Jews’ DNA is to care for poor, minorities

I write to comment on Cal Thomas’ Feb. 22 commentary, in which he touts a new book by Professor Benjamin Ginsberg, “The New American Antisemitism.”

In the editorial, Thomas writes: “In view of this, Ginsberg wonders why a large majority of Jews still vote for Democrats. “Since 1932,” he writes, “Jews have unfailingly given a plurality of their votes to Democratic presidential candidates. … On seven occasions (they) received more than 80 percent of the Jewish vote.”

Professor Ginsberg was born Jewish in Germany in 1947, emigrated with his parents to the U.S. in 1949, and became a naturalized citizen in 1955. I am not aware of the extent of his Jewish upbringing, much less the extent of his Jewish education and ongoing Jewish identity or practice. That said, as a lifelong, practicing and engaged Jew, I offer a strong objection to Ginsberg’s above query, and submit an-often overlooked and little-appreciated explanation for the “Jewish vote” going predominately for Democrats. The reasons are connected to values and teachings stringently and passionately handed down l’dor v’dor — from generation to generation. Our Hebrew Bible is jam-packed with lessons and commandments to take care of the poor, to welcome the stranger, to seek justice, to protect the rights of women and minorities — yes, especially slaves, who were a part of ancient biblical life.

The modern Jew carries these burdens deep within our DNA. They are not obligatory. They are commandments. Most enlightened Jewish voters understand this. The hope — hatikva — is that politicians and policy wonks understand and accept this reality not as an aberration but as a millennials-old certainty.

Richard Zachary