I agree with much of what you say. However, in NY most of the Jews including the heavy population of Orthodox and Hasidic vote overwhelmingly Democratic.

In suburban NY where I live the Hasidic community keeps a wretched Democrat in power who wastes taxpayer money.

Glen benjamin on September 23, 2011 at 11:40 am

Well, I’m what one would call a “reformed” Jew. I don’t keep Kosher or strictly observe the Sabbath. And neither was my Dad, a retired Navy captain & Vietnam vet, who’s now deceased. And I’m as politically conservative as it gets. I have no use for “Jews Against Zionism,” or “JStreet” or any OTHER regressive (they sure ain’t PROgressives) crap such as that. And I FULLY realize that regressivism/leftism has done more to kill Jews than almost ANYTHING else in the world. Except Islam.

Just thought y’all should know that there ARE conservative non Orthodox Jews out there. We’re as rare as snow in Death Valley, but it CAN happen.

Con Chef (NB) on September 23, 2011 at 12:13 pm

It’s true that some ultra-Orthodox/hassidic communities established a close relationship with Hillary Clinton, especially in response to the help she gave regarding some of the miscreants among them. But the general trend that the more Orthodox, the more conservative has been evident at least since the days of Nixon.

As to the traditional Syrian Jewish community, I doubt they’ve gone liberal. They’re a primarily merchant community, so the government does essentially nothing for them, but burdens them with taxes and regulations. They’d prefer the government stay out of their affairs. And as to the social needs of the community, they take care of their own and have never relied on government to do so.

Raymond in DC on September 23, 2011 at 12:16 pm

I recently attended a Bar Mitzvah at a reform synagogue. They had a prayer for the US and a prayer for Israel, and then the rabbi announced a dinner fundraiser for J Street. Really nice people, but deeply confused, hopelessly confused.

A: For readers who don’t know, J Street is an anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, pro-Muslim organization funded by George Soros and run by anti-Semitic JINOs (Jews In Name Only). DS

adam on September 23, 2011 at 12:57 pm

“J Street is an anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic, pro-Muslim organization funded by George Soros and run by anti-Semitic JINOs”

Thanks for the heads up and the information Debbie. I’ve heard of “J-Street” in the past, but I was a little ignorant of who they really are.

Since that group was funded by George Soros, the Nazi-collaborator, I urge non-jews/gentiles (like myself) and jews alike to NOT support J-Street for their ultra-hatred for jews, and Israel and their love for islam!

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on September 23, 2011 at 1:25 pm

This is not new, although it is news that it is still being done. Early on in the Obama Administration, when its officials traveled to D.C.-area synagogues to expound on the Administration’s policies and answer questions, the answers clearly sounded like they came from a playbook, not a thought process. Very unlike Bush- or even Clinton-era officials.

In response to all questions the repeated reply is that Obama will keep Israel strong – i.e., the Obama strategy is to arm Israel to the teeth while working to demoralize it by encouraging greater enmity of its neighbors. It is a plan for more and greater and terrible wars, not peace.

Solomon2 on September 23, 2011 at 2:49 pm

The rabbi at the synagogue I attended was one bitchy overstuffed cow of a man(?), who spotted Obama’s dictated talking points almost word for word for the last two years.

Indeed, it seemed the synagogue (Temple Shalom of Chevy Chase) was more loyal and dedicated to the Democratic Party and Obama than it was to Judaism, America, or Israel.

Needless to say, we will not be returning there for the High Holy Days.

I am also sorry to say that many churches these days are no better, and are so far left that they are turning off mainstream Christians.

Jonathan E. Grant on September 23, 2011 at 4:10 pm

The truth is as the Jewish Left has become anti-Israel and embraces jihad, Orthodox Judaism has been moving forward to reconciling with the Jewish State. It was different a century ago but the times have changed. Jews who are not Jewish first will never support Israel. That will become more evident in the years to come.

There will be no peace in the coming New Year. A happy and healthy L’Shana Tova to every one!

NormanF on September 23, 2011 at 6:17 pm

Debbie I bet 99.5% of the ‘rabbis’ using these Obama talking points are not Orthodox. In that case they aren’t real rabbis, their congregations aren’t real shuls, and what they say is by definition a bunch of crap. Also please send me your text # so we can have more satisfying political intercourse.

A1 on September 23, 2011 at 7:35 pm

PM Netanyahu latest UN Speech: “President Abbas, I extend my hand – the hand of Israel – in peace.”

http://israelemb.org/index.php/en/latest-news/536-pm-netanyahu-president-abbas-i-extend-my-hand-the-hand-of-israel-in-peace

Sound great and so true to a gentile living remotely in Indonesia who supports the existence and thriving of Israel. I totally agree with him. But how come Netanyahu was always portray in a dim or dark light here by Debbie? A house divided can not stand, so the saying goes. Isn’t there any way for Israel loving Jews to work together collaboratively to achieve your collective purpose?

Ngindon on September 24, 2011 at 1:53 am

I am a Lutheran (LCMS) and we are running into the same type of problems. We believe in both the old and new testaments and what it instructs us to do. I like to think that both our Jewish bothers and sisters and us both believe in the same God. Like them some of our “brothers” are falling away believing and supporting gays as being right and muslims as poor and misunderstood. We all must keep the faith that in the end God will do what is right. But, that does not mean we do nothing to oppose this evil while we are on earth we must fight every inch winning some losing hopefully little but always fighting the good fight no matter where or what.

Jonathan Gartner on September 24, 2011 at 10:34 am

Whatever happened the the separation of Mr Church & St State? You can bet your shirt that had this been any church telling its congregation to vote GOP, local or national Liberals would have been screaming to get their 501(c)(3) status rescinded. I’ll guess the same would have been true of any Orthodox synagogues that tried to tell their congregation to vote GOP.

I have another question. What’s it about non-Orthodox Jews that makes them Liberal? I mean, one could be a somewhat less devout than others, and yet still support the common sense policies that would keep Jews alive against the onslaught of Muslims everywhere. After all, why would any Jew need to keep kosher in order to figure out that muslims hate them, and that hatred is hard-coded right in the quran and sunnah? The two ought to be completely separate, and the devotion of any Jew ought to be irrelevant to how s/he views Muslims.

Infidel Pride on September 24, 2011 at 11:42 am

In the 40+ years I have been attending services and events at Orthodox synagogues, listening to “shiurim (lectures)”, reading them printed in newsletters and books, etc., I never hear Orthodox rabbis going on about external issues (i.e. the blame narrative). The sermons and lectures are typically attempting to teach how to live our own lives according to God’s commandments, and improving/repairing what is wrong with ourselves. It seems like only non-Orthodox inject politics and external “shtuss” into sermons and talks at religious events. And of course many of the sermons I’ve heard being given in churches (especially Black churches) are all about the blame- how it’s everyone elses fault. You don’t see Orthodox rabbis jumping around and pouring sweat yelling at the congregation… although sometimes I think it would be kind of neat to see that suddenly happen on a slow holiday afternoon…

PsychoCheese on September 26, 2011 at 12:51 pm