Posted on 11/05/2004 11:10:33 AM PST by Jaysin
Hi all:
As an orthodox (obervant) Jew, I want to explain to everyone about the Jewish vote, why we vote the way we do, and most importantly to us conservatives--the future of the Jewish vote.
First off, most of the Jewish democrats are older. they vote with some preconceived notion that the democratic party represents the people and the underdog (Jews have historically been a persecuted minority)
Many Jews have a complete disdain for their heritage (as most of my family does) So they see religion as "the old world" and the rigidness of Orthodox Jewish Law as barbaric. Democrats (supposedly) represent the enlightened view. Most Jews are very intelligent and overthink, overanalyze, and overeverything to the point that they lose their minds.
Believe it or not, but Israel is NOT the main thing concerning Jews. it really isn't--the more secular they are, the less connection to Israel, and most Hassidim wont even acknowledge Israel's existence as a governing state.
And now the cold hard reality of things. The Jewish demographics of America are changing very rapidly. The non-orthodox Jewish community is rapidly declining through such factors as intermarriage, loss of identity, having less children at a later age, and old-age. The orthodox community is by far the fastest growing element of the Jewish world (both here and in Israel) today. Orthodox Jews are generally intelligent, business savvy, socially conservative, and we stick together. the average orthodox home consists of 5 to 8 children. There is also a large "Ba'al Teshuva" (secular Jews becoming orthodox) movement throughout the world (including myself--I come from a standard unaffiliated family and have become quite observant in the past 5 years)
The orthodox Jews vote conservative because it is what we believe is the more morally correct party to vote for. We are not interested in gay rights, leftism, radicalism, blind peace treaties etc....
I believe the Jewish vote in 2004 was considerably higher then 24%. Orthodox Jews only live in certain communities, and many of them keep their views to themselves. over the past year I met AT LEAST 25 Jews who voted Gore in 2000 and were now 100% for Bush. It was almost a give-in that the people sitting next to me in services were Republicans. I did meet several Jews that weren't thrilled with Bush but were voting for him because of his strong stand on terrorism and because "they just couldn;t vote for Kerry"
SO now for the future--the stereotypical Boca Raton Jewish liberals are in their 70's and 80's. They will only be able to influence the next 2 elections at the most. The orthodox community is growing rapidly and these younger Jews are staunch Conservatives (usually). I seriously predict that the Jewish vote will be more and more Republican in each subsequent election and it might even be fair to say that by 2016--a majority of the Jews in America will vote Republican.
All is of this is just my opinion but I would bet on it if I were a gambling man.
SO with all that said, It is Friday, and I am going to go home for the Sabbath and discuss the election with my friends.
Thanks for sharing!
The FDR/TRUMAN generation of liberals is fast declining. The next election will be even less liberal. The dems threw everthing they had, and it was considerable, and it wasn't enough. Declining union power, Shrinking liberal elderly population, rise in conservative orthodox religions, more and better educated young people. The socialists will die a lingering death......not unlike arafat....
Great article. Although I don't agree with your comment re Chassidim. Correct me if I am wrong, but Chabad/Lubovitcher Chassidim, for instance, support Israel. Satmar Chassidim don't. But that is just a minor issue in what otherwise is a very thoughtful and correct analysis.
Thank you.
Makes sense to me . I had been wondering why more of the Jewish vote was not concerned with Israel and Bush's connection. I too believe the Jewish republican vote was greater this election.
Zay gezunt.
There is more support for ISRAEL among SOUTHERN BAPTISTS than there is among NYC Jews......
I agree with most of this post. It seems to me that like the Exit Polls the figures on Jewish support for Bush are off. I was the only person I knew who voted for Bush in 2000. This time around almost everyone I know voted for Bush. Something doesn't add up.
Don't leave out abortion and gays.
the average orthodox home consists of 5 to 8 children.
I have 9 kids, 11 grandkids, and 3 more on the way.
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Well that explained a lot to me.
Judging their reaction to the movie "The Passion", apparently many Jews fear that Christians are going to retaliate against them because they killed Christ.
American Christians are shocked by the idea that we would attack God's chosen people.
Historically, political enemies of the Jews in the Old World used religion to inflame the masses against the Jews, but American Christians would never do so.
There is more support for ISRAEL among SOUTHERN BAPTISTS than there is among NYC Jews......
This underscores a reason why the Left is so quick to ascribe President Bush's victory solely to "evangelical Christians", to divide that group from all the other orthodox and conservative people of other faiths who also do not share the Democrats domestic and foreign policy world view.
Shabbat bumps!
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