I see two, or really three main reasons Jewish people overwhelmingly vote Democrat AND tend toward socialistic Left leaning ideas.
1) Jewish people bought the story—from FDR’s era— that because Democrats are more likely to get the government to help the poor, that makes the Democrats the party of compassion. Most Democrats start (or started) from this position—which is short sited, as a better economy helps the poor MOST of all, and social welfare spending seems to invariably hurt business—due to the taxes needed to support it.
2) Jewish people (along with most all of Academia) bought the Marxist/Communist story that communist socialism IS THE OPPOSITE of fascist Nazism. Naturally—as is admireable—Jewish people want government to be as far from the Nazis as possible, and if you think the Right in America (constitutional conservatives) is like the “Right” in Europe (which tend to be Xenophobic fascists...) then YES you will vote Left in America.
Of course real fascist/naziism is a blood brother with communist/socialism. Most educated people don’t think so though, as that is not what people are taught.
3) Jewish people tend to be very well educated, and idealistic...which in our system, tends toward the more utopian party, the Democrats and the Left. Utopianism of course is terribly dangerous—as if you think you’re bringing in heaven, you’ll create hell to make it happen...
Your #1 is partly true. Some liberal Jews have voted Dem to “help the poor,” which we are commanded to do. But that argument would be foolish if used as an excuse today. We have the years of Democrat politics as proof that government do-goodism hurts those it purports to help, pretty much always.
Jews originally wanted religious freedom and freedom from bigotry, the ability to rise in society, more of a social chance. They thought, correctly for a while, that under Dem policies they would be left alone to pursue the American dream. But how long did it take to develop into the circular dependency that blacks and Hispanics and gays are in today?
And now with the Jews, they find themselves blindly voting for the most antiSemitic candidates of all by getting stuck voting Dem.
Jews are merciless to their own who stray outside of the fold. Liberal jews are verbal and can be caustic at keeping people from straying from voting the liberal way. It’s alinsky all the way, severe mocking and chiding that causes many conservative Jews to stay closeted. It would be easier to come home and say you’re marrying a nonJew or gay than to say you are a Republican or conservative.
Religious Jews get it, though. They are informed by better sources and know which side of the aisle has their interests at heart. Libera l Jews are JINOS and don’t study Torah. They are often surprised to learn that voting freedom and Constitution is more actual Judaism. The reason they are surprised is because their prayer books, when they show up at temple, are filled with do-goodism. Their prayers are more watered down than the Rolling Stones in Midi form.
It is alinsky style tactics by their friends that keep them in the Dem fold.