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A newsletter focusing on the 2020 election and American Jews
Israel as a Voting Priority for Jews:
Ahead of the elections, most American Jews remain pro-Israel but do not define Israel as an important voting issue, according to a new study by the Ruderman Foundation.
Only 4% of Jewish voters identify Israel as their first or second-most important election issue. Some 43% prioritize health care, 28% prioritize gun violence and 21% prioritize Social Security and Medicare.
As Professor Gil Troy suggests, “American Jews are more pro-choice than pro-Israel.”
The Orthodox Jewish Vote:
I have written on this topic in a previous Report, but here I am including a piece prepared by the Editor-at-Large of Misphacha Magazine, writing in the Times of Israel, makes a case for Donald Trump within the Orthodox world:
Summary of National News on the Election:
The Forward has put together an interesting assortment of articles and stories on the 2020 campaign:
Socialism as a Political Expression:
In each of the past several Wind Election Reports, we have explored different political ideologies that have influenced Jewish voting at various times. Socialism has been a Jewish political mainstay during the closing decades of the late 19th Century and the early years of the 20th Century, as many Jews joined with other citizens both here in the United States and elsewhere in testing this philosophy, along with various other radical political ideas. In this My Jewish Learning piece, we are introduced to some of the early Jewish players and institutions that embraced socialism:
There have been numerous critiques written in connection with the alignment of Jews and Judaism with socialism. Here is one such assessment:
Some political scientists monitor political patterns that transcend generations. As an example, the socialist-inclinations of the 1930’s amongst some Jews were adopted by their children and grandchildren in connection with the political upheavals of the 1960’s, including the rise of the anti-war movement.
The rise of the Jewish Democratic “Progressives” is also being tied to these same political sources. The “Red Diaper” syndrome as it has been labeled serves as the basis for these shared generational political beliefs.
Articles of Possible Interest:
In this Salt Lake City story, I and others reflect on the 2020 election:
In this backgrounder piece, I try to lay out some of the core Jewish operational political principles:
What’s New on the Bookshelf:
By Michael Weingrad
Jewish and black voters have proven to be astonishingly reliable supporters of the Democratic Party, even when it conflicts with their interests. Three new books offer some insights into why.
Steven Windmueller is the Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the Jack H. Skirball Campus of HUC-JIR. His writings, including his previous Wind Election Reports can be found on his website: www.thewindreport.com.