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Very good news!

What many Americans who live outside of New York don’t understand is that most Jews from the late 19th-early 20th century immigrations arrived here as leftists. The Lower East Side was full of socialist newspapers in Yiddish, and the attraction of Jews to the labor union movement and their importance in it grew out of the European socialist ideas they brought with them. Don’t forget, even Israel was originally conceived of as a Socialist paradise.

Even their success under the American system didn’t seem to change their minds or at any rate, their ideals. Many of these things were more romantic notions than anything else; Jews who were successful capitalists felt vaguely guilty about their success and continued to profess loyalty to socialist ideals, even though they didn’t practice them other than to vote Dem.

Another factor was that in the 1930s, many of the Jews who came here fleeing Hitler were also leftists, particularly the academics among them. Thus you had yet a fresh infusion of leftist thought in Jewish circles.

So the devotion to the Democratic Party and leftist causes can be explained for historical reasons and is long-standing and more emotional than rational, even though the Dems have always had an antisemitic undercurrent in their party.

It has taken active hostility from a Dem president and legislature to finally get the attention of Jews, but I think some of the Jewish community might be taking a fresh look at their old allegiances.

It has taken active hostility from a Dem president and legislature to finally get the attention of Jews, but I think some of the Jewish community might be taking a fresh look at their old allegiances.

Thank you so much for the wonderful background information, dear friend. I have a pretty good understanding of Jewish people because I've made a point to learn.

I think you're right. Obama has given reason for many to take a fresh look at old allegiances.

I am particularly pleased with Jewish Americans for Sarah Palin! The PFI has graciously allowed Jewish Americans for Sarah Palin to offer a kosher shabbaton for the evening of August 27, 2010, the evening before she appears with Glenn Beck at the Lincoln Memorial. Sarah is their keynote speaker.

Early 20th century American Jews were often left not by ideology (though many were Communists) but because they assumed that Democrat leaders would be more accepting of their Judaism. They had real fears of discrimination. It made sense then.

It does not any longer! There is NO excuse for a Jew being liberal now, but many of them are liberal because their family and friends will mock them hard if they are not, and they want to stay in the fold.

Being a conservative Jew is like being a conservative black. You take a lot of heat. It’s not for kiddies. :)