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The Jewish Electorate 2012
New blog posts every Monday and Thursday.
BY: MATT BAR I find myself asked to defend my song, “I’m Not White, I’m Jewish” just about as often as you might suppose. Maybe more. I understand the critique. I feel it. I certainly have been given all the privileges a beige face is granted in this country. Jews pass as white, [...]
Our monthly column on ethical issues arising from new trends in social media
Rachel Meytin The New York Times recently profiled a Silicon Valley Waldorf school because the school bans Internet technology for its students (both within the school and at home). The school is striving to create an environment that is conducive to learning at a core level, trusting that students will have plenty of time to [...]
Discussion Guide
1. Is Israel being used in the election as a wedge issue? When did bipartisanship on Israel change?
2. What would you want to ask each presidential candidate?
3. Have Jews become more polarized as an electorate? Is there a “Jewish vote”? If so, is it more divided today into separate cohorts than in previous elections?
4. Is Judaism by nature “conservative” — that is, it conserves tradition? Or is it “liberal” — a tradition based on prophetic vision? Or both?
5. What role will jobs creation, the economy, and other domestic issues play in the election — and do your Jewish sensibilities influence your opinions on these issues?
From this month's print journal
Current Articles
Brent Chaim Spodek
I was recently in a store where I saw a beautiful print of a teaching from Ben Zoma, one of the sages of the Mishnah. It read, “Who is a rich man? He who is satisfied with his lot.” The calligraphy was fabulous, and I told my wife that I wanted to [...]
Mik Moore
In 2012, what will determine who Jews support and the intensity of that support? The key policy fights will be about the economy and job creation.
Kenneth Wald
Assuming that Jewish political distinctiveness derives from certain intrinsic features of Jewish experience, scholars have offered three types of “Judaic” explanations: a “values” theory; a historical approach; and the “social marginality” thesis.
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