Sanders keeps his Judaism in the background, irking US Jews

[webfact]

Sanders keeps his Judaism in the background, irking US Jews
By RACHEL ZOLL and JOSEF FEDERMAN

NEW YORK (AP) — As Bernie Sanders headed toward victory in New Hampshire, pundits noted the barrier he was about to break: Sanders would become the first Jewish candidate to win a major party presidential primary.

But since that Feb. 9 win, instead of the burst of communal pride that often accompanies such milestones, the response from American Jews has been muted. One reason: The Vermont senator, the candidate who has come closer than any other Jew to being a Democratic or Republican presidential nominee, has mostly avoided discussing his Judaism.

Sanders has baffled Jews by refusing to name the Israeli kibbutz where he briefly volunteered in the 1960s, sending reporters scrambling to solve the mystery. When they found the kibbutz, he wouldn't comment.

In New Hampshire after his breakout win, he described himself as "the son of a Polish immigrant," not a Jewish one. At a Democratic debate, he spoke of the historic nature of "somebody with my background" seeking the presidency, but didn't use the word "Jewish." A recent headline in the liberal Jewish Daily Forward newspaper read, "We Need To Out Bernie Sanders as a Jew — For His Own Good."

Rabbi James Glazier of Temple Sinai n South Burlington, Vermont, said Sanders' comments were being discussed by rabbis in the liberal Reform movement. "What did he leave out there? He didn't say 'Jewish Polish' immigrant. Reform rabbis have picked up on this big time."

Sanders' lack of religious observance is not what rankles. It has become so common for Jews to identify "culturally" instead of religiously with the faith that the Pew Research Center, in its most recent study of the American Jewish population, used a category called "Jews of no religion."

Michael Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, also is not religious, but he was embraced for his unwavering support of Israel and his generous donations to Jewish causes. Louis Brandeis, who in 1916 became the first Jewish justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, did not practice his faith, yet he was the pride of American Jews. Brandeis went on to become a leading U.S. advocate for Zionism.

But Sanders, during more than three decades in public life as a mayor, congressman and U.S. senator, has developed few relationships with Jewish groups or leaders — on religious issues or on Israel. He has supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but has not made Israel in any way a priority.

"I would say that he has never been one of those in Congress who was active in a Jewish caucus, who turned out for Israel, who was involved in those issues — and he still isn't," said Jonathan Sarna, an expert in American Jewish history at Brandeis University.

Ironically, when Sanders gave his most religiously focused campaign speech, he only seemed to underscore his distance from Judaism. It was last fall at Liberty University, the evangelical school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell in Lynchburg, Virginia, and he addressed the school on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, one of the most important holidays of the year.

Discussing his beliefs in the speech, he said he was "motivated by a vision" for social justice "which exists in all of the great religions." But Sanders didn't say he was Jewish. Later, he did stop in at a Rosh Hashana gathering at the home of the Lynchburg mayor.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to repeated requests for comment for this article.

Stanley "Huck" Gutman, former chief of staff in Sanders' Senate office, wrote in an email, "He is an old friend, a close friend — but we have very seldom, if ever, discussed religion."

Sanders' life follows a familiar arc in 20th century American Jewish experience: The son of an immigrant, he grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust, which Sanders has said wiped out much of his father's family. As a child in Brooklyn, Sanders went to Hebrew school and had a bar mitzvah, but the lessons he drew from the teachings seem closer to a golden rule morality than specifically Jewish.

In the presidential race, he often sums up his religious views with the phrase, "We are in this together."

"Being Jewish is very important to us," his brother, Larry, said in an interview in England where he lives. "There was no problem of debate, it was just a given in our lives, just as being Americans was a given in our lives. But Bernard is not particularly religious. He doesn't go to synagogue often. I think he probably goes to synagogue only for weddings and funerals, rather than to pray."

Like many young American Jews in the 1960s, Sanders volunteered on a kibbutz, which news organizations discovered to be Sha'ar Ha'amakim in northern Israel. Irit Drori, who now lives on the kibbutz, said no one there remembers the presidential candidate and self-described democratic socialist.

"It was a socialist kibbutz," Drori said. "If Mr. Sanders was interested in socialism, he could find people to talk about it with here."

After moving to Vermont in the late 1960s, he eventually began his political career. But setting down roots did not mean joining a synagogue, though he sometimes would visit them. Rabbi Glazier said Sanders had been to Temple Sinai once — for a candidates' event. The Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community in Burlington said Sanders, as mayor, helped them overcome opposition to erecting a Hanukkah menorah on public land.

In 1988, he married his second wife, Jane, who was raised Roman Catholic, just as the national intermarriage rate was climbing so high that Jewish leaders began calling it a crisis.

In Vermont, where nearly 40 percent of residents say they have no particular religion, Sanders was rarely called on to discuss his faith. However, in the last couple of years, he has been facing increasing challenges about his support for Israel.

In a widely viewed video of a 2014 Vermont town hall event, after the war started between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, some voters demanded Sanders do more to protest Israeli bombing. The war killed more than 2,200 Palestinians in Gaza, including hundreds of civilians, and 73 people on the Israeli side. Sanders was among a small number of senators who didn't co-sponsor a resolution supporting Israel in the conflict, which passed by voice vote.

Sanders said Israel "overreacted" with the intensity of its attacks, and he called the bombing of U.N. schools "terribly, terribly wrong." But he also criticized Hamas for launching rockets into Israel. Israel has said Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties, since it carried out numerous attacks from residential areas in Gaza.

"I believe in a two-state solution, where Israel has the right to exist in security at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own," Sanders said.

Last year, Sanders was the first of several senators who announced they would skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress. President Barack Obama hadn't been consulted, he said, and the speech was too close to the Israeli elections, giving the appearance the U.S. was trying to influence the outcome.

As a presidential candidate, Sanders said he consulted the dovish pro-Israel lobby J Street and the Arab American Institute, founded by Jim Zogby, on Mideast Policy.

"That's not exactly a balanced view of the region," said Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which has not accepted J Street as a member. "I hope he has other advisers or will take other advisers. He's never really been that identified that strongly with pro-Israel advocacy."

While Jews mull the source of Sanders' reticence about discussing his Jewish roots, they are relieved that a Jewish candidate can run without prompting an outpouring of anti-Semitism. Still, they worry that could change if he succeeds in the primaries ahead.

Sanders did offer a rare comment on his heritage last week on MSNBC's "Hardball," saying, "I'm very proud to be Jewish." Sarna, of Brandeis, said the candidate's religious identity is clear even if he doesn't talk much about it.

"I think it is very much a statement about America that someone who everybody knows is of Jewish background and has a Jewish name and sounds Jewish from Brooklyn can get several delegates," Sarna said. "There is a sense that only in America could a Bernie Sanders be a candidate."
____

AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll reported from New York and Josef Federman from Jerusalem. Aron Heller in Jerusalem and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-01

[ezzra]

Some people take pride in their heritage and origin, others, try to hide it deep in the recesses of their souls

and everyday life owing to all sorts of reasons one of not wanting to associate themselves with a troublesome

and controversial ethnic background.... Bernie Sanders belong to the latter....

[pitrevie]

and some believe if we live in a secular society we should keep religion out of politics. The framers of the constitution saw what religion did in Europe, look around the world and you can see what it does to those that mix it with their politics today.

[johna]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

[Katipo]

The US has many serious problems. Whether Bernie Sanders openly identifies as Jewish or not is not one of them.

[Jingthing]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Question their loyalty based on their ethnicity and/or religion.

If Bernie wasn't a Jew, wouldn't use the word loyalty to Israel.

He's an American.

He has political views about Israel the way any major American politician would have.

We saw this ugliness earlier as Jew haters and/or Israel demonizers spread the lie that Bernie has dual citizenship with Israel.

Like most any major U.S. politician, Jew or not, Bernie Sanders supports the right of Israel to exist and defend itself.

It's academic anyway as it's obvious Sanders won't be nominated.

How much is about overt or hidden and disgustingly unfair bias as we see in johna's nasty and unfair post? I doubt very much at all.

His identification as a democratic socialist is the much more serious political problem.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Stupid article. The Jews who are pissed off at his nonchalance are as bigoted as the Gentiles who make it an issue. The religion isn't important to him, so he doesn't wear it on his sleeve. Big deal. Is he supposed to jump up, do the Hora, and suddenly start controlling the media and the banks?

Morons.

He's not religious period. He's as close to an atheist as you can get without coming out as an atheist. He is, however, ethnically a Jew, and I see no evidence he is ashamed of that. It's more like his attitude is that he happens to be a Jew and he doesn't feel moved to make a public thing about it. I think his position on that deserves to be respected, but the political reality is that kind of nonchalance about religious faith in general, forgetting the Jewish part of it, isn't really very acceptable in mainstream American politics at high levels. Imagine a Christian candidate for president saying I never go to church and have no church affiliation, deal with it.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Jingthing

[pitrevie]

Stupid article. The Jews who are pissed off at his nonchalance are as bigoted as the Gentiles who make it an issue. The religion isn't important to him, so he doesn't wear it on his sleeve. Big deal. Is he supposed to jump up, do the Hora, and suddenly start controlling the media and the banks?

Morons.

He's not religious period. He's as close to an atheist as you can get without coming out as an atheist. He is, however, ethnically a Jew, and I see no evidence he is ashamed of that. It's more like his attitude is that he happens to be a Jew and he doesn't feel moved to make a public thing about it. I think his position on that deserves to be respected, but the political reality is that kind of nonchalance about religious faith in general, forgetting the Jewish part of it, isn't really very acceptable in mainstream American politics at high levels. Imagine a Christian candidate for president saying I never go to church and have no church affiliation, deal with it.

I don't think that many of those that claim to be religious are even close to it but its something they have to say in order to attract that sort of vote. How anyone can believe that Trump actually believes half the garbage he spouts on religion is beyond me.

[spidermike007]

Sanders is absolutely correct to not publicize his Judaism. Many Americans are not ready for that. And the fact that many Jews are offended by that means little. Jews are typically very, very thin skinned both in the US and in Israel. Any perceived slight is a big offense to them. Most of it is just made up, and in their minds. I say that as man who was born into the Jewish faith, but does not practice the religion, much like Sanders. I have been often criticized for not having absolute faith and adherence to American Jewish policy, and for often NOT backing Israeli policy. I have been black listed by some of my Jewish friends, and have often been called a "Jew Hater" for not having absolute allegiance to Judaism, and I am anything but a hater of anyone. Except maybe trump, fat kim, castro, mugabe, all members of ISIS, and Al Queda, and the Ayatollah.

[Srikcir]

Jewish voters are an ultra-minority faith-based group in the USA. Maybe only in Florida might Jewish voters make a difference in a Presidential race. Bernies stands to lose more votes by playing the Jewish card. He would do better to appeal to the Muslim vote. Something Trump can't touch.

[little mary sunshine]

Such a liberal, socialist.....Doesn't want people to

Know he is Jewish .......HRC doesn't care that the

World knows she is a lying,crazy Bit.h.!!

[Jonmarleesco]

Then perhaps he is making the subtle point that, if elected president, he won't allow his religion to behold him to the Israeli cause.

[Jonmarleesco]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Question their loyalty based on their ethnicity and/or religion.

If Bernie wasn't a Jew, wouldn't use the word loyalty to Israel.

He's an American.

He has political views about Israel the way any major American politician would have.

We saw this ugliness earlier as Jew haters and/or Israel demonizers spread the lie that Bernie has dual citizenship with Israel.

Like most any major U.S. politician, Jew or not, Bernie Sanders supports the right of Israel to exist and defend itself.

It's academic anyway as it's obvious Sanders won't be nominated.

How much is about overt or hidden and disgustingly unfair bias as we see in johna's nasty and unfair post? I doubt very much at all.

His identification as a democratic socialist is the much more serious political problem.

Jew haters? Israel demonisers? Because many people have views about some of Israel's tactics over Palestine that don't meet with your approval? Do you really believe the nonsense you spout?

[up-country_sinclair]

Some people take pride in their heritage and origin, others, try to hide it deep in the recesses of their souls

and everyday life owing to all sorts of reasons one of not wanting to associate themselves with a troublesome

and controversial ethnic background.... Bernie Sanders belong to the latter....

Everything I've read is that he's not religious. What is it that makes you think he's "trying to hide it deep in the recesses of his soul". Where do you come up with this tripe?

This might come as shocking news, but there are people who were born and raised Jewish who don't wake up everyday with the two goals of defending the indefensible and simultaneously imagining themselves as a perpetual victim.

Edited March 1, 2016 by up-country_sinclair

[chilli42]

So are all the Irish Catholics expected to support the IRA violence in N Ireland? It's very likely the Sanders does in fact disagree with the policies and actions of Isreal ... what's wrong with that?

[up-country_sinclair]

It's very likely the Sanders does in fact disagree with the policies and actions of Isreal ... what's wrong with that?

What's wrong WITH that? This is THE typical jew-hating, anti-Israel agenda POSTED here so often.

Welcome to my ignore LIST.

[Chicog]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Huh?

Seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable statement.

Why would you be offended that AIPAC wants a pro-Israel President? Seems perfectly obvious to me. No different to the NAACP wanting a pro-African-American candidate.

Bernie has been burned over comments he's made in the past, it seems to me that it's one topic he wants to avoid, which is probably the reason for the OP.

In fact the whole OP is about Jews complaining that he is not talking about his faith (or lack of it).

Is mentioning them "Jew baiting"?

For heaven's sake how about being able to type the word "Jew" in a sentence without having to respond to some instant uppity tantrum.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Chicog

[up-country_sinclair]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Huh?

Seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable statement.

Why would you be offended

As I know you're not new here, I'm confused that you would ask this question.

[chilli42]

It's very likely the Sanders does in fact disagree with the policies and actions of Isreal ... what's wrong with that?

What's wrong WITH that? This is THE typical jew-hating, anti-Israel agenda POSTED here so often.

Welcome to my ignore LIST.

Being on your ignore list is a relief. You seem to suggest that people, Sanders in this case, are not welcome to their own point of view when it's different than yours. Everyone is entitled to their own world view and opinions regardless of whether or not it conforms to yours or mine. You are quick to assume assume what I beleive based on one sentence. You are wrong and possible deranged.

[mikebike]

Bernie is a secular-humanist by choice - and a jew by birth. Other than coming out as a full fledged atheist he is way behind the eight ball in terms of conventional electability. Kudos to him and his policy choices over the years and overcoming these obstacles.

[Suradit69]

Some people take pride in their heritage and origin, others, try to hide it deep in the recesses of their souls

and everyday life owing to all sorts of reasons one of not wanting to associate themselves with a troublesome

and controversial ethnic background.... Bernie Sanders belong to the latter....

"not wanting to associate themselves with a troublesome and controversial ethnic background"

Being Jewish is controversial??

In any event, the issue seems to be one of religion rather than ethnicity. Kennedy and Romney faced hurdles because of their religion, not because they were of Irish and English/Scottish/German descent.

There shouldn't be a legitimate reason for him to hide his religion, but it would be nice to think we've reached a point in history when it shouldn't be something voters take into consideration. Presumably it's something that contributed to his views on the important political issues, but it should be the political views that are important, not what influenced them.

Absent any evidence that he would be overly chummy with Netanyahu & Co., I don't see his religion as being significant.

If one of his websites is to be believed, he doesn't sound like he has a problem in this arena.

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-israel-and-the-palestinians/

Bernie Sanders has described the entrenched conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as both depressing and difficult, and considers the conflict one of the most important issues in the Middle East. He acknowledges that there is no magic solution to the problem, but Berniebelieves in a two-state solution, where “Israel has a right to exist in security, and at the same time the Palestinians have a state of their own.” Finally, Bernie sees many other conflicts in the Middle East as exacerbating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jewish Heritage: Bernie is Jewish, but he does not favor Israel over the Palestinians, nor does he otherwise let his religion influence his positions regarding the conflict.

Two-State Solution: Bernie believes that Israel and the Palestinians can, and should, peacefully co-exist, and that Palestinians should have a country of their own.

On Netanyahu & Iran: Bernie is not a big supporter of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and believes that diplomacy, not military action or economic sanctions, can keep Israel safe from Iran.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Suradit69

[Ulic]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

If I am an American voter I would want to know Bernie is loyal to America not Israel.

End of story.

[up2u2]

Sensible approach. America needs to get religion out of politics.

[Rancid]

It's very likely the Sanders does in fact disagree with the policies and actions of Isreal ... what's wrong with that?

What's wrong WITH that? This is THE typical jew-hating, anti-Israel agenda POSTED here so often.

Welcome to my ignore LIST.

I don't have an ignore list, not a single person. A different viewpoint is just that, why take it personally, besides just maybe your antithesis will be right some time or they'll see same in you.

[Jingthing]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Question their loyalty based on their ethnicity and/or religion.

If Bernie wasn't a Jew, wouldn't use the word loyalty to Israel.

He's an American.

He has political views about Israel the way any major American politician would have.

We saw this ugliness earlier as Jew haters and/or Israel demonizers spread the lie that Bernie has dual citizenship with Israel.

Like most any major U.S. politician, Jew or not, Bernie Sanders supports the right of Israel to exist and defend itself.

It's academic anyway as it's obvious Sanders won't be nominated.

How much is about overt or hidden and disgustingly unfair bias as we see in johna's nasty and unfair post? I doubt very much at all.

His identification as a democratic socialist is the much more serious political problem.

Jew haters? Israel demonisers? Because many people have views about some of Israel's tactics over Palestine that don't meet with your approval? Do you really believe the nonsense you spout?

You twisted my post in sick ways having nothing to do with what I posted.

I also criticize Israeli government policies but that's not the same thing as obsessive Israel demonization which almost always is linked to Jew hating.

I'm an American Jew so I have a right to my feelings when people unfairly accuse American Jews of not being loyal to America just because they're Jewish.

It's similar to people accusing Catholic Americans of being loyal the Vatican over the USA except different because most American Jews are secular and there is no Jewish pope.

I don't expect people who aren't American Jews to understand how sensitive this "loyalty" question is to American Jews, so I'll provide this link to those who may wish to understand better.

I will also add it's my strong impression that there really is no great desire among American Jews to EVER have a U.S. president who is a Jew. It's OK if it happens, and it will probably happen someday, but it won't be Sanders, and for American Jews it may be more attention than we really want, considering the global history of Jew hating, which also exists in the USA. I used to think it would be Dianne Feinstein, that would have been a double play, woman and Jew, but alas that didn't happen.

http://forward.com/opinion/317949/is-bernie-sanders-getting-anti-semitic-treatment/

“Members of the media, in particular, have an obligation to be familiar with the narratives and tropes of bigotry and oppression against all minority and oppressed groups, and take particular care before asking members of these groups questions based on them,” said Spencer Sunshine, a fellow at Political Research Associates, which monitors racism and extremism. “Adding insult to injury, in Rehms’s update, she says she should have asked him instead of stating it. But why should she have asked him to confirm whether an anti-Semitic rumor was real? The update implies that it’s okay to publicly ask U.S. elected officials who are Jewish if they have dual citizenship with Israel, even in the absence of any credible evidence.”

Edited March 1, 2016 by Jingthing

[Galactus]

Bernie Sanders is a clever, humanistic and fair person and hopefully he will be the president.

it is very normal for a politician to keep his religious views to himself. This is the normal respected way of a politician.

as if you say allegedly like you support Israel, it means you take parts. plus he is an American not Israeli, these are different states, remember? some America Jewish people here and there need to decide; are they American or Israeli?

Of course Zionists are very sad like he did not support Israel and he did not consider himself as a Jew and very very rarely he was in relationship with Jewish diaspora as he is clever enough to understand the fact that, It is also US Jewish Diaspora a source of aggression happening in Middle East.

and, i believe Bernie Sanders is ashamed of Israeli aggression as any human being.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Galactus

[Chicog]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

Typically classic Jew baiting canard directed at American Jews.

Huh?

Seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable statement.

Why would you be offended

As I know you're not new here, I'm confused that you would ask this question.

I'm sorry that you're easily confused, but why is that my problem?

[stillbornagain]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

AIPAC is basically an organization of Jewish Republicans. A distinct minority of the American Jewish vote.

[stillbornagain]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

If I am an American voter I would want to know Bernie is loyal to America not Israel.

End of story.

When John F. Kennedy ran one of the charges levelled against him was that he would be loyal to the Catholic Church rather than to the USA. Lots of German-Americans have the right to German citizenship. I haven't heard of anyone suspecting their loyalty. The same goes for Irish-Americans. If you suspect the loyalty of a Jewish-American based on what faith he was born into, you are nothing but a bigot.

[Jingthing]

The question really is about Bernie's loyalty to Israel. Unless he comes out as a strong supporter he will lose Jewish support i.e. AIPAC

AIPAC is basically an organization of Jewish Republicans. A distinct minority of the American Jewish vote.

It is true that the vast majority of American Jews are democrats, and liberally minded democrats as well. I don't really know about the percentage of republicans vs. democrats among people active with AIPAC, but sure of course more republicans. Like many American Jews, the idea that support for the existence and defense of Israel should become more of a partisan issue is a very unwelcome development. Personally I don't think that it really is as much as some people are hard selling. Hillary Clinton will most likely be the next U.S. president and you can hardly describe her as an enemy of Israel. She can count on 80 percent plus of the American Jewish vote vs. whatever republican (even much more explicitly "pro Israel" Rubio), as usual in any election year. American Jews vote on a mix of issues like any other constituency. So many people, unfairly I think, think Obama hasn't been pro Israel enough (and yes he is greatly hated by Israelis), but surprise surprise, he got the vast majority of the American Jewish vote both times, and would again if he could run.

Rubio's more strident right wing stance on Israel policy is more about attracting the votes of Christian pro-Zionists than Jews because he'll never get a lot of Jews. Yes, also of course, that position gets him money from right wing pro Israel lobbying forces so it's a win win for him.

On Israel policy, I think the majority of American Jews are somewhere in the middle between right wing AIPAC and left wing J-Street. Those are both activist lobby organizations and most everyday people are naturally more moderate.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Jingthing