Faith and politics are a notoriously explosive combine that has been the casus belli for hundreds of years.
Within the Trump period of social media and conspiracy theories, the general public injection of ultranationalist spiritual extremists has solely added to the abuse and chaos.
Whereas the nationwide media has targeted on Christian Evangelicals and their downward trek into shedding their historically accepted Christian beliefs for a twisted view provided by Trump-inspired leaders, Orthodox Jewish adherents haven’t acquired a lot media protection.
Possibly it’s as a result of specializing in Jewish spiritual zealots could possibly be construed as anti-Jewish or that this sub-group of American Jewry shouldn’t be stigmatized by their foray into right-wing politics. However this omission misses a vital break with conventional American Jewish historical past that’s having an influence on the U.S., in addition to the elections in Israel.
Propelled by misinformation, propaganda, and huge quantities of cash, the Extremely-Orthodox Jews have embraced the Trump motion, despite the fact that they’re now in the identical political tent as Christian nationalists, neo-Nazis, QAnon conspiracy believers, and plain outdated Jew haters.
How these ultra-religious Jews, who ordinarily spent their days finding out Torah and different spiritual texts, discovered themselves cohabitating with individuals who would have organized pogroms towards them a century in the past is a contemporary political marvel.
However shepherded by rich, largely secular Jews within the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and a small fringe group, JEXIT, each spiritual and secular Jews have been pitched the Siren music that Trump-MAGA Republicans are “higher” for the U.S. Jewish group than Democrats.
It is a wild assertion contemplating that since about 1920, American Jews have flocked to the Democratic Social gathering as a result of it embraced immigrants and espoused social and political values that mirrored Jewish values. This mutually helpful pact has solely strengthened since 1948, when Israel was shaped. In flip, American Jews supported the Democratic Social gathering, whereas quite a few Jews gained political workplace below the Democratic banner.
What Hath Trump Wrought?
The presidency and candidacy of Trump, mixed with the rise of a right-wing Israeli authorities, offered agitators within the Jewish group to push the rumor that extra Jews ought to turn out to be Republicans as a result of…., effectively, there was no single compelling problem except you have been a conservative zealot or a Jew who was linked to a right-wing authorities in Israel.
Numerically, these causes would solely attraction to some American Jews. However to increase the promoting factors, the agitators concocted a fable that Trump was “higher” for the Jews and for shielding Israel. Each have been very debatable, however the fable gained momentum after the assault in Israel on Oct. 7, 2024, and the next rise in anti-Semitic assaults within the U.S. by pro-Palestinian supporters.
Earlier than October 7, anti-Semitic violence within the U.S. was performed predominantly by right-wing white supporters, a lot of whom have been Trump loyalists. This consists of the Proud Boys and a few dozen or so neo-Nazi and skinhead hate teams recognized by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Legislation Middle.
However due to Trump’s insurance policies on Israel and his favorable tax insurance policies for the wealthiest Individuals, Trump’s candidacy resonated with rich Jews who both ignored or don’t care about his attraction to non secular extremists, most of whom would by no means affiliate with Jews or else thought of them a part of the monetary and media cabal that controls U.S. capitalism.
This consists of wild theories, such because the Nice Alternative Idea, which says that Brown and Black immigrants are being imported to displace Whites within the U.S. On the similar time, Jews can even change Christians as both “the Chosen folks” or in very important govt positions. This was the mantra in Charlottesville by the Proud Boys, who yelled, “The Jews is not going to change us.” In case you suppose the concept is simply too wild, suppose once more. It’s accepted by 60% of Republicans.
In accordance with a Bloomberg article, “Republicans who maintain a good view of Trump are greater than twice as seemingly (68%) as these with an unfavorable view (32%) to agree that immigrants are invading the U.S. Amongst Trump followers, 73% agree with Trump’s Nazi-infused rhetoric that undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our nation.”
“The macabre dance between paranoia and propaganda is displayed when media habits are added. Amongst those that most belief conservative information, 81% agree with the Nice Alternative, about 4 instances extra (23%) than those that most belief mainstream information.
“Christian supremacy, like White supremacy, is an element, with 43% of Trump followers agreeing that “God desires Christians to take management“ of the “7 mountains“ of society, a reference to Christian supremacists dominating key sectors of American life, together with schooling, enterprise, and authorities.”
So how do the Republican Jews, most of whom are secular and rich, match into this?
The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) mission assertion states: “We search to foster and improve ties between the American Jewish group and Republican decision-makers. We work to sensitize Republican management in authorities and the Social gathering to the issues and problems with the Jewish group whereas articulating and advocating Republican concepts and insurance policies inside the Jewish group. ”
It’s not clear how this differs from what Jewish Democratic organizations do. Any political group addresses “issues and points” that have an effect on their constituency. So why is the RJC so secretive?
That is much more suspicious as a result of the RJC has donated a whole lot of thousands and thousands to Trump and MAGA Republicans. Dr. Miriam Adelson, the spouse of the late on line casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, has donated over $200 million to Trump. That is considerably greater than if she wanted to purchase the ambassadorship to Israel. So, what’s the motivation?
The safety, safety, and development of Israel is the handy cowl story of the Republican Jews. To them, Israel is being deserted by Democratic presidential administrations (there is no such thing as a proof of this) and appeasing Israel’s enemies (no proof of this, both). These lies are key speaking factors of Trump supporters. Republican Senator Tom Cotton told CNN host Jake Tapper that Biden has not supported Israel over the previous 11 months since Hamas attacked Israel.
In flip, Trump has stated that if he loses the 2024 election, will probably be “the fault of the Jews.” The American Jewish Committee retaliated that Jews comprise solely 2% of the U.S. inhabitants, but Trump says they need to be blamed if he loses. Cotton didn’t reply this query however defended Trump’s wild comment.
In the meantime, Trump has held quite a few fundraising occasions with Republican Jews, even whereas Trump met with white Christian nationalists. But regardless of Trump’s felony convictions and public intercourse and adultery scandals, the Orthodox, in addition to the secular rich Jews within the RJC, blindly help Trump.
At a gilded fundraiser on the Pierre Lodge in Manhattan, hosted by billionaire Howard Lutnick, the rich reached deep into their pockets for Trump, at the same time as his landmark trial about hush cash paid to Stormy Daniels unfolded in tawdry element in a dingy courtroom downtown. Lutnik stated he doubted the responsible verdict would change the thoughts of a single particular person on the fundraiser. And why not?
Or the minds of many others. Lower than two weeks after a gilded fundraiser on the Pierre Lodge in Manhattan hosted by billionaire Howard Lutnick, and as Trump’s trial over the hush cash paid to porn star Stormy Daniels was underway, non-public fairness mogul and longtime Republican donor Stephen Schwarzman introduced he was getting behind Trump once more. The Blackstone Inc. co-founder is among the many 40 wealthiest folks on the planet, with a $41 billion fortune, in accordance with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
However regardless of their trappings of wealth, these Trump supporters had already welcomed despicable folks into their tent. This consists of Steven Miller, Boris Boris Epshteyn, Carl Icahn, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Jason Greenblatt, Steven Mnuchin, and Mark Levin.
This explains why shortly after Trump was discovered responsible on 34 expenses associated to falsifying data to hide that he paid an grownup movie star to cowl up a sexual liaison earlier than the 2016 presidential election, the top of the RJC leaped to Trump’s protection.
“With out query, this can be a political prosecution of a political opponent,“ Matt Brooks, the RJC’s CEO. “It’s a weaponization of the authorized system. The case is deeply flawed and can seemingly be overturned on attraction. The Democrats suppose this can harm Trump; the truth is that it’s going to seemingly propel Trump to victory in November.“
Brooks’ prediction stays to be seen, however the truth that Trump had intercourse with a porn star whereas he was married appears OK to Brooks and different Jewish Republicans.
How To Idiot the Orthodox
Trump’s character flaws ought to hassle common moral and ethical residents, however for the Orthodox who elevate and observe Jewish values, endorsing a convicted felon and particular person of flawed morals like Trump ought to current important issues. A key side of Talmudic regulation is the emphasis on communal accountability and mutual safety amongst Jews. Since Trump has connections to violent anti-Semitic teams, he endangers the mutual safety accountability.
The idea of arevut signifies that all Jews are liable for each other. This precept is derived from the Talmudic educating “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh,“ which interprets to “All of Israel are liable for one another.“ This mutual accountability extends to varied features of life, together with financial help, religious well-being, and safety from hurt.
Lengthy thought of a monolithic group that votes in unison with regardless of the group’s main rabbis suggest, Orthodox Jews have been a dependable voting block in New York’s native elections. Their prime political concern is neighborhood security, monetary help of their colleges and Yeshivas, and preserving the group safe and secular.
However when the Orthodox sects grew to become concerned within the presidential election, the extent of misinformation they have been fed, mixed with their preoccupation with bolstering the right-wing authorities in Israel, made them wonderful fodder for Trump. This occurred simply and rapidly as a result of the Orthodox keep away from secular politics except it’s hyper-local.
The Orthodox Yeshivas additionally don’t educate American historical past to their male college students, though feminine college students are uncovered to extra secular schooling than boys. Historically, these yeshivas for boys and males deal with Torah research of rabbinic literature and different sacred texts. Yeshiva highschool college students are uncovered to the core matters required to earn a Basic Equivalency Diploma (GED).
Orthodox males might not know in regards to the New Deal, the Civil Warfare, Louis Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter, Harvey Weinstein, the Civil Rights Motion, Christian evangelicals, the area race, and the Chilly Warfare. They’ll know in regards to the Holocaust, the formation of Israel, and Israeli historical past and present occasions.
However as a result of there’s such a large gap of their American Jewish schooling, they’ll settle for MAGA propaganda about Biden “not doing sufficient for the Jews“ or that Trump is sweet for Israel as a result of he has a Jewish son-in-law, who might additionally face felony prosecution for self-dealing. (Some yeshivas provide U.S. historical past lessons. As an example, Yeshiva College lists a common historical past class that covers U.S. Presidents, together with the historical past of piracy, authorized historical past, fashionable Russia, social actions, the historical past of the Jerusalem Temple, the Talmudic rabbis, and Medieval Jewish historical past, in accordance with the school’s web site.
So when MAGA followers discuss in regards to the function of Jews within the Evangelical evolution, the Orthodox do not know who they’re coping with. The identical Bloomberg article cited earlier discovered that “Christian supremacy, like White supremacy, is an element, with 43% of Trump followers agreeing that “God desires Christians to take management“ of the “7 mountains“ of society, a reference to Christian supremacists dominating vital sectors of American life, together with schooling, enterprise, and authorities.
“If Christian supremacy fails, there’s at all times Armageddon. Two-thirds of Republicans agree that “the ultimate battle between good and evil is upon us, and Christians ought to stand agency with the complete armor of God.“ However that “full armor of God“ doesn’t dress the Jews.
That is all information to the Orthodox, but they proceed to carry Trump rallies and contribute to his marketing campaign. Dr. Miriam Adelson, who has donated at the least $200 million to Trump and the wealthiest within the RJC, is aware of higher. Nonetheless, they have their motives, that are most definitely primarily monetary and fewer associated to insurance policies on border safety and abortion.
The huge contributions by Republican Jews have already been made, and it appears like these donations can be wasted if Trump continues to publicly show his psychological decay and rotten selection of candidates and surrogates. If Trump loses, the American Jewish group will stay break up, with a rich cadre that can proceed to assault Jewish Democrats and promote divisive messages each within the U.S. and Israel.
Wars between Jews aren’t new. Between 1000 and 586 BCE, there have been intervals of the united and divided monarchies of Israel and Judah after Solomon died. The ten northern tribes refused to undergo Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, and revolted, ending in a break up between Israel within the north and Judah within the south. When Israel was based in 1948, the Haganah and Irgun, Jewish paramilitary organizations, fought one another over their completely different ideologies and techniques relating to British rule and the Arab-Jewish battle.
So, why are the rich Jewish Republicans inflicting a break up in American Jewry? What’s their motive, and what are their points? Federal insurance policies, protesting the wealth hole, getting extra tax breaks for the rich, U.S. help of Israel, abortion, ladies’s rights, immigration, border safety? These aren’t spiritual points because the 2,000-year-old broad Jewish authorized and ethical framework already has established solutions in its texts emphasizing justice (tzedek), kindness (chesed), and communal accountability.
There have to be a extra appreciable but undisclosed purpose why rich Jews would demean the 80% of American Jews who’re Democrats. However, we are able to await a solution.
Within the interim, we should always all watch to see if rich Republican Jews wasted thousands and thousands making an attempt to idiot the vast majority of American Jews that Trump was remotely linked to something near following conventional Jewish values.
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