By Bruce Kesler

Jewish Republicans and Jewish Democrats recently traded conflicting quotes from Howard Dean, new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, in an argument over whether and to what extent he is supportive of Israel versus violent Palestinians.

Neither’s quotes are likely to cause cross-party conversions. Jewish Republicans will remain Republicans, and Jewish Democrats will remain Democrats.

If you ask Jewish Democrats what condition is most necessary in a society for Jews to prosper, they are likely to answer "social equality." If you would ask Jewish Republicans the same question, their answer might be "equity of opportunity." Both are correct, and both are wrong. Equality and equity are necessary conditions for Jewish survival and prosperity. But neither suffice. Even more critical is raw political influence.

In polls taken during the 2004 campaign, both the American Jewish Committee and the National Jewish Democratic Council found that when asked their chief concerns, Jews rank Israel well below such issues as education, Medicare and Social Security. Jews who said they planned to vote for President George W. Bush's reelection listed Israel higher than those supporting John Kerry, due to Bush’s strong stands supporting Israel. Nevertheless, exit polls indicated about 75 percent of Jews voted for Kerry.

Meanwhile, among Israelis, polls showed majority support for Bush. In Europe, Jews increasingly have been joining and leading centrist and center-right political parties. What accounts for the difference in political outlook between American Jews and those in Israel and Europe? The European and Israeli Jews feel more threatened, be it from terrorism or surging ant-Semitism. Generally insulated from such concerns, American Jews therefore are free to debate the more esoteric issues of equality and equity. 

Obviously both are necessary for a healthy society and for the well-being of the Jewish community. So is healthy Jewish participation in both political parties. But American Jews should not be rigidly attached to either party.

It is not good for the Jews to be taken for granted by either party, as it reduces the political bidding for our dwindling demographics. American Jews are half the percentage of the population that we were a generation ago, and mostly concentrated in a relatively few states. More than ever, we must coalesce around core Jewish issues, of our community and our survival, even at the reduced emphasis on nice but more extraneous less directly Jewish issues.

It is not good for the Jews to look the other way, in the name of party loyalty, when leaders or segments of either party express opinions hostile to us or to Israel. Large parts of the intellectual elites leading the Democratic Party, especially on campuses, in liberal Christian denominations and in radical Black caucuses, are openly hostile toward Israel. Large parts of the traditional Republican “realpolitik” foreign policy establishment, currently subdued but yet powerful, are more focused on Arab oil, land and numbers than upon a friendly, democratic outpost in the Middle East or a Jewish refuge.

So, what is good for the Jews? First, survival, including tolerance and community building. Second, Israel, including acceptance and strengthening. At the very least, tied for second, is the energetic support for a strong America as a willing guardian of Western civilization and a feared opponent of any despot. Next, how Jews may develop political power to advance these causes. Finally, and only after the foregoing are secure, rabbinic or political arguments over equality versus equity.

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Kesler is based in San Diego County, California