There was a lot of iconic fashion today, but the importance of Bernie’s black socks is being overlooked. Their importance is not lost on American Jews. Let me explain.

THREAD 1/?

Bernie is wearing the socks in the classic way. His pants are just too short so that just a little too much sock shows when he sits. This symbolizes the vulnerability of diaspora Jews. 2/?

You’ll notice that the socks are THIN. Too thin for the cold weather. Bernie only adequately protects his HANDS, not his ankles, from the cold. This self-inflicted suffering evokes the suffering of our ancestors. 3/?

You’ll notice that, though the socks are black, the shoes are a modest brown. This is not a choice. Rather, it is the absence of a choice. To honor those who were not able to choose between life and death. 4/?

What Bernie is doing here is truly extraordinary. Many will be reminded of their own Zaydehs when they see these black socks, the slight awkwardness of the pants, the mismatched colors. We can hear our Bubbes saying, “Well, of course you’re cold. Those socks are too thin.” 5/?

We can hear our own fathers refusing to wear that new pair of brown shoes bought specifically for an occasion, saying “What do I need new shoes for?” Generational trauma literally on their heels.

Thin black socks. A Jewish tradition. Now, an American one. Thank you, Bernie.