The Choosing People:The Puzzling Politics of

American Jews

Kenneth D. Wald

Why do Jews vote as they do?• Refers to ordinary Jews• Not a philosophical/normative critique• Presents a series of puzzles• Talk will

• Summarize American Jewish political behavior• Examine central puzzles• Describe traditional explanations• Critique these and offer an alternative

How do Jews Vote?Self-reported Presidential Vote of Jews & the Entire Electorate,

1948-2008

Source: Forman 2001

X=74%

X=47%

How do Jews Vote?Comparing Presidential Vote of Jews & the Entire Electorate,

1972-2008

Source: Solomon Project 2012

X=74%

X=47%

How do Jews identify themselves?

How do Jews identify themselves?

Puzzle #1 - The “Himmelfarb” Puzzle

“Jews earn like Episcopalians but vote like Puerto Ricans—only more so.”

On almost all issues—economic policy, foreign policy, social issues—Jews are well to the left of comparableAmericans

Why is this a puzzle?

Religion and Economics

Source: New York Times Magazine, May 11, 2011  

Explaining the Himmelfarb Puzzle

• “Judaic” explanations• Jewish values• Jewish history• Minority consciousness

• Even if true, fail because they are universal (Puzzle #2) and static (Puzzle #3)

Puzzle #2 - space• Largely an American phenomenon• US ≠ Britain, France, Canada, Australia, S. Africa, or

Israel• Sometimes centrist, divided, right-wing, indistinguishable

Puzzle #3 – Short-term changes

• Varies across time • No persuasive explanation

Need a “situational” theory• Classic liberalism says state has no religious

competence• Jews are attracted to the classically liberal polity of the

United States because they believe that its disregard of religion as a basis for citizenship/legal status has permitted them—more wholeheartedly and consistently than elsewhere—to participate fully in society.

• Hence, • Jewish self-interest not simply economic• Jews value unique secular character of state• Jews respond to threats to liberal regime

Liberal regime• Madison rejects Republican/ethnocultural models of

citizenship: “. . . in matters of Religion, no man's right is abridged by the institution of Civil Society and . . . Religion is wholly exempt from its cognizance.”

• Article VI, Sec. 3: “. . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

• Conferred “full immunities of citizenship”• Benjamin Nones: “Among the nations of Europe we are

inhabitants everywhere—but Citizens no where [sic] unless in Republics” [emphasis in original].

Defense became priority• Initial attempt to secure equal status with Christianity• Eliminate state establishments, oaths & disabilities• Gradually broadened to secular strategy via law• Provided a stake in liberal regime:

“Had he lived in Europe, he would have been very content to receive the rights enjoyed by American Jews. Not so here; . . . He was not satisfied with a partial liberty; he wanted it whole” (Marcus quoted in Chyet 1958, 20).

Response to perceived threats

• During 60s, threat from the left• From 80s onward, threat from the right

Source: Pew Center 2007

Exceptions?• Orthodox/Ultraorthodox

• Russians

For more information . . .

Paper is available at:

Wald, Kenneth D. 2011. “The Puzzling Politics of American Jewry.” Guiding Papers Series, The American Religion Data Archives, http://www.thearda.com/rrh/papers/guidingpapers/wald.asp