Election 2020: Voting as a Jewish Democrat

Growing up in West Texas, my home was a tiny blue dot in a sea of red. I was taught everyone deserves an equitable shot at achieving the “American Dream”. Taxes were seen as a duty and privilege to contribute to the equity so many families need. Providing families a helping hand through public education and social programs are still the driving forces influencing the buttons I push in the ballot box. Having a public school teacher for a parent, the belief for the need of these programs came from a second hand source. I didn’t fully understand the critical role these services play for families until I became a teacher myself. Given my upbringing and the progression of my career, it would appear I would not have any conflict in voting for the candidate who wins the Democratic primary. While I will vote blue, it is not without concerns.

Over the past few decades, our country has increasingly moved towards its current polarized state. The Democratic Party moved more towards the left, while the Republican Party moved further right. Liberal critics will point and say that the Republican Party is no longer Republican, but fail to admit that portions of the Democratic Party are no longer the same party of the late 20th century. There is no longer any middle ground for moderates belonging to either party. Although, the majority of my views are in line with the platform of the Democratic Party, I am concerned a victory of a progressive candidate in the Democratic primaries would scare off potential moderate voters seeking an alternative to the Trump presidency.

Additionally, contrary to what some say about liberals, many of us are people of faith. We are liberal because of our faith. Our beliefs are with us in the ballot box just as much as they are for conservatives. As a Jew, I am a strong advocate for social justice and the Jewish people’s mission of “tikkun olam,” to repair the world. No time in our country’s recent history has felt more of an opportunity to repair and heal than November 2020. With a plethora of support for these values in Jewish texts, it is difficult to believe that, like our nation, the Jewish community would be divided in how to vote.

Similar to the old adage of “two Jews, three opinions”, Jews hold opinions all along the political spectrum. At different points, I’ve been reminded of my responsibility to vote for a progressive candidate and told that someone can not simultaneously be a Democrat and a moral Jew. This partisan divide increases the need for individuals to reflect on how their vote reflects their Jewish identity, but what if values are in opposition of one another? That wrestling of political and religious values is the plight of the Jewish Democrat.

The justification many Jews use when casting their vote for a conservative candidate comes down to one: Israel. Any liberal candidate is labeled as either anti-Israel at best or anti-Semitic at worst. In reguards to his positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Bernie Sanders has been unfairly labeled by some as a “self-hating Jew”. I strongly disagree with his policies relating to Israel, but there is a distinctive line between criticism and being anti-Semitic. I do not believe Bernie is anti-Israel or anti-Semitic because his social justice and civil right stances are consistent whether domestically or abroad. I do believe his positions are misguided, but they do not single out Israel disproportionately to the rest of the world.

With Mr. Sanders being the furthest to the left, positions on Israel become more palatable for an increasing number of the Jewish community as candidates move further to the center of the isle. All Democratic candidates support a two-state solution, but they criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to varying degrees. His promotion of settlement building, annexing portions of the West Bank, and potentially disproportionate response to attacks from Gaza are among the Democratic candidate’s critiques.

Like most human beings, my perspective evolves the more I learn. I fell in love with Israel during my first visit in 2012. Three years later, I returned and called Jerusalem home for a year. Wrongly assuming living in the region would give me clarity on the conflict, I left with more questions. Even though it is a dirty word to some, I proudly identify as a Zionist. Israel being the homeland of the Jewish people is backed up by archeological evidence. I am filled with pride knowing the country provides scientific, medical, and technological advances that positively impact the entire world. Israel serves as an innovative space to bring a freshness to Jewish life while maintaining our people’s traditions.

This pride and joy is in conflict with the suffering other human beings are experiencing. Through grassroots efforts, I was privileged to spend time with Palestinians in the West Bank. The purpose of the program was to simply attempt to start a dialogue to understand one another. I met a woman near my age, also an English teacher. We discovered we had so much more in common than we previously could have imagined. She is such a kind and warm soul that I still think about years later. This encounter enabled me to put previously held biases aside and consider the human beings on the other side of this conflict.

I will also never be able to get the image out of my head of the small basic building they used as a clinic and school. They had to build the structure illegally because the Israeli government refused to issue them a permit. Illegal structures are eventually knocked down. This happened to a number of their schools. To add insult to injury, the Israeli government sets a double standard. Israelis building illegal structures can have them retroactively made legal. This despicable practice makes me disgusted as both an educator and a Jew. I kept thinking to myself that I know this conflict will not be solved any time soon, but these people have to live in the meantime. Where is the compassion?

During each one of my trips, I also became friends with many Israelis, a number of them serving in the Israel Defense Forces longer than their conscripted time. Their logic on preventing and combating threats from terrorist groups like Hamas are valid. Israel does have the right to defend itself. However, Israel’s supporters need to ask questions and put policies in place in order not to cross over the line between defense and being inhumane. In this horrific conflict, we have a responsibility to minimize suffering whenever possible.

The current Democratic candidates offer a range of solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from simply desiring to gather more information to pulling our financial aid to Israel. I believe that pulling funds funds from Israel is a mistake. U.S. dollars to not come without strings and benefits. Israel provides the U.S. with intelligence and technology. Ceasing the distribution of these funds would hurt U.S. – Israel relations and make both nations more vulnerable to threats. As a result, I am more comfortable with a presidential candidate that would continue financial support to Israel.

Despite my views on U.S.-Israel relations, if given the nomination, I will still vote for a candidate like Bernie Sanders. To which many people ask me, “Why?” The liberal values promoted by the Democratic Party’s platform and candidates are what I believe in, not only domestically, but abroad. While it does concern me that the vote I cast could potentially harm Israel’s interests, I am not a single issue voter. The majority of the people in the United States are struggling to get by. Our current government system is broken and our relationships with our allies has been severely compromised during the Trump administration.

My simple answer to the question of why I would vote for someone I disagree with on such an important issue: to beat Donald Trump. Regardless of disagreements on policy, our nation needs a leader that is stable, passionate, and intent on serving the people rather than themselves. These are qualities I see in the current candidates. I may be a Jewish Zionist, but I am also a Jewish American. In this case, the hope for a brighter tomorrow trumps my concerns.