American Jews have historically been a steadfast Democratic voting bloc for almost a century. Yet, in recent times, there are shifting doubts about their place within the party they have long supported.
Batia Unger Sargon, a political commentator and author, discussed her new book, “Jews and the Left,” in an interview where she posited that the association between American Jews and the political left is based on specific historical contexts rather than on any intrinsic aspect of Jewish identity.
“When I speak to non-Jews, I often hear the painful question, ‘But why are Jews Democrats?’ It’s worth noting that this hasn’t always been the case,” she mentioned.
Unger Sargon pointed out that while Jews have predominantly voted Democratic for about a century, there was a significant 250-year period of American Jewish history that didn’t align with such political leanings. She explained that many Jews currently view themselves as part of an immigrant community or oppressed minority. However, she believes this perception may not necessarily align with reality, stating that Jews are part of America’s foundational fabric, espousing key values such as religious freedom.
Many Jewish immigrants initially found work in the clothing industry, often due to language barriers. Unfortunately, many faced exploitation from slightly more established Jewish bosses, which marked the beginnings of the American labor rights movement, where Jews played a pivotal role.
“They established the notion that hard work should be met with dignity. This ethos emerged from a substantial Jewish working class. But, the issue was that many Jews didn’t remain in that class,” she shared. “They managed to save little by little, embracing capitalism, and eventually transitioned into employers themselves.”
In later decades, Jews gravitated towards political movements that honored workers’ rights and capitalism, akin to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. They also became significantly engaged in the civil rights movement, feeling a strong affinity with the black struggle for equality, especially in light of historical trauma like the Holocaust, which made moments such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge march deeply meaningful for them.
In her reflections, Unger Sargon noted the prominence of Jews within Dr. King’s civil rights movement. “Civil rights activists often remarked that, when working alongside black activists, it seemed every white ally they knew was Jewish,” she recounted.
The 1967 Six-Day War marked a transformative period for American Jews as they observed Israel’s military triumph over neighboring Arab states. This event, according to Unger Sargon, marked a crucial shift: the left began to view Israel not just as a refuge for a historically persecuted community, but as a colonial oppressor, shaping perceptions that continue to resonate today.
During the tumultuous 1960s, the left’s ideological landscape began to emphasize power, identity, and victimhood, which, as Unger Sargon suggested, altered how moral judgments were rendered, increasingly framing them through the lens of power dynamics.
“These concepts infiltrated academia, setting the stage for a growing disconnect between the Democratic Party and Jewish Americans,” she explained. She expressed concern about a growing narrative that paints Jews as oppressors and people of color as mere victims, positioning them as lacking moral agency.
Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Unger Sargon sees a stark realization among Jews, who have traditionally viewed themselves as good leftist allies. “When they truly needed support, when their humanity was at stake, they found that their allies had vanished,” she described.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated, many Jews found a reinvigorated connection to their roots and simultaneously experienced a rift with the left. “For numerous Jews, the left’s alignment with Hamas and various anti-Israel sentiments was a jarring revelation,” she remarked.
“So many American Jews have felt that their liberal values are intrinsic to their Jewish identity. Now, being both a Democrat and a Jew seems increasingly contradictory, as the core aspects of their identities clash,” she noted.
Despite these frictions, Unger Sargon isn’t suggesting that Jews turn to Republicanism. Rather, she advocates for a re-engagement with the broader American identity, beyond strict party lines. “I want Jews to show more commitment to America while being less tethered to one political faction,” she concluded.
