Kara Marks
Dr. Iskold
FYS: Strangers in Paradise
1 December 2002
Jews in America: Their Political Life
For many years immigrants from all over the world have come to America
seeking a better life. As they progressively become more acquainted with the American
life style they tend to become more involved in the daily interest of their new country.
Specifically, Jews have been in the United States for centuries, but for a long time antiSemitism and discrimination have made it very difficult for them to participate in politics.
Jews have become a more active part of American politics due to Senator Lieberman’s
candidacy for Vice President. However, Jew’s role in American politics has progressed
over the years.
In the early years of our nations history Jews were not as actively involved in
political positions. Senator Lieberman suggested that one reason, why Jews did not enter
active politics during the start of the twentieth century was because of anti-Semitism.
Over the course of the second half of the past century, particularly following World War
II, Jews were among the strongest voices in the civil rights movement. Jews became
financial power houses and supported the candidates of their choice with money. The
events of the last century: the Vietnam War, women’s movement, and environmental
programs inspired many American Jews to enter politics, for the very purpose of
improving the world. As Senator Lieberman says in his introduction to Jews in American
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Politics, it is the practice of Jews to want to make the world a better place to “repair the
world” in Hebrew, “Tikkun Olam” (Maisel and Forman XXII)
In the history of the United States before the New Deal was created by Franklin
Delano Roosevelt, the “the Jewish community was politically weak and its role in
American society precarious. During the Roosevelt era, however, the government’s
needs and the capacity of Jews to serve them launched Jews on the path to political
influence and social acceptance” (Maisel and Forman 10). During the term of Roosevelt
in 1933 many people were opposed to the “nation’s protestant elite” (Maisel and Forman
10). Consequently, Jews began to become more prevalent in the workforce. They
became attorneys, economists, and some even became leadership and expertise for
Roosevelt’s administration. The New Deal that FDR established became a prominent
source of employment for the Jews. “Thus, the New Deal provided Jews with
opportunities and advantages and, by the end of Roosevelt’s first term in office, most
Jews had given the president and his party their allegiance” (Maisel and Forman 10).
Roosevelt’s commitment to the Jews helped to establish the connection they have to the
Democratic Party. Although Jews at this time, during the New Deal era were becoming
increasingly involved, they did not fully immerse themselves until the 1960s and 1970s,
when they joined political movements.
Jews in Congress have always maintained their American identity while still
supporting their religious origin. Similarly, Jewish American politicians tend to spread
their ideas by speaking more broadly to the shared values and common needs of all
people in society. They seek to improve the entire society while still maintaining their
support to their basic needs of their religion. As a result of Lieberman jumping over
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boundaries by running for vice president, more Jews have run and been elected into
political offices since this, in the year 2000. The history Congress has shown that Jews
have had a major influence in America. From religious freedom in the constitution, civil
rights, social welfare to economics and law, Jews have impacted both local governments
and national affairs.
In addition to Jews holding positions in Congress, there have been seven out of
one hundred and nine United States Supreme Court Justices that have been Jews. The
first Jewish Supreme Court justice, Louis D. Brandeis, was appointed by Woodrow
Wilson in 1917. The second Jew, Benjamin N. Cardozo, was appointed in 1931 by
Herbert Hoover. Bill Clinton appointed the sixth, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and seventh,
Stephen G. Breyer, Supreme Court Justices in 1993 and 1994. The absence of Jews in
the Supreme Court was present until the early twentieth century. Beginning in the
twentieth century there was a Jewish Supreme Court justice almost every year.
Jews were first elected into Congress, both the Senate and the House of
Representatives in 1845. David Levy Yulee a democrat from Florida was the first Jewish
senator elected into the United States senate in 1845. Although Yulee was Jewish he
denounced his religion and was still attacked by anti-Semitism. Yulee along with many
of his predecessors were attacked by anti Semitism or deplored their Jewish heritage until
Jews became more accepted in the government arena. Unlike the Jews in the senate the
first Jews elected into congress did not face as much discrimination. Many of them were
more open about their religion and did not face similar anti-Semitism as Yulee. For
example, the third Jewish member elected to the House of Representatives was Emanuel
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Bernard Hart in 1851. He was very active in Jewish organizations such as Shearith Israel
Congregation and Mount Sinai Hospital.
Today many people associate Jews with a liberal and democratic perspective on
the government. The reason for these strong beliefs goes back all the way to the 1950s
according to Lawrence Fuchs. The two broad opinions on internationalism and
liberalism played a key role in Jews’ opinions. Internationalism was “the belief that the
United States should play a leading role in world politics and that international
cooperation should be emphasized” (Maisel and Forman 164). In addition to many Jews
holding the belief of internationalism, it is also a strong opinion of the Democratic Party,
hence creating a bond between Jews and democrats. The other main political value of
liberalism was “generally defined as a commitment to using government to address social
problems like poverty and discrimination” (Maisel and Forman 164). Fuchs argues that
these two major political viewpoints of democrats are also very much associated to
Judaism’s belief system. Firstly, Jews have a large emphasis on education and believe
that experts should do the job, which allows the government to plan society. They also
feel very strongly for intellectual freedom, which directly links to the democratic
perspective of affirmative action. Secondly, Fuchs’s disputes the value of tzedakeh, a
Hebrew term that is used for charity. The Jewish need to give “tzedakeh” is shown
through their efforts to help the weak and oppressed and their commitment to social
justice. Tzedakeh is paralleled to the democratic view of women’s rights and pro choice,
because they both deal with people’s freedom. Lastly, because Jews do not believe that
human pleasure is something separate from G-d, it allows Jews to have the need to
improve the world. This idea is illustrated through all of the Jews’ efforts in making the
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world a better place through organizations they have created and their beliefs in social
justice. These three beliefs of Judaism directly correlate with the liberalists’ point of
views, hence the association of Judaism and the liberal wing of politics.
Although Jews have become increasingly more involved in the United States
politics, it was not until Vice President Al Gore ran for presidency in the 2000 elections
that many Jews felt more comfortable running for governmental positions. Gore
nominated Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut to be his running mate as Vice
President. This was the first time that a Jew ran for one of the highest political offices in
America. After the record breaking election, Lieberman became an icon of Jewish
identity in politics.
Many ethnic groups for centuries have come to America and began the
assimilation process, which then led to their success. Although it is evident that Jews
have become Americanized, Benjamin Ginsberg argues in the novel Jews in American
Politics that Jews are not as assimilated as other American ethnic groups of European
origin. The identity of Jews and the individuality is interpreted as tribute to the
communal leadership that they posses. Jews have shown an enormous amount of
leadership for several decades in the United States. As a group they have shown their
organization skills by creating a Jewish community. They have “established a complex
of religious, educational and communal institutions that collectively serve as a Jewish
government in exile, regulating the affairs of the Jewish community” (Maisel and Forman
15). The institutions that the Jews created were often a defense to anti-Semitism;
although anti-Semitism has decreased dramatically, this “government” is still thriving
because of the desire of Jews to maintain these Jewish institutions. The Jews need these
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organizations because they have helped them maintain their ethnic pride, and it keeps
them connected. It is these institutions that need the Jews and the Jews need these
institutions in order to maintain their bond.
Although Jews have not entirely assimilated in the American culture because of
their strong connection to the “government,” they have established that they “have had a
twofold response to the American experience” (Maisel and Forman 27). When antiSemitism was at its peak, it was easy for them to show their pride and come together as a
group. However, now as Jews begin to Americanize more by entering politics, there is an
opinion that it could “even help to stem the process of assimilation within the Jewish
community. It will demonstrate how a practicing Jew can integrate into the highest
positions of power, and how religions can be a source of strength” (“Policy Dispatches
No. 52”).
Joe Lieberman helped to pave a road for all ethnicities, as Mario Cuomo the
former governor of New York commented, “if the Jews can make it, then Italian
Americans can make it, Hispanic Americans can make it and African Americans can
make it” (“Policy Dispatchers No. 52”). Throughout time Jews have faced anti-Semitism
and criticism. However, they have excelled and Joe Lieberman after the 2002 election
has become the icon of “a historic step forward in the complete integration of Jews in
American society” (“Policy Dispatchers No. 52”).
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Works Cited
Maisel, L. Sandy, and Ira N. Forman. Jews in American Politics. New York: Rowman
and Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2001.
Policy Dispatches No. 52. World Jewish Congress 5 Dec. 2002
<http://www.wjc.org.il/publications/policy_dispatches/pub_dis52.html>.
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