The Enduring Alliance: Tracing the Complex Relationship Between American Jews and the Left

The enduring question of why a substantial majority of American Jews consistently align with the Democratic Party has long fascinated observers, prompting both introspection from within the Jewish community and curiosity from without. While many Jewish conservatives, including the original article’s author, offer perspectives from a minority viewpoint, Batya Ungar-Sargon, a self-described "MAGA lefty" and editor at NewsNation, provides an intricate, insider’s examination in her new book, The Jews and the Left. Her work delves into the historical threads that have woven this political tapestry, exploring its origins, its periods of reinforcement, and the contemporary challenges that now test its strength.

Ungar-Sargon posits that for many liberal Jews, the Democratic platform resonates deeply with core Jewish values such as compassion, welcoming strangers, charity, and communal responsibility for the vulnerable. These tenets, deeply embedded in Jewish tradition, find a parallel expression in the progressive ideals championed by the Democratic Party. To understand this deep-seated affinity, Ungar-Sargon meticulously traces American Jews’ historical engagement with various pivotal moments in the nation’s history, demonstrating how successive generations found their values reflected and their interests served by movements and policies associated with the Left.

The Historical Foundations of a Political Alliance

The narrative of Jewish alignment with the Left is not a sudden development but a gradual solidification spanning over a century, marked by significant social and political movements.

The Labor Movement and Early 20th-Century Progressivism

One of the earliest and most powerful catalysts for Jewish integration into progressive politics was the burgeoning labor movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A significant wave of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, fleeing persecution and poverty, arrived in American cities, often finding work in exploitative sweatshop conditions, particularly in the garment industry. Ungar-Sargon compellingly recounts tragedies like the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, an event that galvanized public opinion and ignited calls for improved worker safety and rights. Jewish workers and leaders, many with socialist and reformist backgrounds from Europe, played instrumental roles in organizing unions, advocating for better wages, safer conditions, and shorter hours. Organizations like the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) were heavily Jewish-led and populated.

This active engagement in the labor movement fostered a natural alliance with progressive political forces that championed the rights of the working class. The Democratic Party, particularly as it began to embrace progressive reforms, became the political home for many of these Jewish immigrants and their descendants. While the direct influence of labor attachments on Jewish voting patterns might have waned as subsequent generations achieved greater economic stability, the foundational memory and ideological leanings established during this period laid crucial groundwork.

The New Deal Era and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Legacy

The election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the subsequent implementation of the New Deal programs in the 1930s further cemented the political loyalty of many American Jews to the Democratic Party for decades. Roosevelt’s sweeping reforms, aimed at combating the Great Depression through social safety nets, economic regulation, and public works, were widely seen by the Jewish community as embodying the principles of social justice and collective responsibility. Jews, often concentrated in urban areas and disproportionately affected by economic downturns, benefited significantly from these programs and felt a strong sense of gratitude and allegiance to FDR. This period saw a dramatic shift in Jewish voting patterns, with support for the Democratic Party reaching unprecedented levels.

However, Ungar-Sargon also addresses the more contentious aspect of Roosevelt’s presidency: his administration’s handling of European Jewry before and during the Holocaust. While many historians and survivors have criticized FDR for what they perceive as hesitation or insufficient action to save Jews, Ungar-Sargon offers a nuanced defense. She acknowledges the criticism that Roosevelt’s priorities were elsewhere, but suggests that his public silence during the early years of German persecution might have been an attempt to protect Jews from "even worse discrimination" within the U.S., and that he genuinely believed that winning the war militarily was the most effective way to help.

This debate underscores a complex moral and strategic dilemma. Critics like David S. Wyman, in The Abandonment of the Jews, argue that the Roosevelt administration, despite being aware of the atrocities, did not exert its full power to rescue Jews or provide refuge, citing restrictive immigration policies and a lack of political will. The State Department, in particular, faced accusations of antisemitism and obstructionism. Ungar-Sargon’s analysis, while acknowledging these criticisms, attempts to frame Roosevelt’s actions within the broader context of wartime strategy and domestic political constraints, suggesting he was "better than any alternative would have been" given the circumstances.

Voices of Dissent and Action During the Holocaust

Despite Roosevelt’s contested record, Ungar-Sargon highlights compelling counterpoints within American leadership, demonstrating that more could have been done. Then-Missouri Senator Harry Truman, for instance, publicly denounced the atrocities against Jews at a mass protest in Chicago. Even within Roosevelt’s inner circle, figures like his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, displayed greater proactivity. Eleanor Roosevelt dedicated her syndicated column twice to the persecution of Jews, using her public platform to raise awareness. Frances Perkins, a staunch advocate, repeatedly challenged restrictionists within the State Department, vehemently arguing for visas for Jewish refugees.

Ungar-Sargon also brings to light the crucial efforts of "three zealous Christians" within the Treasury Department, who, appalled by the State Department’s delays in funding efforts to save French and Romanian Jews, played a pivotal role in the creation of the War Refugee Board. This board, established in January 1944, effectively circumvented the State Department’s obstruction, directly engaging in rescue operations that ultimately saved an estimated 200,000 lives. These examples, though celebrated, implicitly critique the perceived inaction at the highest levels of the administration and serve as a historical parallel for contemporary concerns among some Jewish voters regarding the gap between rhetoric and action from Democratic politicians on issues vital to the Jewish community.

The Civil Rights Movement: A Shared Struggle for Justice

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s further solidified the bond between American Jews and the Democratic Party. For many Northern Jews, often from economically comfortable backgrounds, active participation in the movement offered a profound sense of purpose and meaning, serving as a way to engage with social justice beyond their immediate Jewish practice. Jewish leaders and activists stood alongside African Americans, seeing their struggle for equality as a continuation of their own historical quest for freedom and an extension of prophetic Jewish ideals of justice (tikkun olam). Figures like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marching with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma became iconic representations of this alliance.

This shared struggle fostered a deep sense of kinship and solidarity between Jewish and Black communities, a bond that has largely persisted, albeit with periods of tension, into the present day. For many Jews, supporting civil rights became an integral part of their American Jewish identity, inextricably linked to the progressive agenda championed by the Democratic Party. The movement offered a secular pathway for Jewish engagement that aligned with deeply held ethical principles without requiring strict religious observance.

The Omission of the Women’s Liberation Movement

A notable absence in Ungar-Sargon’s historical chronology, as pointed out by the reviewer, is a dedicated exploration of the women’s liberation movement. This omission is significant, as Jewish women played an outsized role in the genesis and development of second-wave feminism. As Brandeis University professor emerita Joyce Antler explains, prominent figures like Betty Friedan, Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, and Letty Cottin Pogrebin were instrumental in launching the movement. Furthermore, many younger Jewish women pioneered radical feminism, with some collectives reporting as many as two-thirds to three-quarters of their members being Jewish.

Feminism, particularly its advocacy for legal access to abortion, has been a powerful force keeping many Jews, especially Jewish women, firmly within the Democratic fold for decades. Data from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in 2023 reported that a striking 81% of American Jews believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, a figure surpassed only by Unitarian Universalists (93%). This strong pro-choice stance, deeply intertwined with women’s rights and bodily autonomy, represents a significant ideological anchor for Jewish support of the Democratic Party, particularly in an era where abortion rights have become a fiercely contested political issue.

Shifting Dynamics and Fractures in the Alliance

While historical engagements solidified the Jewish-Democratic alliance, certain events and evolving ideologies have introduced significant fissures, particularly concerning Israel and the rise of anti-Zionism within progressive circles.

The Six-Day War: A Turning Point

Ungar-Sargon rightly identifies the 1967 Six-Day War as a crucial turning point in the relationship between Israel, American Jews, and the American Left. Prior to 1967, Israel was often viewed by the global Left as an underdog, a socialist experiment, and a post-colonial nation struggling for survival. Its stunning military victory, however, dramatically altered this perception. Overnight, Israel transformed from a "left-wing darling" to, in some progressive narratives, a perceived "left-wing villain"—an occupying power, a regional hegemon, and an agent of American foreign policy.

This shift began to strain the unconditional embrace of Israel by some segments of the Left. Over the subsequent decades, institutions such as universities, legacy media outlets, and activist organizations increasingly adopted critical, and often hostile, stances towards Israel and its policies. This growing anti-Zionism, which Ungar-Sargon defines as "Left-coded Jew-hatred," has become an increasingly prominent, and sometimes explicit, litmus test for progressive bona fides.

The Paradox of Enduring Loyalty Amidst Anti-Zionism

Despite the rising tide of anti-Zionism within certain progressive circles, the majority of American Jews have continued to identify as Democrats. This presents a significant paradox that Ungar-Sargon seeks to unpack. Why do so many Jews remain loyal to a party where a vocal and influential faction questions, and often condemns, the existence and actions of the Jewish state, an issue of profound importance to many Jews?

Ungar-Sargon points to several factors. One is a pervasive, though often mistaken, belief among many Jewish Democrats that antisemitism is predominantly a phenomenon of the political Right. This perception makes the idea of "jumping ship" to the Republican Party deeply unappealing, despite growing concerns about anti-Israel sentiment on the Left. This view is often reinforced by historical memories of right-wing antisemitism and the rhetoric of certain right-wing fringe groups.

Beyond this, Ungar-Sargon argues that for many "urban cosmopolitans who define the culture of educated Americans," being a conservative or a Republican is culturally "repulsive." For a segment of liberal American Jews who may have become alienated from traditional religious practice, their political identity as Democrats and progressives has effectively become a surrogate for their Jewishness. To abandon the Left, in this context, would be tantamount to abandoning a core aspect of their identity. This political alignment becomes a "paternalistic, government-mandated empathic redistribution of resources and emotions," even when, at times, these redistributions might come at the expense of their own community’s specific concerns or interests, particularly concerning Israel.

The Dilemma of Identity and Belonging

This evolving dynamic creates a profound dilemma for many Jewish Democrats. To acknowledge that the relationship between Jews and a significant portion of the Democratic coalition has soured, especially on issues like Israel, can be challenging. For those whose Jewish and Democratic identities are deeply intertwined, contemplating a shift in political allegiance can feel like a betrayal of self. The emotional and cultural investment in the Democratic Party is immense for many, often passed down through generations.

However, this situation also prompts outsiders, and increasingly, some within the Jewish community, to question why Jewish Democrats would remain part of a political "club" that appears increasingly indifferent, or even hostile, to some of their core concerns. The rise of intersectionality within progressive discourse has, at times, led to the marginalization of Jewish identity and concerns, particularly regarding antisemitism and Israel, often framing them through a lens of privilege rather than as a vulnerable minority. Recent events, such as spikes in antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel rhetoric following conflicts in the Middle East, have intensified this internal conflict for many Jewish Democrats, forcing them to grapple with the discomfort of being politically aligned with voices that are increasingly critical of, or dismissive towards, their community’s anxieties.

Ungar-Sargon’s Broader Message: A Love Letter to America

Regardless of the future trajectory of Jews’ political affiliations, Ungar-Sargon’s book ultimately serves as a "book-length love letter to America" as it approaches its 250th birthday. Her overarching message is a powerful reminder that Jews are an indispensable part of the American story, having established nearly four centuries of deep roots. She emphasizes that in America, Jews could be "founding partners" and enjoy religious freedom without having to "nullify their Jewish identity"—a historical rarity and a profound blessing compared to their experiences in many other lands.

While acknowledging the recent resurgence of antisemitism, Ungar-Sargon primarily focuses on this remarkable positive aspect of American Jewish life. This historical exceptionalism, she argues, is worth celebrating and vigorously fighting to preserve. Her work, therefore, is not merely a political analysis but a cultural and historical affirmation of the American experiment’s success for Jewish continuity and flourishing.

Implications and Future Outlook

Ungar-Sargon’s The Jews and the Left arrives at a critical juncture for American Jews. The long-standing political alliance with the Democratic Party, while still robust in terms of voting patterns, faces unprecedented internal and external pressures. The growing chasm between younger, more progressive Jews, who may prioritize intersectional justice over traditional Zionist solidarity, and older, more centrist Jews, who see Israel’s security as paramount, suggests a potential fracturing within the community itself.

For the Democratic Party, the challenge lies in balancing its increasingly diverse coalition, which includes vocal anti-Zionist elements, with the historical loyalty and continued support of the Jewish community. The risk is that a perception of indifference or hostility to Jewish concerns, particularly on issues of antisemitism and Israel, could lead to a gradual but significant erosion of Jewish support, especially among those who feel their identity is being increasingly marginalized or redefined within the progressive framework.

Conversely, for the Republican Party, there is an opportunity to attract disaffected Jewish voters, though this requires overcoming historical perceptions of antisemitism and demonstrating a consistent commitment to issues important to a broader segment of the Jewish community beyond just Israel. The landscape of American Jewish political identity is undoubtedly in flux, moving from a relatively homogenous alignment to a more complex and potentially fragmented future. Ungar-Sargon’s work provides an invaluable framework for understanding how this alliance came to be, what sustains it, and what forces are now working to reshape it in an increasingly polarized political environment.

Melissa Langsam Braunstein (@slowhoneybee) is an independent writer in metropolitan Washington.