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Stephen Feingold

The Tragic Love Affair Between Orthodoxy and Trump

For over a century, the Jewish community has voted reliably Democratic. Reagan is the only Republican candidate to come close to winning 40% of the Jewish vote. However, typically Jewish support for a particular candidate correlates to economic status and not to a particular Jewish denomination such as reform, orthodox or conservative.

While President Trump’s overall performance among Jews was consistent with other elections, it was the first time that voter preferences correlated to whether the voter identified as orthodox or another denomination. While Trump won only 24 percent of the Jewish vote in 2016 (increasing to 30 percent in 2020), in heavily orthodox precincts he received up to 80 percent of the vote.

This coming election will be a nail bitter. Since Jews are heavily represented in many of the battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Florida, increased Jewish support for Trump could pave his way back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Why does Trump enjoy such support from the orthodox Jewish community? Of course, the simplistic answer is his support for Israel. But is that enough to overcome the obvious ways that Trump’s entire persona violates fundamental Jewish values (like telling the truth, adultery, modesty, and not bullying others, to mention just a few)? And even if haredi Jews vote entirely based on their perception of which candidate will be a better friend to Israel,  why do they not heed the warnings of men like Trump’s own former National Security Director John Bolton who has observed that Trump sees policy through the prism of what  Donald Trump wants and not based on any coherent foreign policy agenda?

Trump’s two faces regarding Israel are there if you only have the integrity to see them. For instance, in December 2023, Trump stated that “I [had] thought the Palestinians were impossible, and the Israelis would do anything to make peace and a deal. I found that not to be true”   Bolton’s observations about the prism through which Trump views the world was reflected in that same interview when he said “I like Bibi. But I also like loyalty… Fuck him.”

Trump’s personal gripe with Bibi was reflected again shortly after October 7 when Trump used this opportunity to say that Bibi had disappointed him when Israel allegedly pulled out of a plan to assassinate a terrorist. He then proceeded to call Hizballah “very smart.”   Trump’s reflex after October 7 was to make October 7 into his gripe with Bibi; not showing empathy and unconditional support with Israel after it had suffered its greatest loss since World War II.

In sharp contrast, Biden flew to Israel and demonstrated complete solidarity. This even though Bibi has long made clear he prefers Republicans over Democrats in the White House. And despite the fact that the Democratic party is – according to many orthodox – anti Israel.

Trump’s desire to be  loved is the only thing that motivates him. During an April 2024 Trump rally, scattered chants rang out, “Geocidal Biden” – -a clear reference to Biden’s support for Israel’s management of the Gaza war– and grew louder and louder. Trump not only did nothing to silence the crowd but said “They are not wrong.”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5lkUus0U0

The haredi infatuation with Trump brushes these facts aside or dismisses them with no discussion.

On reflection, however, there are explanations for this myopia.

Most non-orthodox Jews see Trump as a “strong man” who will erode, if not end, the American experiment. However, orthodox Jews do not share this concern. Why should they? Orthodox Jews are trained to accept one man rule. While the old joke goes, two Jews, three opinions, orthodox Jews are educated to pick one rabbi and follow him even when they disagree with some of his views. It is axiomatic to an observant Jew that you cannot follow the ruling of rabbi X on one question and rabbi Z on another. In addition, orthodox rabbis themselves are trained to not give an answer to a question of Jewish law if they believe the person asking is shopping for a more lenient answer than the one, they know their regular rabbi will provide.

Adherence to a rabbinic “strong man” like authority leads to deep loyalty. When a prominent rabbi is accused of wrongdoing – even including sexual misconduct – his community will close ranks around him, and the accuser is often the target of unofficial social sanctions. This same tendency explains why no matter how outrageous Trump’s conduct – such as when he traffics in anti-Semitic motifs (e.g., calling Ukraine’s Jewish President a “great salesman” who has tricked America into supporting Ukraine) v it is quickly overlooked or claimed to be made-up or taken out of context. Indeed, it is not unusual to hear that the bearer of this inconvenient truth is violating Jewish law by spreading gossip.

Unlike most Americans, including most American Jews. Orthodoxy views pluralism as a weakness.

Many, if not most, orthodox rabbis will not participate in cross denominational Jewish events or events co-hosted by reform or conservative rabbis. Staunchly orthodox will not even step foot in a reform synagogue.

Ironically, orthodox leaders are more open to joint efforts with non- Jewish clergy appealing to both Jews and non-Jews. And while a non-Jew may be employed at a Hasidic school to teach a secular subject, a secular Jew will never be hired.

Why?

The orthodox community has little, if any, fear that Christianity will tempt its members. Hence, while non-orthodox Jews supported the creation of a wall between Church and State, Orthodoxy is not troubled by public prayer or celebrations of Christmas. On other hand, the orthodox community is very cognizant of the appeal a non-orthodox lifestyle may have to their youth.

Most liberal Jews make decisions about Jewish observance without reference to halacha. They are not troubled by the contradiction of not eating port except in won ton soup and reject the idea that we must obey 613 commandments. Worse, unlike the secular Jew of the enlightenment who openly rejected Jewish observance, liberal Jews claim to be “good” Jews as they attend synagogues that use organs on Shabbat or that embrace gay people and queers and ordain them and women to be rabbis.

Liberal Jews are Orthodoxy’s nightmare. Not the bogymen of Charlotte, the possibility of the USA becoming a Christian country, or the eroding of democratic norms. Liberal Jews –the type that support Harris – are perceived as more dangerous than the secular Jews of the enlightenment who openly and completely rejected Jewish observance. Liberal American Jews   have the audacity to pick what traditions they follow as if Judaism is a self-serve cafeteria. From the orthodox perspective, the assertion by liberal Jews that their actions are expressions of Tikkun Olam is conclusive evidence of how assimilated they have become.

When Trump attacks liberal values and says any Jew who votes Democratic is a “bad Jew,” he is playing to the choir. When Trump labels his opponents – which clearly includes Jews who vote Democratic – as “enemies,” he is saying aloud what many orthodox leaders feel but do not say.

Trump clothes himself in grievance and as a martyr like persona who is taking the hits for all of us. This language of grievance plays well in orthodox circles which often feel under siege by secular society in general and non-orthodox Judaism in particular.

When Trump speaks out against identity politics and mocks gender issues, the orthodox feel reassured. The only thing worse than Yossi becoming a reform Jew is if he became Josephine.

We might assume that observant Jews would understand the connection between democracy and Jewish security, but democracy and Judaism have never walked hand in hand.

Ancient Israel was a kingship, and the Second Jewish Commonwealth was ruled by the High Priest. The Sanhedrin had elements of democracy in how it functioned, but its members were not chosen by the people but by its existing members.

Last year, the New York Times revealed how Hasidic day schools ignored core subjects in favor of traditional Jewish texts. While the focus was on the watered-down Math and English curriculum, extraordinarily little attention was given to the absence of Civic Education in these schools. The concept of American Democracy is simply not engrained in this community with any of the sanctity of the Torah. Judaism does not place any value on preserving the rights of minorities or guarantying freedom of speech even to those with whom we disagree. We should not be surprised that the threat of becoming a more limited democracy does not resonate with orthodox Jews the way it does to other Jews.

It is well known that individual leaders within this community – especially within the Hasidic communities – hold tremendous sway over the votes of their followers. In the past this support sometimes flowed to Democratic candidates, including, among some Hasidic sects, Hilary Clinton in 2016. However, in this election, it is hard to find a prominent Orthodox leader that has come out for Harris. At least one Haredi group has targeted Pennsylvania to “juice” up the Jewish vote in the hopes of supporting Trump  While devotion to study and Jewish law is admirable in rabbinic leadership, unfortunately, history shows us it has been amazingly ineffective in anticipating the negative consequences of history.

Liberal American Jews see themselves as the best example of how Jews can prosper in the post-Enlightenment Age. Orthodoxy rejects this narrative. Rabbinic leadership in Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust discouraged Jews from leaving Eastern Europe for secular America or, worse, from falling prey to the seduction of Zionism. In a world where the Zionist religious parties have become so popular in Israel, it is easy to forget that prior to the creation of the State of Israel Orthodoxy strongly opposed Zionism as contrary to Jewish law. The goal of ultra-orthodox today both in America and Israel is to recreate the world of Eastern Europe, an era that is idealized in orthodox writings.

In this way, Orthodoxy is repeating its mistakes of the first half of the 20th century. It fails to recognize that Jews and Judaism thrive in liberal democracies focused on protecting the rights of the disenfranchised.

The Civil Rights movement of the sixties had the side effect of ending the last vestiges of “exclusive” hotels or law firms or hospitals that excluded Jews and similar psychological barriers preventing Jews from being fully integrated into America. It is not a coincidence that Orthodoxy began its rapid growth in America a decade after Martin Luthur King. As Jews felt more secure in America, they felt free to explore traditional Judaism without any backlash or sense of embarrassment.

Sadly, orthodox rabbinic leadership today is no less blind to the dangers of authoritarian rule than the pre-Holocaust rabbis in Eastern Europe. No, America is not about to begin building concentration camps, but the election of a man who trades on hate and promulgates conspiracy theories is laying the groundwork for increased anti-Semitism. Jews are never safe in a country captivated by conspiracy theories. Because in the end all conspiracies lead back to the Jews.

The best example in recent memory demonstrating the short sightedness of Jews to recognize the danger of authoritarian rule is Italy. As the Jewish Telegraph Agency reported in 1928, Mussolini was exceedingly popular among Italian Jews. While the fascist press repeatedly sounded anti-Semitic themes, Mussolini – like Trump – was personally very positive about Italian Jews. He was anti-Catholic, anti-communist, and spoke about the long historical ties Italian Jews had to Italy dating back to the Roman Empire. On top of that, it was widely known that he had a Jewish mistress. Thus, despite the anti-Semitism embedded in fascism, Mussolini consistently won a large majority of Jewish voters.

The Jews of Italy could not conceive that in just a few short years, Mussolini would turn against them and use them as his scapegoat for whatever went wrong. While Haredi Jews tend to ignore or give Trump a pass for his connections to such anti-Semitic groups as Q-anon, the Proud Boys and Steve Bannon, history teaches that even seemingly friendly tyrants will eventually turn on the Jews when convenience suits them. Trump’s loyalty to Israel is very transactional and not based on deep conviction. When Trump feels betrayed, his loyalties can shift quickly. His latest remarks that if he loses it will be due to the Jewish vote reflects just how reactive and dangerous he can be.

While Jewish support for Mussolini is sadly ironic, he would have been elected without any Jewish support. However, in this election, the Jewish vote could play a pivotal role. Jews often note with anger and frustration that the world refused to believe Hitler when he announced his plans to take over Europe and destroy Jewry. During these “Days of Awe” both  orthodox and non orthodox Jews would do well to reflect on Trump’s own words. If elected he will be a dictator on Day one; he will seek revenge against his political opponents because “sometimes revenge is justified“, he will replace civic service workers with his own loyalists, and, as he recently told a group of evangelicals, if he wins this election they will never have to vote again.

This last weekend, Trump even went further – saying that crime would be solved if the police could simply beat the crap out of the “bad guys” for an hour. He has also made clear he will not accept the results of any election unless he is the winner. “The only way they can win is if they cheat. “Forget that even Fox News states that polls show an extremely tight race. Trump will not accept defeat. This is the attitude of a tyrant, not the leader of the free world.

These are his own words. Believe him.

Another reason given to justify supporting Trump is that the Democratic party is “anti-Israel.”   Undeniably, the left wing of Democratic party is not supportive of Israel. But the left wing does not control the party. Indeed, while Harris is a progressive, she has never been part of the left wing of the party. In 2020 she campaigned against Cori Bush, a left-wing candidate who sought to challenge incumbent Lacy Clay in a primary contest, The Biden Harris administration stood firmly with Israel after October 7 notwithstanding the protests from the left. The fact that Harris feels compassion for Palestinians does not negate her support for Israel.

Has Trump shown the same resolve in standing up to the right wing of his party? No. He has supported without reservation Republican politicians like Majorie Green and Mark Robinson who regularly traffic in anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Israel benefits from bipartisan support in America. Electing Harris will empower the moderate section of the Democratic party for at least the next 8 years and ensure that Israel remains a bipartisan issue. A loss will give the left an opportunity to gain power of the party and end this consensus.

This election is not about immigration or inflation. It is not about preventing a two-state solution. It is not about gay rights or abortion. This is not even a contest between traditional Democratic and Republican values. What passes now for the Republican party bears little resemblance to the party of John McCain, Mick Romney or Ronald Reagan.

This is why conservatives such as Dick Cheney have come out in favor of Harris. Cheney has not suddenly become a liberal or even a moderate. But he recognizes that Donald Trump and his populism are a danger to democracy. They recognize that the best way to save the Republican party is the defeat of Donald Trump.

It is always easy looking back to assume that we would have been on the right side of history. That we would have opposed slavery in the 1850, had the foresight to flee Eastern Europe in the 1930s, and would have demanded that Roosevelt bomb the tracks to Auschwitz. But the reality is that most of us would have been just like the multitudes who followed the prevailing sentiment in the community. Before you dismiss the claims about Trump so easily, remember that those who opposed slavery in the 1850s or fled Europe in the 1930s, or spoke out in the 1940s about the Holocaust were also going against the common consensus of the time.

This election provides every citizen the opportunity to demonstrate that they will reject as unqualified a leader who bullies, belittles, and tells countless lies; and reject as unqualified a man who uses fear to divide us instead of a vision tying us together.

This election is about preserving the greatest safety net Jews have had in post-Enlightenment history:  liberal democracy.

About the Author
Stephen Wise Feingold was raised in the Young Judaea Zionist Youth Movement in Los Angeles. He received his BA magna cum laude in Jewish Studies from UCLA and was a Sir Simon Marks Fellow at Machon Pardes. He founded the Jewish Law Students Association at New York University School where he was the Executive Research Editor of the Journal of International Law and Politics and was the recipient of the Vanderbilt Award. He was one of the founders of the National Jewish Law Students Association. He began his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Maryanne Trump Barry. During his 35 year legal career he was pro bono counsel to many Jewish organizations including Seeds of Peace and Encounter and taught adult education classes on Jewish history, Zionism and Jewish philosophy. He is now retired living in Florida where he continues to teach adult Jewish education.