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Opinion: Ted Cruz - The Satmar Choice
Jewish Political Updates ^ | April 11, 2016 | Avrumi Weinberger

Posted on 04/12/2016 2:01:32 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Like Republicans across the country, Satmar Republicans are fed up with the failed policies of the Obama administration. The burdens placed on small businesses by overregulation, higher taxes and Obamacare are felt here, too. Parents struggling to make ends meet dream of a president who will be a crusader for school choice. The administration’s hostility to religious liberty sends a chill down the spine of every religious Jewish voter, Republican or Democrat. So naturally, many Jewish Republicans are turning towards Ted Cruz.

Ted Cruz achieved national renown for his efforts to defund Obamacare before it launched in 2014, leading to a government shutdown. He has been a staunch defender of religious liberty during his term as Solicitor General of Texas where he successfully defended the state’s right to display the Ten Commandments in front of the state capital. He has also called for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, one of the largest abortion providers in the country which receives taxpayer funding of over half a billion dollars a year. On all of these issues, Donald Trump sounds more like Hillary Clinton. Trump has said that he would enact universal healthcare, which would amount to a vast expansion of Obamacare. He has also said that Planned Parenthood should not be defunded and that they do wonderful things. And on other core social issues, he shares more of the values of a New York liberal than that of a conservative Republican.

So, for Jewish Republicans, Ted Cruz is a natural fit. He speaks our language, understands our needs, and also, personally reflects many of our values.

However, for Satmar Republicans, there is a lingering discomfort about his strong advocacy for the State of Israel. From a religious perspective, we believe Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is in violation of the Three Oaths that bound the Jewish people so long as we’re in Exile. We also believe that not everything the Israeli government does is beyond reproach. Like every human construct, the Israeli system of government and the execution thereof is bound to be flawed. As a result, some of Cruz’s pro-Israel rhetoric may be off-putting.

However, upon deeper reflection, one could argue that a pro-Israel candidate is actually a better choice for Satmar Republicans than a neutral or a hostile one. For of the Three Oaths mentioned above, the one with the most significant practical implications is the one that forbids the Jewish people to arouse the anger of the nations while we are in Exile.

This oath has sadly been violated many times by members of the Israeli government since its founding. But most of these instances transpired precisely because there was a neutral or hostile administration. The most recent and memorable example of this was when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress against the will of the Obama administration. Such instances will be sharply diminished if we have a president that sees eye to eye with Israel. With a president that is unapologetically committed to Israel, you will not see the countless stories we see today about tensions between the White House and the prime minister. You will not have to cringe when Israel is criticized by the State Department because under a Cruz administration that will not happen. The anger of the anti-Israel community will shift from Israel and the Jews towards the Cruz administration. Indeed, a Cruz administration would be the best-case scenario for the Satmar community.


TOPICS: Current Events; Judaism; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: cruz; judaism; newyork; tedcruz
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Satmar (Hebrew: סאטמאר or סאטמר) is the largest grouping in Hasidic Judaism, with an estimated membership of 120,000 (2006), centered in New York state.
1 posted on 04/12/2016 2:01:33 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

There have been only two Americans who have received standing ovations when speaking in front of the Kinesset, Ronald Reagan and Ted Cruz.


2 posted on 04/12/2016 2:05:27 AM PDT by Slyfox (Donald Trump's First Principle is the Art of the Deal)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The Jewish community have two questions to ask themselves - which candidate will be strongest on fighting the spread of Islamic extremism? Which candidate is least likely to be a closet Angela Merkel, Paul Ryan, or David Cameron? The answer is Trump:


3 posted on 04/12/2016 2:06:10 AM PDT by Byron_the_Aussie (It's them or us.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
While ISIS, Hamas, and Hezbollah are training their next generation to fight, many American parents have different priorities:


4 posted on 04/12/2016 2:08:58 AM PDT by Byron_the_Aussie (It's them or us.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If a Jewish sect concentrated in a Brooklyn congressional district can come out big for Ted Cruz, Trump will be under 50 percent and Ted will get a delegate from that district.


5 posted on 04/12/2016 2:11:59 AM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS:REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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To: Byron_the_Aussie

Not a Trump fan but agree with the picture and pussified American college students. It’s pathetic how the liberal indoctrination starts in grade school now.


6 posted on 04/12/2016 2:14:59 AM PDT by maddog55 (America Rising a new Civil War needs to happen.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Gee, how many GOP Jews are there?


7 posted on 04/12/2016 2:24:44 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: fortheDeclaration

The conservative ones.


8 posted on 04/12/2016 2:26:50 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Again, about how many is that?

Not too many.

9 posted on 04/12/2016 3:05:04 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: fortheDeclaration

Over 120,000 in this sect alone in one New York congressional district. Nationwide? I have no idea.


10 posted on 04/12/2016 3:07:16 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: fortheDeclaration

Many.


11 posted on 04/12/2016 3:29:42 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Don't just rely on Wikipedia. Go to the source article.....

"Teitelbaum's group has about 120,000 followers worldwide, said Heilman, with large congregations in Williamsburg and Kiryas Joel. The sect has 65,000 to 75,000 disciples in the United States, 95% of whom live in New York state, said Heilman."

12 posted on 04/12/2016 3:31:59 AM PDT by cincinnati65
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

One of the interesting characteristics of Satmar Judaism is that it traces its roots to Eastern Europe, and it rejects modern Zionism. They really think of themselves as a “nation in exile” to this day.


13 posted on 04/12/2016 4:02:43 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Sometimes I feel like I've been tied to the whipping post.")
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To: maddog55
They seemed a mite young for college students.

But using kids like that should be a flogging offense.

14 posted on 04/12/2016 4:08:56 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Ted Cruz, Virgil Goode, it’s all the same thing in the end.....


15 posted on 04/12/2016 4:33:38 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hopefully the Lubavitchers are next. Similar group. Same compelling rationale.


16 posted on 04/12/2016 8:10:43 AM PDT by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Society: Rack 'em Danno!)
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To: Nextrush

That would be the Lubavitchers who nearly put Reagan over the top in NYCity when he lost the uberDemocrat city of 7-9 million by only 27,000 votes. The Satmars have an additional stronghold in Orange County, north of the city. AND there are other Chassidic Jewish groups in New York as well.


17 posted on 04/12/2016 8:14:44 AM PDT by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Society: Rack 'em Danno!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
So, for Jewish Republicans, Ted Cruz is a natural fit. He speaks our language, understands our needs, and also, personally reflects many of our values.

Interesting argument since the Satmars reject the State of Israel.

18 posted on 04/12/2016 9:16:44 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: BlackElk

I do not know all the sects well, but I do remember a story about one cutting a deal with Hillary Clinton some years back.

The Cruz game is to find a way to break through in congressional districts of NY. Upstate with more conservative voters in general or downstate with conservative religious voters as we discuss here.


19 posted on 04/12/2016 1:49:23 PM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS:REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Yes, conservative Jews are a big factor in New York elections.

Most of those people don't vote.

20 posted on 04/12/2016 1:58:56 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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