Posted on 12/14/2005 4:16:59 PM PST by SJackson
The debate in the Jewish world over whether an alliance with conservative Christians is desirable or wise reveals a complete disregard for the nature of political alliances in any political system throughout history. The debate is conducted at a childish level that would cause embarrassment in any other context. As such, there is an air of unreality about it that belies the reputation of the Jewish people for being clever.
Political alliances are not and have never been about whether allies love each other; rather, the nature of such associations is expressed in the well known maxim of Lord Palmerston, a 19th century British prime minister: Britain does not have permanent friends or permanent enemies, Britain has permanent interests.
Alliances are groupings based on mutual interests and needs that can best be met, or perhaps only be met, by associating with parties whose help is sought to meet those interests. A pertinent example is the de facto alliance between the secular Left and extremist Islam today — ideologically the two are poles apart, and extremist Muslims would have no hesitation in physically eradicating such people from any society they controlled. But the two perceive each other as useful (which of course brings to mind Lenin’s description of Western liberals and socialists who often allied themselves with Communists as “useful idiots”).
It is perfectly true that conservative American Christians and Jews who care about the Torah of Moses share many interests, values and morals. But then, religious — even extremist — Muslims and Jews also have much in common. Indeed, as Jews we probably have even more in common with our Ishmaelite cousins. Yet both Muslims and Christians think that as “non-believers” we are headed to Hell, and both groups would like to convert us.
Conservative Christians, however, are our allies in the current struggle for the land of Israel and the Muslims are our adversaries who wish to see the Jewish presence there — if not the Jews themselves — terminated. Whether conservative Christians want to convert us is politically irrelevant.
When Israel was founded, the Soviet Union was one of its important allies in the political arena and through its Czech puppet supplied the newborn state with the weapons it needed for survival in the 1948 war. After Russia’s interest — the expulsion of the British from the area — was met, the Soviets turned against Israel.
The same thing happened with France, which at one time was one of Israel’s key allies, supplying its air force and helping in the construction of its nuclear facilities. But with the ascent of Charles de Gaulle and a changed perception of French interests, France became Israel’s main European enemy. This is the nature of politics, and always has been.
There is, of course, one partial exception to the above rule, and that is the alliance between the United States and Israel. While it too is based on mutual interests, there is something else present. Walter Laqueur, the widely respected historian of Israel and Zionism, once said in a talk to a Jewish university group in London that his conclusion, after studying the American-Israeli relationship, was that beneath the standard politics there was a genuine American commitment to Israel that went far beyond mere political self-interest and that was nearly a moral commitment in itself.
To anyone who rationally looks at the world and what is happening in it, there is no doubt that conservative Christians — mostly but not exclusively American — are just about the only non-Jewish group allied with Israel in the struggle against the Palestinians and Muslims in general. Their reasons and interests are up-front and well known. It is said that Jews fear these allies because they wish to Christianize America. This is peculiar: America was always a Christian country, and in its heartland very much still is. Indeed, America is the only Christian country left in the Western world. There is not a single truly Christian country in Europe. (The UK is so secular that Christian Africa has been trying to convert it back to Christianity.)
No matter how successful conservative Christians are in Christianizing contemporary America, the country will remain considerably more secular than was the case until well into the 1970`s. In any case, the strong Christian cultural influence on American life during the first 200 years of the nation’s existence hardly impeded the development of Jewish life in the U.S.
It is not at all strange that allies of the present could be adversaries in the future and vice versa. You meet each crisis as it comes, if it comes. What is it that many Jews really fear from the perceived power of the Christian Right? They fear for the secular leftist causes, beliefs, practices and values that they espouse and hold dear. But then, Torah Judaism is even stronger in its opposition to what these secular Jews believe and how they define themselves.
It is said that Jews fear conservative Christians because they wish to convert us. Indeed they do. But so what? Secularists, especially leftists and liberals, also seek to convert the Jews — to their ideology, world outlook, lifestyle, values, and morals. Many on the Left, going back to Karl Marx, see the very existence of the Jews, especially Torah-observant Jews, as a problem — and the cause of many if not all of the evils in the world.
Today it is leftists and liberals, not conservative Christians, who threaten the existence of the Jews as a people and who stand in opposition to various aspects of Judaism. Here in the UK, shechita and Jewish education are not under attack by fundamentalist Christians, but by secular leftists.
Furthermore, because we accept the help of conservative Christians in one sphere, it doesn’t mean we can’t oppose them when it comes to specific policies that threaten Jewish interests in other areas. You cannot do this with a good many leftists and liberals, whose opposition to Judaism, like that of fundamentalist Muslims, is existential and total.
As touched on above, the reason many Jews are reluctant to acknowledge or accept any alliance with conservative Christians — when clearly it is secular liberals who are the greater threat, both immediate and long term — is that such an alliance exposes a major fault line among those who call themselves Jews, a fault line many Jews prefer to pretend does not exist.
Namely, it makes salient the division between secular and Reform Jews on the one hand, and Torah-observant Jews on the other. It reveals to one and all that there is not one Jewish people, but at least two, and that these two peoples are often highly antagonistic to one another, each with a different conception of what “Jewish” means. Each has different interests, and these interests frequently clash.
Life would be so much easier for many Jews if conservative Christians were open, rabid anti-Semites. Unfortunately for such Jews, these are found largely on the Left.
Levi Sokolic is an anthropologist and IT consultant living in the UK. His doctoral thesis examined the adaptation of Orthodox Jewish society to the social and cultural changes of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Do they lower-case the g too?
It's not PC to type G-d. It called reverance. In Judaism, one does not write or type G-d out fully on anything that could be thrown away. Something typed could be printed and then tossed out. Educate yourself before you have a kneejerk.
Make that reverence. Typing too fast.
As a born again Christian I love to talk to people about my faith. I love to help them find The LORD. It doesn't matter if someone is atheist, Jew, Muslim, agnostic, Buddhist or of any other belief or non belief I welcome discussion because I know that Jesus Christ is LORD. I am interested in sharing truth because the truth redeems and sets free all who except it. Someone cared enough about me at a time in my past to risk my ridicule and debate. Thank The LORD that they did.
Muslims outlaw other religions, partly I believe, because they are afraid of debate. When you know The Truth you love to talk about it and are not afraid of what others may say, do or think. You are confident.
EXCEPT=ACCEPT
Why do you put an asterisk in the word chr*stian yet you do not capitalize the proper name?
The asterisk may be a typing error but, I think the cap. error is purposeful.
I think you are incorrect. Before Christ, Israel was redeemed by faith in the future Messiah, which the Law and Prophets monolithically foretold.
When He actually showed up, He took on a form that was unexpected, yet technically consistent with scripture- humble, common, a spiritual King rather than an earthly Emperor. He was partially rejected by some Jews on this basis, partially rejected because He threatened the elite power structure of Judean politics.
Having said that, He was accepted by a great portion of Israel. I think many times we forget how many Jews did follow Him. They have since been assimilated into various populations, since there is no longer any mandate to be culturally separated as a Jew. Remember, the church was 100% Jewish until Peter had the vision of the sheet and the event at Cornelius' house.
The Jews that are left today are descendants of those that rejected Him at His first Advent. A remnant, preserved for the harvest of His second Advent. In between the two, many continue to find Him, and these are the Messianic folks- usually relatively new believers in comparison to the backdrop of 2000 years.
Just my opinion here- I would say ask your question of a Messianic Jewish believer.
IF Lieberman is truly a conservative Jew why would he stay in the party he has chosen to run as President WITH Gore?
Come on, don't be fooled just because he is talking the talk, would he truly walk the walk? Vote for a "conservative" lib??
I DON"T think so!
It was a joke, trust me.
I recognize that, compared to his rabid commie colleagues in the Democratic party like the Swimmer, Obama bin Laden, Benedict Murtha, etc., Leiberman just seems like a conservative.
Well good we agree than. I thought it was a joke but had to clarify if not for you than those that may think it might have been a good idea ;)
You never know LOL:)
This might be a revelation to those who have never read the Bible ot paid attention to Israeli politics but it's plain as the nose on your face.
The ;) under the original post was supposed to be indicative.
I just needed to think of a conservative jew in politics -- quickly.
Sadly, I couldn't think of one.
BUAHAHAHA!
I hope no one gets too mad at you for that.
Make that 99.9%. The Centurion for one was a Christian.
We ALL killed Jesus, according to the New Testament. I don't "blame" the Jews any more than anyone else. Jesus died because he HAD TO, according to God's will, in order to pay for MY sins - as well as yours, and everyone else's. He is the sacrificial Lamb of God, that cleanses us of sin.
Historically, the accounts tell us that the Pharisees had no legal authority crucify ANYONE, and the Cheif Priests dared not go against the Romans, so they had to convince the Romans (Pilate) to crucify Jesus. The Bible tells us that Pilate would have let Jesus go, except that the Pharisees incited a near-riot among the mob which lead to Pilate's capitulation to their wishes in order to keep the peace.
But I repeat, if you understand the Christian Faith, you understand that EACH of us killed Jesus, because He wasn't FORCED to die, He gave his life willingly to save us all from sin. BUT - if you do not accept His gift, you do not have His gift. It's paid for - go ahead and take it.
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