In Full Swing     

With all eyes on Pennsylvania ahead of November’s election, a swing through this most critical swing state reveals what makes it such a focus of both campaigns. But while there was plenty of Jewish angst and humor on display, there was scant evidence of the long-touted Jewish break with the Democrats.

The KleinLife Center might seem an unlikely candidate to be the fulcrum of a presidential election. A Jewish community center in Northeast Philadelphia, it serves mostly seniors and Russian-speaking immigrants.

Its halls, speckled with Jewish-themed imagery, are alive with elderly Philadelphians enjoying their golden years attending classes and activities. Just a slight whiff reminiscent of an assisted-living facility greets visitors as they enter.

Yet the goings-on in this prosaic community center are part of a national story.

With all eyes on Pennsylvania — the highest-stakes swing state, population 13 million, where 81,000 votes determined the outcome in 2020 — the leanings and turnout levels of any sector could play an outsized role. Amid widespread unease over rising anti-Semitism on the left, biting off a larger chunk of the Jewish vote has become a tantalizing prize for Republican strategists. If only more Jews would come to see the GOP as the party more in tune with “Jewish” interests, these voters could play an essential role in a second Trump victory coalition — so goes the thinking.