Jewish Community News

News: September 2008

Local Rabbis tell how to vote Jewishly

Concern for our government as well as for fellow citizens has been an integral part of Judaism for thousands of years. As a Jew, I understand our right to vote as both a responsibility and a privilege. How each of us votes is an extremely personal matter, but as with all things in life we should all strive to incorporate our Jewish values into this decision. From foreign affairs to the affairs of our nation, we should ask ourselves questions that center around our Jewish values: How do the candidate’s views on issues such as the environment, education, health care, poverty, and economics accord with Jewish values and priorities? What has the candidate done to promote justice for all people in our world? And of course, where does the candidate stand in regards to Israel? These are some of the questions that I will take with me to the polls in November, and I encourage each of you to ask similar questions yourself. It is my hope and prayer that our next President bring much needed healing to our fragile world.

     Judaism sees society as a web of mutual responsibilities. In choosing among the presidential candidates, what will be most important to me will be the candidates’ commitment to government as a positive force for safeguarding the well-being and civil rights of all this country’s inhabitants. Opportunity and a safety net for the poor, health care for all including those of moderate income, immigrant rights, stewardship of the earth, and the Supreme Court will be on my mind. In that both candidates strongly support Israel, I will be thinking about whose presidency will lead to greater security in a currently inflamed region.

     Rabbi Hayim of Brisk once defined the role of a rabbi as “to redress the grievances of those who are abandoned and alone, to protect the dignity of the poor, and to save the oppressed from the hands of his oppressors.” When considering the candidates’ positions on the environment, Israel, our fragile economy, the millions of uninsured Americans, preventable disease running rampant through the world, or the genocidal campaigns that go unchecked and often unnoticed, I will be selecting a candidate who I believe is a lover of peace, a champion of justice and broken-hearted witness to this fractured world.
       I have found the way the 2008 presidential campaign has played out obnoxious. The amount of money that has already been spent is so extreme that I cannot think of a word adequate to describe it. We have been subjected daily (for months) to campaign rhetoric even though the party conventions were not scheduled until August.
      I strongly miss the conventions of old when there were several candidates vying for the nomination and there was often tension and mystery in the air. At least it made for exciting television every four years. Serious campaigning began after Labor Day which gave the nominees two months to share their ideas with the public.  In 2008 we have only daily statements and retractions-with the “sole purpose” (my understanding—am I alone?) of keeping the name in the news.
      I have been totally discouraged by both candidates. They should have taken a two- month vacation: even better, they should have dedicated these two months to serving full time in their capacity as Senators representing their respective states.
     In my way of thinking, the USA is the “laughing stock” of the world in the insane way we are conducting this campaign and the way dollar after dollar is being “thrown down the drain.”
       As I write these words in late July, I have no idea for whom I shall vote. Both candidates have sorely taxed my patience.
               
      Judaism has always emphasized our collective obligation to redistribute the basic necessities of life to all members of society. Our Torah is full of reminders to go out of our way to care for “the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.” The Biblical Prophets railed against an Israelite society that had become preoccupied with ritual to the neglect of its ethical obligations to those most in need. We have the same challenges today. These are my thoughts about several current issues as they relate to Jewish values:
      Judaism supports the right of every human being to receive health care. As medical costs continue to skyrocket, and the number of uninsured Americans increases, the need to adopt a universal health care plan under a single payer (which neither candidate favors, incidentally) becomes ever more important.
      As a people on the move for millennia, immigration is an issue that touches close to home. I am not suggesting that there are obvious solutions to the problems of illegal immigration, but the experience of many of our ancestors, as well as some of us personally, of fleeing hardship for a better life should lead us to empathize and feel compassion towards those who seek better lives in America today.
G-d entrusted humanity with the duty to be the caretaker of the world.  The state of the global environment is evidence that we have neglected our duty.  We need leaders who are willing to make difficult decisions to reduce our carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and make a serious national commitment to developing clean sources of energy.
     Regarding foreign policy, I am looking for a candidate who will continue to support Israel and be creative and proactive in the elusive search for peace in the Middle East.
     Finally, I am disturbed by the erosion of America’s ethical credibility, specifically regarding the continued detainment of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and the use of torture. Judaism has always emphasized the importance of establishing a society based on justice – and that is a value that must be extended to all human beings, regardless of their citizenship.
     Whatever our feelings are about the candidates and particular issues, it is crucial that we exercise our responsibility to vote. Our people’s history speaks for itself about how important it is to make our voices heard when we have the opportunity.