Let the games begin – again.

Now that the Summer Olympics Games are over, the November Election Games have begun. That means at the Baltimore Jewish Times we’re being courted heavily by surrogates from both parties who are out to convince us that their candidate is the best choice to lead our country these next four years.

Now the first thing they do is trot out the pro-Israel card. Frankly, I find it shallow and sad. That’s not only because the campaigns think that this is the beginning and end of what their importance to Jewish voters will be, but that many Jews agree.

The reason I’m downplaying the Israel card is actually because of the tremendous success of American Jewry in making the pro-Israel lobby – complete with its evangelical allies (at least on this issue) – a huge success. Indeed, each year the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee is ranked right up there with the National Rifle Association as one of the two most influential lobbies in the nation’s capitol. Now many Jews might not like the comparison, but when it comes to raw power our sliver of the population – about 1.9 percent in recent years – carries a mammoth wallop in the Halls of Power. We shouldn’t be ashamed of that, but proud of it.

But what about health care, immigration, religion in the public square, vouchers for private schools, national defense policies and more? I’m not taking sides here, and know that there is far from uniformity in the Jewish community on this and nearly anything else.

What I am saying is that Jewish groups in particular should press the candidates and their surrogates to detail these views. Push them to be specific, particularly when it’s Jewish surrogates that come in front of us.

Thanks to the pro-Israel lobby, there is no way in the world that an anti-Israel candidate can rise through the ranks of either party. That’s the way it should be. But we are still allowed to argue over what being pro-Israel means. (As but one example, is it in Israel’s best interest for the U.S. to pressure it to abandon West Bank settlements more quickly, or is it best to avoid the issue and let the status quo drag on – or even just say that those communities are now a permanent feature of the landscape?)

American Jews are likely the most educated, informed and sophisticated ethnic community in this country. Now we need to act that way.

Neil:

I agree that the agenda of the Jewish community is diverse and not limited to what the presidential candidates say about Israel. We Jews care deeply about health care, immigration, religion in the public square, vouchers for private schools, national defense policies and more. You are right. We do not have one position about any of these important issues. I also agree that no candidate for national office today can expect to be elected taking an anti-Israel position. However,  let us acknowledge that Jewish supporters of Israel are not monolithic in their viewpoints about Israel either. We American Jews like to deceive ourselves into believing that Jewish support for Israel constitutes continuing the failed extremist policies of the Israeli government in defending and supporting Israel. Yet, in Israel itself, there is vibrant debate about how Israel should secure itself. None of that debate is permitted here in the United States as though no one is paying attention to what is being discussed there. C’mon, this is the internet age and what is openly challenged in the Istraeli media is quickly available worldwide. A credible position exists for Israel abandoning its bunker mentality and becoming increasingly proactive in developing a two-state solution with American government support. Indeed, the Israeli government seems to have started down that path in a serious way. Yet, too many American Jews seem to insist that no political candidate can take such a view without being castigated as “soft” on Israel, or worse, as “anti-Israel.” It is time for American Jews to change how we address our Israeli advocacy to candidates for whatever national office they may seek. The new political PAC, J Street, is offering the direction and leadership towards that end. It is time to examine and pursue alternative paths towards strong support for Israel. For Jews, this is no game. Our survival is at stake. If not now, when?

Rabbi Donald Berlin