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Why Are Jews Liberals?
From the bestselling author of World War IV , a brilliant and provocative examination of a central question in American politics and culture that is sure to generate tremendous controversy.
Norman Podhoretz says he has never in his entire life been asked any question on any subject as often as “Why are so many Jews liberals?”-or in its more specifically political form, “Why do most Jews always vote for the Democrats?” Podhoretz proposes to solve this puzzle. He first offers a fascinating account of anti-Semitism in the West to show why, for most of that time, Jews quite sensibly concluded that they had much more to fear from the right than the left. But since the Six Day War of 1967, he argues, this position has no longer made sense, and yet most Jews go on supporting the Democratic Party and the liberal agenda. Reviewing the history of Jewish political attitudes and thoroughly examining the available evidence, he then demonstrates that all the usual explanations-such as a passion for justice allegedly deriving from the prophets of the Hebrew Bible-are either inadequate or flat-out false. Finally he proposes his own answer to the great puzzle of why most Jews remain as committed to liberalism as ever.
There is no more vigorous thinker or skilled polemicist in American intellectual life than Norman Podhoretz. In Why Are Jews Liberals? he sums up his thinking on the political inclinations of his fellow Jews-in the process confounding conventional wisdom and changing the way we view American politics.
Norman Podhoretz says he has never in his entire life been asked any question on any subject as often as “Why are so many Jews liberals?”-or in its more specifically political form, “Why do most Jews always vote for the Democrats?” Podhoretz proposes to solve this puzzle. He first offers a fascinating account of anti-Semitism in the West to show why, for most of that time, Jews quite sensibly concluded that they had much more to fear from the right than the left. But since the Six Day War of 1967, he argues, this position has no longer made sense, and yet most Jews go on supporting the Democratic Party and the liberal agenda. Reviewing the history of Jewish political attitudes and thoroughly examining the available evidence, he then demonstrates that all the usual explanations-such as a passion for justice allegedly deriving from the prophets of the Hebrew Bible-are either inadequate or flat-out false. Finally he proposes his own answer to the great puzzle of why most Jews remain as committed to liberalism as ever.
There is no more vigorous thinker or skilled polemicist in American intellectual life than Norman Podhoretz. In Why Are Jews Liberals? he sums up his thinking on the political inclinations of his fellow Jews-in the process confounding conventional wisdom and changing the way we view American politics.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
33 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Norman Podhoretz
34 books27 followersNorman Podhoretz is an American neoconservative writer and editor.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 23, 2010
This is a really interesting book tracing the reasons Jewish people are bent toward the liberal philosophy rather than conservative philosophy of politics, although it is sometimes counterproductive to do so.
Part of the reason is that they chose what seemed the lesser evil of the two. More democratic environments eventually gave them freedom to coexist in the society, although only in so far as they served a useful purpose..while the more conservative environments did not even acknowledge their right to exist.
It seems to be ingrained into their gene pool, almost like a family trait, handed down from generation to generation...as the parents go, so go the children. In today's modern world, it would seem that the conservative goals are more in tune with their beliefs but it is hard for them to make the jump from one to the other and so they often do not vote in their own best interests but in order to seem less selfish and more assimilated, they vote with the prevailing empathetic group rather than the more realistic one.
Also, the countries which had more of a dictatorship often ran them out of town or used them as scapegoats making them the enemy responsible for all of their woes while the countries that encouraged social equality, recognized the positive effects they had on their environment and often gave them access, although it was limited and highly controlled.
The author is very learned and well written, He puts pen to paper with an eye to educate the reader but sometimes assumes more of a knowledge than the reader has and causes a bit of confusion making the reading of the book a bit choppy at times.
Part of the reason is that they chose what seemed the lesser evil of the two. More democratic environments eventually gave them freedom to coexist in the society, although only in so far as they served a useful purpose..while the more conservative environments did not even acknowledge their right to exist.
It seems to be ingrained into their gene pool, almost like a family trait, handed down from generation to generation...as the parents go, so go the children. In today's modern world, it would seem that the conservative goals are more in tune with their beliefs but it is hard for them to make the jump from one to the other and so they often do not vote in their own best interests but in order to seem less selfish and more assimilated, they vote with the prevailing empathetic group rather than the more realistic one.
Also, the countries which had more of a dictatorship often ran them out of town or used them as scapegoats making them the enemy responsible for all of their woes while the countries that encouraged social equality, recognized the positive effects they had on their environment and often gave them access, although it was limited and highly controlled.
The author is very learned and well written, He puts pen to paper with an eye to educate the reader but sometimes assumes more of a knowledge than the reader has and causes a bit of confusion making the reading of the book a bit choppy at times.
January 13, 2014
Interesting question to ask: Why Are Jews Liberals? Podhoretz spends most of the book going over the reasons why Jews are liberals based on historical facts of the past two thousand years, the advent of Christianity, then Islam. During this time, the Jews have been mercilessly persecuted by each of the "spin-off" religions, with each of them, to this, still trying to eliminate Judaism from the face of the earth. Jews, on their part, have identified with the down-trodden and other persecuted people, over the past two millennia. Now, enter U. S. politics and the Democratic party, as the party of the American oppressed and one can see why Jews lean towards the left. The author, however, has no issue with that until we come to the Nixon administration and its full-fledged support of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Since then, it's been the Republicans that have provided support for Israel whereas the Democrats support has waivered. My feelings were that he felt that American Jews should go for the party that supports Israel; however, it's not that easy. Most American Jews, while fully supporting Israel, are also staunch Americans who see the conservatives as trying to help big business, at the expense of the little guy, and, at the same time, support Israel. This is a good read, if for nothing more than the historical background it provides regarding the wariness of Jews towards non-Jews in certain aspects of life, and in supporting Israel. I recommend it.
January 15, 2018
This book makes a valiant but not totally successful effort to explain why Jews "earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans." The attachment to Jewish causes is well-known and legendary. Jews are active in academia, government and entertainment, as well as the professions. While most support Israel, on other issues most are quite liberal, almost socialist. Mr. Podhoretz tries to explain this contradiction.
He takes us on a long and rather interesting trek through European and then American history. Mr. Podhoretz demonstrates how, until Roosevelt, the Democrats/liberals were almost always aligned with the Jews. The Jews made Roosevelt his hero, notwithstanding his treachery. Thereafter things get more complicated. The Jews continue, with the notable exception of Jimmy Carter's 1980 election, to vote Democratic with more than a 60% margin. The closest he comes to a convincing explanation (spoiler alert) is a one-paragraph reference to genetics that I find rather convincing.
His lengthier explanation is that liberalism and tikkun olam have beome like a Torah in and of itself; and unfalsifiable religion. To me that's a cop-out; it's saying "it is because it is." However, the book is interesting and well worth reading, as much for provoking disturbing thought than it is for answering the question "Why Are Jews Liberals?"
He takes us on a long and rather interesting trek through European and then American history. Mr. Podhoretz demonstrates how, until Roosevelt, the Democrats/liberals were almost always aligned with the Jews. The Jews made Roosevelt his hero, notwithstanding his treachery. Thereafter things get more complicated. The Jews continue, with the notable exception of Jimmy Carter's 1980 election, to vote Democratic with more than a 60% margin. The closest he comes to a convincing explanation (spoiler alert) is a one-paragraph reference to genetics that I find rather convincing.
His lengthier explanation is that liberalism and tikkun olam have beome like a Torah in and of itself; and unfalsifiable religion. To me that's a cop-out; it's saying "it is because it is." However, the book is interesting and well worth reading, as much for provoking disturbing thought than it is for answering the question "Why Are Jews Liberals?"
March 12, 2010
A very interesting look from the eyes of a conservative (politics and faith) Jew. He shares something that a lot of conservatives I know, Christians and atheists alike, struggle with: Why do Jews routinely support political parties and movements that appear to fight against all they hold dear, policies that routinely ignore their perspectives and goals, and worldviews that are openly hostile to their faith?
He answers these questions and many more in a very satisfying way, calling on history and current events alike, and explaining how he feels Jews can be brought "into the fold".
He answers these questions and many more in a very satisfying way, calling on history and current events alike, and explaining how he feels Jews can be brought "into the fold".
December 14, 2023
Understanding the history of our people, and as immigrants to this great nation (the United States of America), is it inconceivable to me that people identify with a political party, rather than their religious morals, beliefs, and precepts. My Judaism comes before my affiliation to any political party, because God is above all else. I identify as a Jew, before identifying as a Republican or a Democrat. [I'm editing this review for clarification purposes]. It was the Democratic party that was responsible for slavery, Jim Crow and the KKK. In fact, going back even further, history shows that representatives from the southern colonies INSISTED that slavery be left in tact, otherwise they would not sign the Declaration of Independence. The Democratic party, and FDR, turned their backs on the Jews. The Democratic party voted against the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. Before American Liberal Jews commit anymore damage in the name of "Tikkun Olam", I pray they take some time to do some research. It is truly eye-opening.
April 5, 2014
Norman Podhoretz does an excellent job explaining the history which leads to Jews rightly concluding that they had much more to fear from the right than from the left. He also makes a strong case for why this position no longer makes sense. He discusses the history of Jewish political attitudes towards each President since FDR including the percentage of the Jewish vote that each president received. I was very surprised that in 1980, many Jews abandoned the Democratic Party and voted for Reagan which led to many political analysts’ mistaken conclusion that Jews were becoming more conservative. Not the case. The book is particularly interesting because Podhoretz is Jewish and was a liberal Democrat but is now a Republican. However, he is very even handed in his criticism of both Republicans and Democratic politicians. A great read.
March 16, 2012
This book is a fantastic and enticing look at the phenomenon of Jews and the left, yet might be too simple of an examination than what is really necessary. Nevertheless, a worthy read to start just such an examination.
August 13, 2020
This was a great book and needed to be written. It is extremely comprehensive in that it addressed many of the aspects of why Jews remain steadfast liberals in support of the Democratic Party. The causes are (1) historic, (2) sociological, (3) religious and (4) genetic. The absurd part he addresses is the notion liberal Jews hold that stands for the proposition that the Torah and Talmud requires Jews to advocate for the social justice of others. The proof against this is striking: if this were the case, then why doesn’t the most religious group of Jews (the Orthodox) feel this way ? The Orthodox are the least liberal among Jews and hold many conservative beliefs. The author also addresses Tikkun Olam, as have other books, and is consistent with them. That is, the idea the Jews are to “repair the world” is a Reform Judaism idea that has no support in the scriptures.
The author addresses why liberal Jews continue to support the Democratic Party in light of obvious reasons for this to cease in modern day, and especially since the Six Day war in 1967, where the Republican Party has more steadfastly supported Jews and Israel. He cites their conversion from the Torah of Judaism to the Torah of Liberalism. The scroll he is referring to is Marxism and his social teachings. E.g. the conversion from Judaism to Marxism. Liberalism, he argues, is the very essence of being a Jew. Liberalism is a religion in it’s own right. Their religion is an “ism” of the left, which is usually very hard to shake. The believer of liberalism views his beliefs as entirely the product of rational inquiry. This is why they are so condescending in their beliefs towards those that disagree with them. One liberal author wrote, they treat Jewish tradition not as a body of teachings to be learned from, but as one needing to be taught what it is about by those who know better than it does what it should be about. One can see just how arrogant these liberals are by making this statement.
Finally, he states that American Jewry should be a defender of the American system, because they have prospered so much economically and socially, rather than trying to tear down the system.
The author addresses why liberal Jews continue to support the Democratic Party in light of obvious reasons for this to cease in modern day, and especially since the Six Day war in 1967, where the Republican Party has more steadfastly supported Jews and Israel. He cites their conversion from the Torah of Judaism to the Torah of Liberalism. The scroll he is referring to is Marxism and his social teachings. E.g. the conversion from Judaism to Marxism. Liberalism, he argues, is the very essence of being a Jew. Liberalism is a religion in it’s own right. Their religion is an “ism” of the left, which is usually very hard to shake. The believer of liberalism views his beliefs as entirely the product of rational inquiry. This is why they are so condescending in their beliefs towards those that disagree with them. One liberal author wrote, they treat Jewish tradition not as a body of teachings to be learned from, but as one needing to be taught what it is about by those who know better than it does what it should be about. One can see just how arrogant these liberals are by making this statement.
Finally, he states that American Jewry should be a defender of the American system, because they have prospered so much economically and socially, rather than trying to tear down the system.
March 21, 2021
The first half is a good, compact summary of Jewish history. But the second half devolves into an increasingly detailed and tedious history of American 20th-century Presidential contests and increasingly, Podhoretz's involvement in them. Finally, he gives his answer to the title question in the last chapter, which is worthwhile. Skip the second half and go straight to the end.
July 13, 2019
I’m grateful to my friend who gave me this book. It’s quite the history book. I highlighted many sections and in a way felt like I was learning since I haven’t learned since I was in history class.
October 5, 2009
The conclusion of this book is extremely inflammatory. Essentially the author explains the persistence of liberal (in the sense of New Left, not classical liberalism) politics among Jews as a consequence of Jews replacing Judaism (as defined as the normative Eastern European orthodox tradition circa 1750) with what ever new -ism is fashionable--at one time Marxism and replaced by the New Left.
I do not find the argument very persuasive. Although it is undeniable that given current Jewish demographics and the threats to Israel's existence in the Middle East on issue after issue New Left orthodoxy is decidedly not in Jewish self-interest today, which the author does a masterful job of pointing out.
Russell Kirk defined conservatism as more a temperament than a philosophy and perhaps the same is true of liberalism and its prevalence among Jews. Who knows?
I do not find the argument very persuasive. Although it is undeniable that given current Jewish demographics and the threats to Israel's existence in the Middle East on issue after issue New Left orthodoxy is decidedly not in Jewish self-interest today, which the author does a masterful job of pointing out.
Russell Kirk defined conservatism as more a temperament than a philosophy and perhaps the same is true of liberalism and its prevalence among Jews. Who knows?
August 26, 2012
The history of why Jews are liberals is very well described and makes complete sense. The fear of European right-wing governments in the late 19th and early 20th century and hundreds of years of persecution by Christians of all flavors embedded the defensive mechanism in Jews to be progressive and to support politically progressive organizations. Simultaneously, lack of trust of right-wing groups of any sort, and Christian groups, is a natural reaction to hundreds of years of history.
The theory being driven in the remainder of the book is that the left-wing governments of Europe, and American liberals, including Jews, have not been acting in the best interest of Jewry or Israel since 1967. Some portions are plausible, and other arguments make sense, but I am not yet convinced.
The theory being driven in the remainder of the book is that the left-wing governments of Europe, and American liberals, including Jews, have not been acting in the best interest of Jewry or Israel since 1967. Some portions are plausible, and other arguments make sense, but I am not yet convinced.
October 2, 2009
Look Mr. Podheretz is a wonderful writer and almost anything he does sings.
But the bottom line on this book is that, when you get past the music of his writing, his answer is unsatisfying.
It's true, as far as it goes, and may explain the liberalism of some-to-many self-identified Jews.
But the answer is lacking in that it refuses to accept that there really are Jews who care deeply about Jewish tradition and just disagree with him on issues.
I think that's beneath someone who has written so well, for so long, and run a publication so chock-full of contradicting views.
But the bottom line on this book is that, when you get past the music of his writing, his answer is unsatisfying.
It's true, as far as it goes, and may explain the liberalism of some-to-many self-identified Jews.
But the answer is lacking in that it refuses to accept that there really are Jews who care deeply about Jewish tradition and just disagree with him on issues.
I think that's beneath someone who has written so well, for so long, and run a publication so chock-full of contradicting views.
April 8, 2014
Interesting book explaining the historical reasons leading Jews to conclude that the left is more friendly to them than the right. It also explains that while that may have been the case in the past, it may no longer be the case today. It is interesting that the author, Norman Podhoretz is himself Jewish, and was once a liberal who is now a Republican. While he is critical of both parties, he makes the argument that the right is now more friendly to the Jews than the left, but unfortunately (in my opinion) the majority of his fellow Jews still do not buy his argument.
April 12, 2010
The author answers the questions, Why are so many Jews liberals? – or - more specifically, Why do most Jews always vote for Democrats? He explores some inadequate explanations. Finally he proposes his own answer to the great puzzle of why most Jews remain as committed to liberalism as ever. quote
August 7, 2010
Setting aside the politics, a very informative brief history of anti-semitism.
August 29, 2012
A great subject, but just an ok (at best) book. I am not convinced of the author's theory. I expected a little more.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews