Jexodus

"Fox & Friends" discuss "Jexodus," (Washington Post)

I know that there are a lot of Orthodox Jews that define themselves as liberal. Which is usually followed by Democrat. They are liberal Democrats – right along with the majority of non Orthodox Jews that define themselves that way. But Orthodox liberal Democrats are a minority of Orthodox Jewish voters.  According to a poll taken by AJC in 2017, 71% of Orthodox Jews supported  the President. I wouldn’t be surprised if the percentage is even higher today.That is almost the same percentage of non Orthodox Jews that do not support him.

This is not to say that Trump is actually a conservative. I don’t think he is. But as I have said many times, his policies thus far have mostly been conservative.

What does this mean in terms of issues that are important to Jews? Which are better, conservative policies or liberal policies? And if the values of the former define the Republican Party while the  latter define the Democratic Party, which party actually reflects Jewish values more?

I think it depends on who you ask. The truth is that there are elements in both that can be identified as Jewish values. An Orthodox Jew who is guided by the laws and values of the Torah would give an entirely different answer than a secular Jew as to which party reflects Jewish interests more.

It is clear that secular Jews consider Tikun Olam as the most important if not only Jewish value to support. For many Jews that is all they know about Judaism. They know little about Jewish Law and pay little attention to it. How many secular Jews for example keep or even care about keeping Kosher or observing Shabbos? How many secular Jews believe those ancient laws are irrelevant in today’s world? How many Jews believe that just about every other law in the Torah is irrelevant?  

Their values and ethics are instead  those of the modern more enlightened era. That translates into some very good works by many secular Jews. For these idealistic secular Jews Tikun Olam – fixing the world is understood to mean supporting a great many social causes. Put another way, Tikun Olam equals social justice. This is for example why so many high minded secular Jews in the 60s were involved I the civil rights movement, some – like Schwerner and Goodman giving their lives for it!.

Today the very same Tikun Olam guides the secular Jewish support for egalitarianism; gay rights; and in some cases expressing out-sized sympathy for the legitimate suffering of Palestinians – blaming it on Israeli policies.  Liberal Jews will side with Democrats whose values match theirs and where criticism of Israel is more justified. 

Orthodox Jews by contrast do not see Tikun Olam as the only value in Judaism. They do not even define it the way secular Jews do. It is hardly on their radar. To the extent that it might be it is at the bottom of their list of priorities. They look at the entirety of Jewish values and act accordingly – supporting political policies that will help them live up to those values. The party they currently see doing that the most is the Republican Party. Which is currently headed by our Commander-in-Chief.

Many if not most secular Jews don’t really care much about Jewish education, Or keeping Shabbos, Or keeping Kosher. Or marrying Jews. Or supporting Israel.  Most secular Jews have never even been to Israel and don’t plan to go. Why should they care about a country whose very existence is based in a bible they know little or care about? And whose laws and values they consider archaic and out of touch with the times? Why would they support legislation that favors religious values over secular ones? 

I think this is truer now more than ever. The further Liberal Jews move away from their Judaism the more liberal they become. And the less they care about things Jewish. Surely the 70% of non Orthodox Jews that marry out do not care at all about perpetuating Judaism into the future.

Which is why I do not believe Jexodus will ever happen. 

Jexodus? What’s that? Never mind. I’ll tell you.

It is a new movement promoted Elizabeth Pipko, a Jewish model and former Trump campaign staff member. She urges Jews to leave the Democratic party mainly because it is increasingly becoming antisemitic. She claims that Jewish millennials like herself are already leaving the party. But as the Washington Post reports, the percentage of Jewish Democrats remains the same and may have actually increased since Trump was elected. If you want to know why, re-read the post.

If as I suggest it is true that liberal Democrats are less supportive of Orthodox Jewish values than conservative Republicans, why are there so many Orthodox Jews that are liberal Democrats?

Good question. I think it best to ask them if you really want to know the answer. I have actually heard some of their tortured logic. But that is what it is in my view. Tortured. Let me suggest a few reasons off the top of my head why I think there are Orthodox Jews that are liberal Democrats. I’m sure there are more reasons and I’m sure my reasons will be disputed. But here goes.

It might have to do with the old habit of voting for Democrats at a time when it made sense. Just like their parents and grandparents did. The old blue-blood Republican party harbored a lot of soft bigotry and soft antisemitism. They were not favorably disposed to the Jewish state - favoring the oil rich Arab states instead. They were not in  favor of anything particularly Jewish for that matter. These old blue-bloods were the ones that set up quotas for Jews in top universities; quotas in the professions of medicine and law; restrictive covenants in exclusive country clubs and barred Jews from taking top positions in corporate America. 

Democrats on the other hand championed the underdog Jewish state - a country they saw founded on the ashes of the Holocaust. With powerful Arab neighbors bent on their destruction. They championed our religious rights; fought quotas and restrictive covenants... allowing Jews to live equally and freely along with the rest of Americans. Jews flourished in this country mainly because of those old Democrats whose values then are not their values now. They have become Republican values.

The tables are now turned. But old habits die hard.  The change was gradual and began after the 6 day war when Israel stopped being seen as the underdog and increasingly began to be seen as the oppressor.  That begot the criticism we see now.  Liberal Democrats rationalize their criticism by claiming Israels current polices hurt the new underdog, the Palestinians. And they blame the souring of bipartisan support on conservative Republican support for Israel. Which now has conservative polices under a conservative Prime Minister. They also do not view the enthusiastic almost unconditional Republican support for Israel favorably.  

I do. As much as I would like to see Democrats on board with Republicans, bi-partisan support would almost certainly mean increased criticism of Israel. Which in my view would be counter-productive to Israel’s security needs.

I understand why they feel that way. But I also understand why liberal Orthodox Jews are a  minority among the rest of Orthodoxy. And the reason for that is – as I said - conservative Republican values are seen as far more favorable to the values of the Torah by Orthodox Jews than are the values of liberal Democrats.

What all this means for the future is anybody’s guess. But that is how I see things now.