Why are Jews Liberal?

I began my day at 6:00 am at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church serving Christmas breakfast to hundreds of homeless and disenfranchised families in Houston. Every year, for as long as I remember, it has been my tradition to find somewhere on Christmas and Easter to volunteer my time so that others, who celebrate these days, can take time to spend with their families. And, if possible, my wife and I have taken our children with us. They live such “blessed” lives and I want them to understand that they have an obligation, because of their blessings, to reach out to those who live without every day.

I am sharing this because of a recent lecture I attended with Alan Dershowitz, Professor of Law from Harvard University and Norman Podhoretz, Editor in Chief of Commentary Magazine. Norman recently published a book entitled “Why are Jews Liberal?” To set the stage, Norman Podhoretz began his illustrious career at Commentary strongly embedded in the heart and soul of the Democratic Party nearly 40 years ago. Commentary magazine which he founded was a clarion voice of the Jewish community as it advocated for the rights of the poor and impoverished in our towns and cities. He stood as a beacon of hope for the liberal agenda of the 1960’s and 1970’s. But his most recent book chronicles his transformation from a card carrying Democrat to a partner of the right and its unwavering support for Israel over and above all other political agendas. This transformation has led to the realignment of the political views of Commentary and a refocusing of its message to a very narrow, pro-Israel agenda.

Sharing the stage was Alan Dershowitz, a loud and clear liberal voice in the Jewish agenda. Dershowitz, a professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard and lawyer in many high profile cases, has written extensively on why he continues to partner with the left in his political and “religious” life while remaining staunchly pro-Israel. His book, The Case for Israel, cannot be challenged in its pro-Israel stance and his opposition to Arab claims is clear. Nevertheless, he remains a complicated political figure and chooses to avoid Podhoretz’s single issue stands.

That is the key to the argument. Are we as Jews, single issue voters or can we be more complicated on our views and therefore find different partnerships of values beyond the pro-Israel Christian right?

Podhoretz notes that since 1928, the average Jewish vote for the Democrat in presidential elections has been an amazing 75%—far higher than that of any other ethno-religious group. In the last election, it was 78% for Obama. Except for African Americans, who gave him 95% of their vote, Mr. Obama did far better with Jews than with any other ethnic or religious group. Thus the Jewish vote for him was 25 points higher than the 53% he scored with the electorate as a whole; 35 points higher than the 43% he scored with whites; 11 points higher than the 67% he scored with Hispanics; 33 points higher than the 45% he scored with Protestants; and 24 points higher than the 54% he scored with Catholics.

He thought that in 2008, things would have been different. The main reason was Israel. Despite some slippage in concern for Israel among American Jews, most of them were still telling pollsters that their votes would be strongly influenced by the positions of the two candidates on the Jewish state. Nevertheless, Mr. Obama beat Mr. McCain among Jewish voters by a staggering 57 points.

As the late Jewish scholar Milton Himmelfarb said in the 1950s: "Jews earn like Episcopalians"—then the most prosperous minority group in America—"and vote like Puerto Ricans," who were then the poorest. Why asks Dershowitz.

Jews remain far more heavily committed to the liberal agenda than any of their old ethno-religious New Deal partners. As the eminent sociologist Nathan Glazer has put it, "whatever the promptings of their economic interests," Jews have consistently supported "increased government spending, expanded benefits to the poor and lower classes, greater regulations on business, and the power of organized labor." As with these old political and economic questions, so with the newer issues being fought out in the culture wars today. On abortion, gay rights, school prayer, gun control and assisted suicide, the survey data show that Jews are by far the most liberal of any group in America.

Dershowitz countered that most American Jews sincerely believe that their liberalism, together with their commitment to the Democratic Party as its main political vehicle, stems from the teachings of Judaism and reflects the heritage of "Jewish values."

It is found in the stories of the Hebrew Bible, from the slave period which begins in this week’s Sidra to the pages of law in Leviticus that we as a people learned the need to care for others. It was through our immigrant experience coming here from Eastern Europe in the 1880s to America "the goldene medinah." We soon learned that there was no gold in the streets, as some may have imagined, which meant that we had to struggle, and struggle hard. But there was another, more precious kind of gold in America. There was freedom and there was opportunity. Blessed with these conditions, we children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of these immigrants flourished—and not just in material terms—to an extent unmatched in the history of our people.

What is the Jewish message here? It’s probably somewhere in the middle. As Dershowitz notes, He wants strong Jewish Democrats and strong Jewish Republicans. He wants Jews to influence both sides of the coin and participate on both sides of the aisle. That way Israel will always have support. And while he has the ear of the President now, he wants to make sure that Jewish views are heard and our passion for social justice is given voice.

Pohoretz is passionate about his support for Israel. For him, Israel is the last survival issue for the Jewish people. In his view, without a strong and solid US support for Israel, our future as a people is threatened. While I don’t agree with his doomsday views, his partnership with the pro-Israel right like Pastor Hagee here in San Antonio cannot hurt, as long as Israel is the only partnership issue.

And I believe what was most important in this dialogue was the confirmation that Jews care and Jews matter and that as long as we remain the inheritors of our Biblical roots, we have an obligation to help. And so on this cusp of a new secular year and in the shadow of a very challenging year for many, let me close with this prayer.

Eloheinu vElohei avoteinu v’imoteinu, Our God and God of our ancestors, you bless us with abundance and prosperity for which we are truly grateful. With humility and respect, we acknowledge the people who work night and day so that we will have food on our tables, clothes on our bodies, care when ewe are sick, and many other services we may not even be aware of that make our lives better easier and more comfortable.

God of justice, we pray for the workers in the fields, in the factories, in the hospitals, hotels and office buildings. May their work be safe from danger and fear. May their labors sustain them and their families with equity and dignity.
God, forgive our ignorance that makes us blind to the plight of so many of our brothers and sisters. Make us aware of the struggles of all who are simply in search of their own shelter and security.

Eternal God, give us the strength and passion to work for a world in which there is no exploitation. Free us so that we might dedicate our hearts and lives to a vision of life with security, dignity, and sustainability for all people. Amen.