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UOJ18UUOJSU8.IJ. Atli S=»11110c1 qBJMaf De:)Jmmy JO UOJ18UUOJSU8.IJ. atLI. sa!plJlS /e39!/OJ qS!Mar ABOUT THE AUTHOR FOREWO PETER Y. MEDDING is an associate professor in the departments WHATEVER TIIE TRUTII of the 0 of Political Science and Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew being just like other Americans only University of Jerusalem, and is an editor of the annual Studies not apply in the political sphere, wher. in Contemporary Jewry, published by Oxford University Press. is evident. Scholars such as Seymc Among his books are From Assimilation to Group Survival (1968), Raab have pointed to the "political Mapai in Israel (1972), and The Founding of Israeli Democracy Jews, their disproportionate involvem (forthcoming). as expert professionals, volunteers, ane The research for this essay forms part of a larger project for office. Moreover, Jewish voters sl conducted under the auspices of the Center for Modern Jewish for liberal politics, a propensity that Studies at Brandeis University, whose support is gratefully basis of their relatively high socioece acknowledged. The complete study will appear as a book tenta­ the organized Jewish community eX) tively entitled The New Politics of American Jews, to be published energy in advancing favored political in 1990 by The Free Press, a division of Macmillan, Inc. Israel and aid to Soviet Jewry. The existing scholarly literatufl American Jews has certain limitations. part of the material is dated and needs -- and more important •• there are not depth, exploring not only the "whats" but also the "whys." Why, for exam) tenaciously to political liberalism even moves in a more conservative directic zations pursue an activist political age and the White House? More gener; Copyright © 1989 The American Jewish Committee gravitate to politics as a sphere of activity All rights reserved To suggest answers to these an­ ~1HEAU1HOR FOREWORD I associate professor in the departments WHAlEVER TIlE TRUTII of the old saw about American Jews :ontemporary Jewry at the Hebrew being just like other Americans only more so, it certainly does .d is an editor of the annual Studies not apply in the political sphere, where a distinctive Jewish pattern blished by Oxford University Press. is evident. Scholars such as Seymour Martin Lipset and Earl Assimilation to Group Survival (1968), Raab have pointed to the "political hyperactivism" of American :t The Founding of Israeli Democracy Jews, their disproportionate involvement in the political process as expert professionals, volunteers, and, in recent years, candidates ssay forms part of a larger project for office. Moreover, Jewish voters show a remarkable propensity :es of the Center for Modern Jewish for liberal politics, a propensity that cannot be predicted on the rersity, whose support is gratefully basis of their relatively high socioeconomic status. In addition, te study will appear as a book tenta­ the organized Jewish community expends enormous effort and tics of American Jews, to be published energy in advancing favored political causes, such as support for :tivision of Macmillan, Inc. Israel and aid to Soviet Jewry. The existing scholarly literature on the political life of American Jews has certain limitations. In the first place, a good part of the material is dated and needs to be made current. Second -- and more important •• there are not enough studies with analytic depth, exploring not only the "whats" of Jewish political behavior but also the "whys." Why, for example, do American Jews cling tenaciously to political liberalism even as the country as a whole moves in a more conservative direction? Why do Jewish organi­ zations pursue an activist political agenda in relation to Congress and the White House? More generally, why do American Jews iean Jewish Committee gravitate to politics as a sphere of activity? To suggest answers to these and other important questions iii about the role that American Jews play in the political life of the nation, the American Jewish Committee has initiated the Jewish Political Studies series. The first publication in the series is Peter Medding's The Transjonnation of American Jewish Politics, which points to the emergence of a "Pluralist Politics of Group Survival" as the key to the political behavior of American Jewry as a community. David Singer, Director THE TRANSFOR~ Infonnation and Research Services AMERICAN lEWIS AMERICAN JEWRY has recently undf transformation. Less than three det weak and unimportant. Today, it i! significant and influential force, and political power is commonplace. Issu concern to Jews figure prominently agenda, engaging the ongoing attent Congress, and the media. Jewishr: relevant, and a new pattern of Jewish pol: Much has been written about J political attitudes, but little is known as a group act politically. Yet it is the transformation has been grea explaining these developments we shaL Jewry pursues its basic concerns: , Jewish social, economic and cultural s relations between the United States Jewish survivaL1 THE BASIC GROUP CONCERNS Social, Economic and o.dtural Status American Jews believe that to conser in American society they must defenc iv play in the political life of °lttee bas initiated the Jewish publication in the series is of .American Jewish Politics, a "Pluralist Politics of Group behavior of American Jewry David Singer, Director THE TRANSFORMATION OF Injomultion and Research Services AMERICAN JEWISH POLITICS AMERICAN JEWRY has recently undergone a fundamental political transformation. Less than three decades ago it was politically weak and unimportant. Today, it is widely perceived to be a significant and influential force, and public discussion of Jewish political power is commonplace. Issues of direct and immediate concern to Jews figure prominently on the American political agenda, engaging the ongoing attention of the Administration, Congress, and the media. Jewishness has become politically relevant, and a new pattern of Jewish politics has evolved. Much has been written about Jewish voting behavior and political attitudes, but little is known about how American Jews as a group act politically. Yet it is in precisely this sphere that the transformation has been greatest. In analyzing and explaining these developments we shall focus upon how American Jewry pursues its basic concerns: consolidating and improving Jewish social, economic and cultural status in America; enhancing relations between the United States and Israel; and ensuring Jewish survival.! 1HE BASIC GROUP CONCERNS OF AMERICAN JEWS Social, Economic and Cultural Status American Jews believe that to conserve and enhance their status in American society they must defend it from two major hostile 1 pressures the threat of anti-Semitic prejudice and America may be the most tole discrimination; and the threat of Christianity, that is, the and opportunity-laden society in JeVi incorporation into American pUblic life of Christian symbols, freer, more accepted, more integrate< practices and values. than in any other country in the Di Even though discrimination and prejudice against Jews in anti-Semitism and Christianity cont equality. As a result, Jews suffer I Am~rica ~ave declined, especially since 1960, their continuing manIfestations and the experience of Jewish history make Jews insecurity and vulnerability that is 1 feel that anti-Semitism is as endemic in America as in other they have come so far, and have so n Western societies. However benign conditions seem and however political activity seeks to overcome these open the institutional structures of society are, American Jews do Relations with Israel not feel truly secure because things can get worse, particularly if economic and social conditions deteriorate.2 American Jews perceive a second threat to their group Like other ethnic Americans who m status in the pressure of Christian America. Christianity is the linguistic and cultural identificati< formative cultural system for the vast majority of Americans, in American Jews care deeply about Is] terms of both values and emotions. In this sense, Jews see was tinged with ambivalence. In the American society as Christian, despite the formal constitutional accompanied by a distinct sense of 81 guarantees aimed at ensuring the state's religious neutrality. well as some apprehension that too I Indeed, for American Jews, Christianity is not merely the harm Jewish status in America. Even religion of the majority of their fellow Americans -- a relatively to Israel became a central elen neutral aspect of social diversity -- but is rather a fundamental identification and self-definition, 31 feature of their own status definition. Jews reject Christianity organizational and political activity. at the rational level as essentially false, and even more strongly far that today, the future strength at the affective level as the theological source of a long history Jewish life are thought to be dependent l of anti-Semitism and persecution. They define their Jewishness American Jewish pride in Israel in terms of its separateness from, and rejection of, Christianity. the existence of sovereign Jewish poli To be Jewish in America means, among other things, not to be so dramatically with the situation of statu~ Christian. Israel also enhanced Jewish This translates politically into a strong commitment to the American Jews in the same category c separation of church and state. While many other Americans have homelands to which they relate, share this conviction, its meaning for American Jews is a dispersed and rootless people. 11: fundamentally
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