I'm an observant Jew, but by no means a single-issue support-of-Israel voter. In fact, it makes me furious that so many Jews are. Don't get me wrong - a candidate's support of Israel is extremely important to me, but there are many many many other issues that are also key.
It bothers me tremendously that practically all discussion of Obama's relationship with Jews focuses on the issue of Israel.
And just today, my mother forwarded me an article from a couple of weeks ago that presents a broad argument for why Obama reflects so many other additional Jewish values, and why the choice is clear.
The article starts out kind of PUMA-like, but I urge you to read all of it (get past the title and first paragraph to the good stuff) and share it with Jewish relatives and friends. It lays out a compelling argument for why, in fact, Obama is precisely the candidate Jews should support.
Here's the article: Learning to love Obama after Clinton’s defeat (Remember, I said you have to get past the title and the first paragraph to get to the good stuff.)
Deborah Lipstadt is is a professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University.
She does a good job summarizing Obama's support for Israel and from prominent Jews, including Benjamin Netanyahu. She shares a wonderful anecdote about Obama's meeting with David Horowtz, editor of The Jerusalem Post, basically comparing his grasp of the issues with Bush's, McCain's ("looked to Lieberman several times for reassurance on his answers and seemed a little flummoxed by a question relating to the nuances of settlement construction."), and Sarah Palin's ("rote repetition three times during the Charlie Gibson interview of precisely the same phrase about Israel that 'We can’t second-guess Israel.'"). In contrast, Obama "knew precisely what he wanted to say about the most intricate issues confronting and concerning Israel, and expressed himself clearly, even stridently on key subjects."
She also discusses how McCain/Palin's position opposing abortion even in cases of rape or murder
potentially conflicts with Jewish law, which holds that when there is a threat to the life of the mother, her life takes precedence over that of her fetus — and leaves abortion decisions up to a woman and the rabbi with whom she consults. Many traditional rabbis take into consideration the issue of mental stress on the mother, permitting abortions in the case of Tay-Sachs and other genetic diseases.
But what I found so powerful about this essay was her analysis of other Jewish values (I personally would argue that they're universal human values, but that's another discussion).
The Torah repeatedly instructs us to care for the "widow, orphan, poor, and the stranger." It is fundamental to Judaism that those who are blessed with "more" have an obligation — not a choice — to help those who have less. Taking care of the needy in Jewish tradition constitutes doing tzedaka, not charity. There is a world of difference between the two.
The root of charity is caras, as in dear — caress, care. The root of tzedaka is justice. Jewish law prefers that people give charity lovingly and kindly. But Jewish law teaches, even if you don’t care to give, that you are obligated to do so. How then could I support McCain, who has voted against the minimum wage at least 10 times? How could I support someone who believes in the privatization of Social Security? Can you imagine what would be happening today as the economy lurches toward implosion to people who depended on private Social Security accounts? Social Security is a contract a society makes with its citizens: We will help you when you are old and needy.
How could I support a candidate, McCain, whose healthcare program would leave millions uninsured and tax the health insurance benefits we now receive from our employers? How could I support someone who supports more tax cuts for the very wealthy and almost nothing for the middle class or the poor?
I worked very hard for Obama leading up to the PA primary. A few weeks before it, my son's pre-school teacher (he goes to a religious school) handed me some literature she had been sent, full of smears and rumors about Obama. The envelope was handwritten, and it seemed clear to me that the sender had targeted the teacher because she's listed on a website as running a religious center with her husband.
After handing the document over to the campaign, I decided to imitate the sender and do my own mailing. At first I thought I'd pull together Obama's positon papers on Israel and Jewish issues. Then I realized that there are others far more qualified than I to assess these positions.
So instead, I spent hours researching what Jews were saying in support of Obama. I quoted Robert Wexler, Russ Feingold, Cass Sunstein, and other visible Jews. But I also went to sites where anyone could post a comment, like Jews for Obama.
In the end, I pulled together a 10 page list of quotes from Jews - prominent and not - about why they supported him. I made hundreds of copies, downloaded addresses, and sent it to about 500 Jews in PA (I got it done just in time), NC and Indiana (the next primaries). I couldn't afford the $$ or time to do more states. I have no idea if it made a difference, but I felt better about doing it. (I've since shared the document via email with a few groups).
One of the themes that repeated over and over was the concept of Tikkun Olam, or "repair of the world." Here are some representative quotes:
"I support Barack Obama because his values and record of public service reflect the most sacred values of Judaism–tikkun olam."
"As a Jew I support Barack Obama for his spirit of tikkun olam and support of Israel; as an educator, for his views on teaching the whole child; as a mother, for his ideas about health care and willingness to negotiate first; as a patriot, for his clear judgment and respect of our Constitution. We need a President who can bring us together for the sake of our country’s future."
"Regardless of who we choose to vote for, I do think its essential for us ALL to stand in solidarity with Senator Obama on this one big issue. We cannot remain silent in the face of this evil smear campaign. Senator Obama is being targeted in the most vicious and despicable way by both those within and outside the Jewish community. Given our history, I think the Jewish people in this country who recognize the manipulation and fear-mongering that is going on have a moral obligation to speak up against it. We must firmly DENOUNCE and REJECT the people and tactics that would use hate and fear to unfairly malign a good and decent man."
"I am an Orthodox Jew and I support Barack Obama because he shows a rare wisdom among politicians, the wisdom to see not only the world as it is but also the world as it might be."
"I am a 2nd generation Holocaust survivor and feel morally obligated to be a politically involved advocate for those whose basic human rights are threatened or ignored. Barack Obama is the candidate who would strive and even succeed in promoting these rights as he deals with the many pressing issues of our times."
I was so moved as I read page after page of quotes from people who support him. Their eloquence and passion about how the world can improve under him stand in stark contrast to the mean-spiritedness of the other side. By no means do I mean to imply that Jews have some special connection or obligation, or should be treated differently. But given the attention the Jewish population has received, and the various ways McCain is fighting for the vote (Joe the Plumber's "a vote for Obama is a vote for the destruction of Israel" and the nasty email to 75,000 PA Jews warning of a second holocaust), it is refreshing to step back and see messages of hope.
To my great sadness, many of my Jewish friends still refuse to support him. One told me no Jew could call him or herself a good Jew and vote for Obama. (She has, thankfully, since moved out of the country.) Another told me that his middle name Hussein bothered her enough that she couldn't vote for him. (I pointed out that she named her son Joseph, but no one thought he would have Stalin-like qualities. She didn't appreciate that.) Even my rabbi, whom up until now I thought of as the wisest kindest man I knew told me that while he agrees with Obama on every other issue, he will decide in the voting booth, solely on the basis of whose support for Israel he feels will be better. (I've bombarded him with relevant videos and articles.) There are certainly many around me who do support Obama, but I wish every one of the ones who don't could read these quotes and the Lipstadt article and realize the quality of the person and issues we're talking about.
One final quote from the Lipstadt article:
Finally, let’s talk about the 800-pound gorilla sitting in the middle of many people’s election ballots. Jews have prospered in this country in countless and unimaginable ways. America has given us tremendous opportunities. While no one should vote for Obama because he is black, the fact that a black man is a nominee for the highest office in the land constitutes an affirmation of the fact that at long last, some of the final barriers of discrimination are crumbling. For Jews it is yet another reminder of the blessings this country has offered them and other minorities.
Let us all hope that after Tuesday, the final barriers of discrimination of all kinds are truly, finally, crumbling.