Voting Against Ourselves

When it comes to American Jewish voting patterns, there is a deeply perplexing and profoundly concerning trend: significant numbers of Jewish voters continue to support politicians who are not only critical of Israel but, in some cases, openly hostile to its existence and dangerously tolerant of antisemitic rhetoric.

As has been well established, a common antisemitic tactic involves criticizing Israeli policy through a one-sided lens as well as holding Israel to a uniquely harsh standard that is not applied uniformly to all other countries in the world. This double standard often crosses the line from legitimate critique into delegitimization and demonization.

A striking example is the recent New York City mayoral primary victory of Zohran Mamdani—an outspoken supporter of the BDS movement, a promoter of labeling Israel as an “apartheid state,” a man who refuses to condemn slogans like “globalize the intifada,” and who openly advocates cutting U.S. aid to Israel. Yet, incredibly, a group called “Jews for Zohran” helped fuel his campaign.

Similarly, in the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris garnered notable support among Jewish voters, despite her sympathetic stance toward voices accusing Israel of genocide, her underwhelming response to surging antisemitism, and her controversial decision to skip Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

This isn’t an isolated case. Jewish support has extended to many other politicians with questionable or openly adversarial positions on Jewish and Israeli interests—Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and even Ilhan Omar, whose antisemitic statements have been widely condemned.

This raises a difficult but necessary question: why do some Jews support politicians whose platforms and ideologies pose real risks to Jewish safety, to Israel’s survival, and to the future of Jewish life in America?

Understanding the Motivations

There are many sincere and deeply held reasons why Jewish voters make the choices they do. These include:

1. Distinguishing Criticism from Antisemitism

Many Jewish voters draw a line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy, particularly regarding the Palestinians. Politicians like Bernie Sanders and AOC, who condemn antisemitism while criticizing Israel, resonate with voters who are uneasy with Israel’s current direction. Additionally, some Jews are skeptical of antisemitism accusations, viewing them as politically motivated attempts to stifle debate or shield Israeli policies from scrutiny—especially when such accusations are directed at progressive figures, some of whom are Jewish themselves.

2. Progressive Values and Domestic Priorities

For many Jews, liberal or progressive ideals such as social justice, civil rights, reproductive freedom, and economic equality take precedence in the voting booth. These voters often focus more on domestic policy than on foreign policy, including Israel. Even if they disagree with a candidate’s stance on Israel, they may still offer support based on shared values and alignment on key social issues.

3. Diversity Within the Jewish Community

The American Jewish community is far from uniform. Political views vary by age, religious observance, cultural background, and personal experience. Younger, less religious, and more progressive Jews are more likely to support left-leaning candidates, while Orthodox and traditional communities tend to vote conservative. These internal differences contribute to the wide range of voting behavior among Jews today.

Exploring the Deeper and More Uncomfortable Truths

Yet, we must ask ourselves why Jews seem to gravitate to Jew-haters and Israel denigrators like moths to a flame. Beyond conventional political explanations, we must also be willing to explore more complex, even painful, psychological and historical dimensions that may contribute to these voting behaviors.

1. The Desire to Assimilate and Be “Like All the Other Nations”

From the days of the Tanach, the Jewish people have wrestled with the tension between their unique spiritual mission and the desire to assimilate into surrounding societies. Today, that tension still exists. Many Jews—especially those alienated from traditional observance—seek acceptance and normalcy by aligning themselves with broader, often secular, cultural movements. Even when these movements express hostility toward Israel or Judaism, support for them can feel like a path to belonging.

2. Self-Rejection and Alienation from Jewish Identity

Groucho Marx famously quipped, “I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” For some Jews, this sentiment reflects a deeper struggle with identity. Due to painful childhood experiences, feelings of exclusion, or disillusionment with religious or communal life, they may feel disconnected or even resentful toward their Jewish heritage. What begins as discomfort with Jewish observance or tradition can evolve into a rejection of the Jewish people altogether—including support for politicians or movements hostile to Israel. Consciously or not, this becomes a form of rebellion, self-erasure, or a desire to distance themselves from a “club” they never felt fully accepted by.

3. Intergenerational Trauma and the “Jewish Suicide Gene”

A profound observation shared by a fellow congregant captures the haunting legacy of Jewish trauma. She recalled how her father told her that Jews carry a kind of “suicide gene”—not in a literal sense, but as a metaphor for how, under the weight of centuries of persecution and genocide, some Jews develop a paradoxical attraction to the very ideologies that threaten them. As if by supporting or embracing those who resemble their historical oppressors, they are attempting to inoculate themselves from further harm. It’s a form of psychological “exposure therapy”—an effort to master fear by confronting it, even if it means courting danger.

A Call for Reflection and Action

Every Jew has the right to vote their conscience, but it’s important to recognize the real consequences of supporting leaders who overlook—or in some cases, enable—antisemitism and the delegitimization of Israel.

Israel isn’t just a policy issue; it is the historic homeland and safe haven for the Jewish people. Antisemitism isn’t simply a difference of opinion; it’s a growing threat to Jewish lives and communities.

Recent events make this clear: a couple of Israeli embassy staffers were murdered outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.; Molotov cocktails were thrown at a crowd of Jewish Americans in Boulder, Colorado; and synagogues nationwide have faced shootings, vandalism, and arson—from Pittsburgh and Poway to Colleyville and Los Angeles. Jewish students experience harassment on campuses, Holocaust memorials are defaced, and antisemitic hate crimes are at an alarming high.

This is happening now, in our own communities. So ask yourself: why do I support those who dismiss, tolerate, or actually incite this threat? What am I risking—not just politically, but personally and communally?

This isn’t about allegiance to one party or another—it’s about being honest with ourselves about what our support means. Are we strengthening our community and ensuring its safety, or callously putting it at risk?

The challenges we face call for clarity, courage, and thoughtful action. Now is the time to reconsider where we stand and how our political choices reflect not only our values but also affect our very survival. To paraphrase Rabbi Hillel in Ethics of Our Fathers, if we fail to advocate for ourselves, then who else will?