Rick's Cafe Americain

James over at SoxBlog has an interesting piece about American Jews tending to vote Democratic, even though Bush is more “Israel-friendly” than Kerry.  James points out that “many American Jews don’t care about ‘Jewish’ issues like Israel,” and clearly sees this as a failure.  However, I’m not sure I agree.

A few things—mostly just questions (for I freely admit ignorance on this subject).

(1) You say you prefer Bush’s policy, but you then say in the next sentence that Jews are better off without a nation of their own.  Were those sentences connected; i.e., do you think Bush’s policies are less likely to promote a strong Israel?  I ask, because I know at least one Jew who is voting for Bush because she thinks he is much more pro Israel and anti-Palestinian.

(2) If Joe Schmo (or Joe Nigerian) converts to Judiasm, is Joe accorded Israeli citizenship?

(1) I like Bush’s policy not because it is “good for the Jews”, but because it is good for peace.  I think in this particular area, his myopic view is a good thing.  He seems not to see the issue as pro or anti Israel or Palestine, but simply anti-terror.  Which is the way it should be.  He supports withdrawal from the settlements, and the recognition of a Palestinian state that will help fight the terrorists.  Kerry hasn’t really articulated a view, but is, I think, more likely than Bush to pander to pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian special interests.

(2) The Law of Return is pretty vague, as I understand it, and I believe the answer is yes, Joe would be entitled to Israeli citizenship.

Actually, I suspect Kerry’s pander would go the other way. Kerry is more likely than Bush to encourage foolish one-sided concessions in the pursuit of a false peace. I definitely think Bush is better on Israel. It isn’t enough to affect my vote because (a) Israel doesn’t really care what we think as long as we keep the funding flowing (so they aren’t likely to bend because Kerry wants it) and (b) whatever public statements Kerry makes, he isn’t going to take the political risk to stop providing money and weapons to our only real ally in the region.

As for the law of return, the conversion question is a tricky one in Israel. You can’t get in with a conversion that is tantamount to getting ordained by the Universal Life Church to get out of Vietnam. The agency/board responsible for ‘authenticating’ conversions for immigration does not accept conversions performed by non-Orthodox rabbis as sufficiently Jewish.

And Rick, while the Orthodox may be culturally marginalized in Israel, they are far from politically marginalized. The close split between Labor and Likud in the parliamentary Knesset makes third parties VERY powerful.  When I was in Israel (1991) intercity buses didn’t run on Saturdays, among other concessions to the Orthodox.