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| Trump among his most enthusiastic Jewish supporters (JTA) |
One might argue that Orthodox Jews and Evangelical
Christians are not the only people with religious values. That is entirely true. There are plenty of non Orthodox Jews, mainline Christians, and even some Orthodox Jews with strong religious values who strongly oppose the President. But if one examines which religious values each side emphasizes, there are marked differences.
People with a liberal approach to religion will point to humanistic religious values. In Judaism that is called Mitzvos Bein Adam L’Chavero
(BALC). Which is our religious obligations with respect to man’s interaction with man.
Those of us with a more conservative approach to religion, focus more on the spiritual
realm. Which Judaism calls Mitzvos Bain
Adam L’Makom (BALM). Which is Man’s interaction with God.
Both kinds of Mitzvos are important in the eyes of God. BALC is in fact part and parcel of BALM. By violating
BALC you are violating BALM as well since both are directives of God.
But despite the fact that BALC is more inclusive than BALM - that does not mean BALM should be ignored or even minimized. The problem is that
the religious people with a liberal mindset always use BALC as their guide while
minimizing - or in some cases ignoring BALM as though it didn’t exist.
This might help explain why religious people tend to support a President that is the antithesis of BALC.
When a President is seen to protect and support BALM issues, religious people will appreciate it. In a world where humanistic values are the order of the day and spiritual concerns are all but ignored they will support a President whose policies promote the spiritual. Despite the President’s personal religious
failings in BALC.
That’s because without the spiritual component of BALM, BALC becomes subject to societal definitions. Which makes things
like gay marriage, late term abortions at will, and egalitarianism become part of their religious values. Those of us that believe in both BALC and BALM then see their religious values being attacked.
It should not come as a surprise therefore that when a
President opposes societal values devoid of the spiritual component of BALM - that he is supported.
I must admit that I was fiercely opposed to Trump during the
election campaign. I could not imagine a man like that becoming the face of
America. His near complete abandonment of BALC made him unqualified to be President
in my eyes. Which is why I reluctantly voted for his opponent. And was both shocked and disappointed when he won.
What I did not realize at the time is that unlike past Presidents,
Trump kept his promises to the best of his ability. Agree with him or not, that
cannot be denied. With respect to Israel, - just as was the case with past
Presidential candidates he promised to move the American embassy to Jerusalem.
And unlike past Presidents once in office he actually did it. One might quibble
with the actual value of doing something like that. But that is beside
the point. He promised he would do it and he did.
There is not a doubt in my mind about the support President
Trump has for Israel. Nor is there a doubt in my mind that he loves the Jewish
people. Especially those that are observant and are far more inclined to support his pro Israel policies. There is also not a doubt in my mind that
he loves his Jewish son in law and his Jewish daughter who married him.
(Those
who might challenge her conversion need to take it up with the Orthodox Beis Din
that presided over her conversion. It is not for anyone of us to make that
judgment. It is up to the Beis Din that converted her. But that too is beside the point.)
I have changed my attitude about Trump. Not about is
personal behavior. That is just as atrocious as it has ever been. But I could
not be more pleased with the vast majority of his polices. Especially those which
involve issues that are dear to religious people who value not only BALC but BALM
as well. His policies enhance our ability to observe BALM. And so far his policies have made him the best friend Israelis have ever had in the White House. At least as far as the vast
majority of Israelis are concerned
I’m pretty sure that Evangelical Christians see it pretty
much the same way. Which brings me to an editorial in Christianity Today – an
Evangelical publication. It vigorously supported the President’s impeachment. For all
the reasons I suggested about his complete disregard for BALC. But as an article
in another Evangelical publication, the Christian Post noted - supporting his impeachment is the
furthest thing from the minds of the vast majority of Evangelical preachers
and their flock. They support the President completely.
One of
their preachers was interviewed last Sunday on Meet the Press and was asked about
that editorial and he said the same thing. When asked why they support such a
man, he answered that his polices (which Evangelicals enthusiastically support) ‘trump’
his personal behavior by far. When asked to give an example of that, he was quick to
point to moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It may only have
symbolic significance. But what a symbol it is!
