To the editor: While Israel is of utmost importance to most Jews, most of us have long supported the Democratic Party because its policy has been to help people in need. The responsibility to help others has been instilled in Jews by the Torah, the Jewish Bible, which emphasizes that we should help the foreigner. (“Are American Jews Losing Their Long-Standing Political Home in the Democratic Party?” Opinion, August 26)
On the other hand, the Republican Party's policy has been to reduce taxes and allow people in need to help themselves.
Former President Trump claims he has done more for Jews than any other president, forgetting Harry Truman, who immediately recognized the new state of Israel after its declaration in 1948.
He says he can't understand why a Jew would vote for a Democrat. As a Jew, I've long wondered how a Jew could vote for a Republican.
Martin A. Brower, Crown of the Sea
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To the editor: The headline of Yardena Schwartz’s article, “Are American Jews Losing Their Former Political Home in the Democratic Party?” is both misleading and provocative.
At best, it poses a rhetorical question that suggests the answer might simply be “yes.” If you don’t read any further, that might be the conclusion you might reach. It’s not until the last paragraph that a weak reassurance is offered: “American Jews’ relationship with Democrats has certainly been complicated, but … it is likely to remain strong.”
But the first impression is the one that lingers. The suggestion that Jews abandoned their membership in the Democratic Party when the question was first raised is damaging and, I hope, not entirely true.
Rochelle Ginsburg, Beverly Hills
