Can We Be As Passionate About Our Faith As We Are About Politics? Please?

(*Note: I already posted a very similar entry after the election. I came close to deleting this one due to the repetition of the topic. But then decided against it because apparently this issue has reared its ugly head again.)

A few days ago I received an e-mail from a frum friend of mine living in Eretz Yisrael that showed the picture above - distorted a bit, and with a large Afro. Needless to say, I did not really get the humor; nor do I find any point in such things. Later on IM, they posed the question if I thought it was funny or not and I was frank and said "no". That's when a whole deluge of anti-Obama rhetoric came pouring out and when I still failed to agree, it was suggested that I convert to become a Muslim instead of a Jew.

Seriously? Come on now.

I have never been the type of person who gets super emotional over politics; even though when I was in college, I held some pretty novel political beliefs and even became a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Yes, it sounds scary -- but I simply feel that the richest country on the planet should provide for its citizens accordingly. I remember back in 2006 when I was laid off, I was able to collect unemployment in FL, but the maximum benefit (no matter how much you made on your previous job) was $250/wk before taxes (so I think I ended up with $234 per week...or something like that). My rent alone was $825/mo. So I looked into social service programs that would be able to help me out to keep me in my home and get food. There was basically no programs available for me because I was not on drugs, did not have children, was not in eviction court, or did not live in public housing. It was not as if I was a freeloader either; in the previous year, I paid more than $10K in taxes alone.

Ok, so back to the topic at hand, I realize that my political opinions are the minoritiy opinion in the frum world. I do not have any issue with that, and I do in fact know of other Orthodox Jews who voted for and support President Obama. So my hurt and disappointment is not about the politics -- but about the energy expended on and to such a topic. Of course we all have our passions. But we also must have our priorities. And I think to snub another Jew (although I'm not a Jew...just trying to simply things for writing's sake) because you disagree with their politics is an unfortunate thing to do. Now there is a difference between no liking someone in general and in addition to that you disagree with their political idealogies. But this was not the case in my instance -- we had been friends for a few years.

I can't pretend to know the true thoughts of others (any time I even "went there", I failed miserably), but I think what happened here is that this person felt that being anti-Obama was being pro-Israel and of course a Torah observant Jew must be pro-Israel; so the conclusion is that if you are not anti-Obama you can not be a Torah observant Jew! This Swiss-cheese logic puts up a divide between Jews that does not even need to be there. In my own humble opinion, no American President can or will be a complete friend of Israel because his primary obligation is to look out for the needs and the status of the country he (or she) is the head of. Now if Israel can benefit in some way, this is a blessing. And yes, Israel depends a lot on the United States and Americans for support. But we need to put our hope in Hashem; not any politician.

Of course I know where my loyalties lie as well. I often tell people that even if I were healthy, I would not fight in the US military, but would serve in the IDF. This is because I feel America is just a sojourn; and it will rise (or has risen) and will one day fade away. Israel and the covenant with Hashem is eternal. With that being said I am also a Black American and I grew up with intimate knowledge of the disparities in this country in regards to race. So I am unbelievably proud that this country elected Barack Obama to this country's highest office. Yet if President Obama would ever outright slight the Jews, I would be his first critic. But the political game with talks and negotiations is not any slight against the Jews. If President Obama had it in for Jews, why would he bother hosting a Passover seder at the White House (even though that was strange for my tastes...a non-Jew hosting a seder...uh....)?

Anyway thinking about this whole misshegus just makes my head spin. Political drivel is really beneath Am Yisrael...

Election Fallout

Well it has been 9 days since the election, and for the most part I have been ducking down and covering my head. I had expected that the reaction from the bulk of the frum (and mostly Republican) crowd would not be good. However I do not think I was prepared for the serious hand wringing and cries of woe that seemed to be comming from everywhere. Couple that with the extreme jubilance in the Black community and what I have going on is practically a political bi-polar case.

I have been a Democrat my entire voting life and I see no good reason to change my convinctions. I would even go as far as to say I lean towards being a Democratic Socialist. This is mainly because I feel that it is a crime that the most prosperous country in the world does not provide bare basic health care for it's citizens or equal access to higher education to those across economic classes. And of course, outside of politics, there the aspect and essence of holding pride in being a member of the Black American sub-group. Therefore, Barack Obama's victory was truly one for me to embace. More so than a Kerry or Clinton win would have been.

Of course, the dark cloud looming is that of the [general] spirit of the frum community I am a part of. I feel like I just discovered that I'm pregnant, but I'm in the company of someone who can't conceive. I start to second guess my ability to empathize; to truly put myself into their shoes. And why am I saying "their" anyway? I am suppossed to be them! Or at least moving that way. Yes I realize that there are frum Democrats. But if they are born Jews, no one would be able to questions their "underlying motivations" like is the case with a potential ger.

I am also being exposed to a lot of information from many fronts right now. Of course those imparting that information are quite passionate and bias about sharing it. A favorite frum blog of mine linked this article which discloses that Obama aides have ties to Hamas. Yet I had to search myself for this article which came out the following day where the aides deny this claim. Then on the other side of the fence you have stuff like this where Black people have somehow developed the ability overnight to take certain liberties to step all over the self-esteem of White people. Yes, I am proud that this country elected a Black man (well 1/2 Black man) to it's highest office. But it is just not nice to turn around and stick out your tongue and thumb your nose at the rest.

From Psalm 146, it says:

אַלתִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים בְּבֶןאָדָם, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה - Put not your trust in princes, nor the son of man, in whom there is no help...

And from Psalm 141, it says:

כִּי אֵלֶיךָ, יְהוִה אֲדֹנָי עֵינָי בְּכָה חָסִיתִי, אַלתְּעַר נַפְשִׁי - But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Therefore it is attested to that the Jews main allegiance is to the G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. I do love Israel; no question. And the State of Israel is a key development in Jewish history. However the well being of Eretz Yisrael rests on Hashem ultimately; and on the Jews auxiliarily. In addition, the Jews are designated to be the moral compass for the world. So how could so many frum Jews gloss over the major social accomplishment that was achieved a little over a week ago. Black Americans fought for equality to be recognized as full human beings in their own right -- for so long, and so hard. How could other Jews not share in our joy?

Only Hashem knows the full picture. Perhaps I am wrong in my criticisms and saddness. Maybe Hashem desires to hear more tefillos from his people, so he brought this on. I myself will try to remember (bli neder) to keep those who are angry and fearful in my prayers that they will have peace in themselves again.

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...