman noted that there is not much interaction across the aisle in the legislature. Representatives of both parties are seated separately. Berman was surprised by the negative reaction he received from fellow legislators when he sought Democratic co-sponsors to a bill. I hate partisanship. He says that he prefers people to politics.
Moss claims that most bills are passed by unanimous consent or a large majority, despite political divisions. He also stated that he works with many great people from both sides.
Moss and Steckloff state that as Jews, they feel a special responsibility to educate their colleagues on the possible unintended consequences of legislation. Moss cited the example of a bill that provided funding to state-funded faith-based adoption agencies. This bill could have prevented Jewish couples from becoming adoptive parents.
Another bill addressed the handling and disposition of human remains. The bill’s sponsors were not familiar with Jewish law, which states that all human remains must be buried.
Five Jewish members were present in Michigan’s state house, and senate as recently as 2013. Term limits (the state law that limits how many terms state senators and representatives can serve) reduces Moss affirms diversity
Each Jewish legislator has their own legislative interests. Steckloff was diagnosed with breast carcinoma at age 31 and seeks parity in insurance coverage for both oral and infused cancer medication. Her insurance did not cover oral medications so she had time off work to receive infusion treatments. Berman has helped her to draft bills that would cover mammography for younger women and provide baseline cervical cancer screening. Steckloff states that the bill passed the House, but was rejected by the Senate.
Transparency in Government
Both Moss, and Berman are particularly interested government transparency and open record. Berman believes that public records and government salaries should be easily accessible. He supported the Legislative Open Records Act. This bill is currently awaiting action in Michigan’s Senate. Berman sponsored a bill that would provide free state photo identification cards for Michigan citizens to use for voting and other purposes. It was approved by the state legislature, but the governor vetoed it. Gretchen Whitmer.
Moss, a state representative, worked across the aisle to pass 10 bills to open government records, including those of the governor and the state legislature, up for public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act.
Redistricting has resulted in the redrawing of the legislative districts for the state House as well as the Senate. The views of the legislators are different. Moss and Steckloff think the new districts will increase fairness in the electoral process. Berman disagrees with the view of the redistricting committee not doing what it should or could have done.
Moss, Steckloff and others will be able seek reelection under the new district map. These districts include many of their constituents. Berman will be running for state attorney general.
About Michigans Jewish State Legislators
Ryan Berman
Berman, 41 years old, was elected in 2018 to represent the 39th district, which includes Commerce Township, Wixom and Wolverine Lake. He lives in West Bloomfield with his wife and their two daughters. Berman is an active volunteer in the community and serves as a reserve officer for the police force. David Honigman (his uncle by marriage), inspired Berman to run.
Berman and his entire family are members Temple Israel, where Berman’s wife is a teacher. He is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School as well as Michigan State University. He also has a private practice in law.
Jeremy Moss
Moss, who is 35 years old, was elected to state House of Representatives in 2014. He also served as Democratic Whip. In 2018, he was elected to the state Senate representing the 11th district, which includes Farmington, Farmington Hills and Oak Park, Huntington Woods.
Moss was born in Southfield and currently resides there. He was elected Southfield’s youngest member of the city council in 2011. He is a graduate of Michigan State University. He was involved in numerous humanitarian efforts during college. He is an advisor board member of Southfield’s Martin Luther King Task Force. Moss is a Hillel Day School grad and a former Beth Ahm board member.
Samantha Steckloff
38-year-old Steckloff is currently serving her first term as a Michigan House of Representatives. She represents the 37th district, which includes Farmington and Farmington Hills. She is a Farmington Hills resident for over 30 years. She lives with her husband. Steckloff was a Farmington Hills City Council Member for eight years.
While attending Michigan State University, Steckloff worked for Hillel. She graduated in May. She attends the Woodward Avenue Shul as well as the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. Steckloff comes from a family of public servants. Vicki Barnett, her mother, was mayor of Farmington Hills, and later, as minority whip in the state legislature.