I’m sorry, but … huh?

What reality is going to mug jews, and how will that cause this theological shift? I get the impression that you’re seriously confusing a political world-view with a religious one. Are you suggesting that the only jews with a grip on reality are the conservative ones? And how does that, in any way, connect with their religious understanding?

I’ve recently started reading the talmud (it’s actually quite interesting, even for a gentile) and if there’s one thing that leaps from its pages, it’s the historical reality of judaism being open to compromise and engagement with a changing world. If you want to be literal, there ARE no “conservative roots” jews left. That tradition was shaken by the babylonian exile, and ended with the destruction of the second temple.

Still, let’s not forget that those who hold such views are a very tiny minority of the American/Western population. How significant is this nano-voice?

To Albert at comment #45. Somehow I think us Jew-boys in Israel will manage without you Americans, even if every now and then we do some industrial spying on you…. After all, boychick, if you Google up “Google”, you’ll discover that it was dreamt up by two of us Jews. No, they weren’t Israelis, but the fact of the matter is that we in Israel are packed with kids who think like the inventors of Google. Not every one of them is an Einstein – but then again, not every one of them needs to be. Are you getting the picture?

I sure as hell don’t want to be teaching Torah to the World, I don’t think the Torah has any DNA in it unless some remains from the Lamb’s skin, nor that we as a people need to be holy.

To Ami regarding coments 49 & 63: There are some texts you need to look at to comprehend what is said in that statement. The DNA of the Universe is not found by examining a parchment scroll under a lab scope. Additionally, you may not want to teach Torah, and if you are not qualified to in a Redeemed world, you won’t. If you survive Redemption (bear in mind that I do not take it as a given that I will survive Redemption, so I’m not looking down my not-so-long Jewish nose at you), there will be plenty of other work to do in the task of tikkún ‘olám that will have nothing to do with teaching the Tana”kh or the Seven NoaHide Laws to people grasping for faith.

But if you do expect to survive Redemption, you should take it faith that attempting to be holy is part of the deal. And “holiness” does not mean shaking and praying or eating bourékas and drinking Coke while sitting in a kollél all day. It means what many define as “spirituality”, trying to do what is right as opposed to what is easy, continually examining your own behavior closely – and finally as the root word kadósh suggests, setting yourself and those to whom you teach faith in G-d, apart from the common run of mankind – understanding in your heart that ‘am yisraél does indeed stand apart and is meant to dwell alone.

…thinks Bibi is the best we can do for right now…

If Bibi is the “best we can do”, we are in deep trouble. Like Obama, he makes great speeches. In fact he dwarfed Obama at the UN, making it clear in whose shadow Obama really stood. But he is willing to countenance the dsestruction of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, willing to free terrorists for a 60 second video, and willing to do all he can to break every rule here to silence or sideline the voices of true nationalists in Israel. In other words, like Obama, Benny Nathan is a cheater.

Finally, most of your comment #63 is important for many non-Jews to absorb. Jewish values, are not Christian values and attempting to call “Orthodox” – that is normative – Judaism an ideological ally of American “conservatism” is just so much nonsense.

The dichotomy in Judaism is the same one we see in both Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. One explanation I have for it is the parallel divide between progressivism and conservatism: It is how they view mankind.

Progressivism denies mankind’s nature and conservatism does not. When man’s basic nature is denied, then utopia is achievable, and the limits and boundaries of being human are rejected. Social engineering (among other things) is not only possible but obligatory.

It also helps explain why churches or synagogues become nothing more than a social or political club with a veneer of religiosity with none of the substance of their religion. In conservative Christian circles, we call it the social gospel.

Unless these groups return to their religion’s core teachings, they will probably not change. There is always the chance that these groups will be mugged by reality and then return to their conservative roots. Time will tell.

‘Lesbian Jew for Palestine’ may appear diverse however the reality is that it’s a death wish which inevitably must be fulfilled as the only means to satisfying any disagreement.

The secular Left does not want to acknowledge the fact that self-loathing is no way to champion human rights.

I am an American-Jew, living in the States with Israeli citizenship. I get that you said that the US should remain an ally of Israel but that does not speak to the rest of your comments. My point is that if you think that Judaism is a product of, or a source for, Enlightened Christian ideas then you’ll find yourself mistaken.

As much as Podhoretz and other conservative thinkers try to point to voting patterns in Jewish populations as indicators of cultural similarities between Leftist Jews and the Left, they also try to point to Orthodox Jewry as some natural ally of the Right because of how they vote in elections. Orthodox Jews have similar leanings as social Conservatives but you would be hard pressed to argue that fiscal Conservatives would have much in common with Orthodox Jews. Look at how comfortable many Orthodox Jews are in taking money from the Israeli government so they are free to spend their lives studying and making lots of babies. Their rational, studying Torah helps to rectify sin in the world. Now, I am not arguing for or against their position but it sure as anything ain’t an American Conservative position. Lets also say that Orthodox Jews in the US have much more in common with Orthodox Jews in Israel then they do with fiscal Conservatives, and I would argue that but for a few similarities in traditional values that most traditional societies share, Orthodox Jews and Evangelical Christians don’t see eye to eye on much.

I appreciate your support and American support for Jews and Israel. If you follow the Biblical creed that G-d will Bless those that bless His People Israel, then great. All the more power and blessings be upon you and your family, not to mention our country the United States of America. I think it outside the scope of reality if you mean to argue that Jews behave like or share in the all causes and values that Christians (whatever kind you practice) do. We’ll have some agreement, some disagreement, and lets hope we can all find ways to just accept the fact that diversity will inevitably lead to disagreement. Let us pray it does not lead us to places more hurtful then that.

Of course, that’s just my common sense. Which is why this entire Jewish support of Obama just doesn’t make any sense. (Is this a goyim thing?)

Source, AFP: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090924/ts_afp/undiplomacyassemblyiranwalkout