Well Before November...

Let me just get this out of my system now...before November comes.

Once upon a time...when I lived in a "frum shteibel" (in a land far, far away), I had quite a few frum neighbors who were staunch, passionate Republicans. These were/are good friends of mine. However Shabbos was undoubtedly a time where you would discuss current affairs and hear about the latest drech the Democrats were involved in.

So there is me; a lifelong Democrat*, just smiling and biting my tongue really. In part because I was not as well-versed as my friends in all the gory political details...but mostly because I do not feel that politics should be discussed on Shabbat (hakodesh vs. hachol).

But I do understand that it is deeply ingrained into the Jewish psyche (maybe even on a "spiritual" level) to be sensitive to the ways of gentile leaders under which they live. There is even a bracha to be said upon seeing a powerful gentile leader (shenatan meechvodo l'vashar v'adam). There is also an opinion out there that when a non-Jewish nation is tolerant of the Jews in their midst...that nation flourishes. But even outside of the frum world, there is the recognition of the importance (real or perceived) of the "Jewish vote" and "Jewish politics" (like in this Jim Lehrer piece on Faith & Politics -- a good article, although I find those little headshots to be unbelievably unflattering!). Secular Jews also seem to have adopted the "religion" of education/business/politics as an outlet to release their pent-up energies to make a difference somehow in olam hazeh.

Nevertheless, I just can't get into it. To me, political choices may be influenced somewhat by your religion...but it should not have the main control. I believe that is why the founding fathers of this country saw the importance of having the separation between "church & state". There are only two main political parties in the U.S.; and it is impossible for one or the other, in my own humble opinion, to completely satisfy the political ideologies of the vast majority of Americans -- including Jews.

Not to mention that American Jews are incredibly diverse -- in spite of what the media says. Their priorities are diverse...their backgrounds are diverse...their personal economics are diverse. Is it realistic to think that any politician could cater to the needs of all "American Jews"? Is it realistic to think that any politician would not be paying careful attention to the millions of Americans out there who feel that the United States needs to pull the purse strings from Israel? Is it realistic to think that every US President will place priority status on the needs of Jews and that AIPAC will always be there saving the day?

And what about what we daven for every day? The dawn of the messianic era where we will once again build the Beis Hamikdash. Isn't the eventual manifestation of Hashem's divine plan just a bit bigger than who wins the presidential election in the U.S. in 2008? Will any of this prevent the eventual war of Gog v'Magog? Our actions yield the type of environment in which we live but does not change what Hashem has laid out to happen. Disastrous things have happened when the Jews placed to much faith in outside powers and the ability of other nations to sustain them. History has a way of repeating itself -- we should tread carefully.

With all this being said, I will be supporting Barack Obama in November; no debates...no insults on my intelligence...please. As a citizen of the United States, I wish to select a President that will be the best choice for this country overall. The Jewish nation is very fortunate...in that they do not need to rely on limited human judgment to pick their ultimate leader...HKBH. Other than that, I am not concerned with how other American Jews vote...or what their reasonings are. Politics is just another, unnecessary device which can be put in place to divide the Jewish nation. It's really not cool; there other more pressing issues that we have to deal with in today's world.

* - officially, I consider myself a Democratic Socialist; a political platform I discovered in college -- but fell tacit about being that I was living in South Florida where everything smelling of communism was equated with the devil it seemed. Outside of that, I am so embarrassed at how most Democrats have thrown morality out the window and have the nerve to justify it with the wishy-washy notions of "personal freedom" and "choice". (And no...I am not just talking about abortion here). I am also a bit leery of the eagerness of fundamental Xtians desire to form an alliance with religious Jews. Jews should (in my opinion) not be so quick to believe that the politics of the Xtian right aligns itself perfectly with the politics of the Jewish right. Maybe I'm paranoid...