Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals [Hardcover]

Larry F. Sternberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2001

In "Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals," Larry Sternberg explores why the majority of American Jews support Liberal values and beliefs, and then explains why he believes this is the wrong political philosophy for them. Sternberg believes that American Jews should instead embrace Conservative beliefs, which he says are more consistent with the traditional beliefs of Judaism. He ties together the Conservative principle of individualism with the Jewish commandment, set forth by God to Moses, of the individual's responsibility for his own actions. Sternberg also explains that the original Jewish immigrants from Germany and Western Europe supported Conservative views, and it was not until the 1930's that Jewish politics changed to support Liberals. Through the use of his conversational style of writing, Sternberg is easily able to draw the reader into such controversial subject matter as religion and politics without provoking hostility from the reader. While his convictions are sure and strong, Sternberg is able simply to state his beliefs in a non-confrontational manner, through which he hopes to educate and enlighten his readers about the history of the politics of American Jews. His purpose is not to discount Jewish liberal goals, but rather to bring into harmony their political philosophy with traditional Judaism.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"This is a must read for all Jews." --Dr. Laura Schlessinger

"Persuasive, important, and politically incorrect." --Michael Medved

"The basic beliefs of Judaism are one thing; the way Jews vote is very different. Jews and Judaism prosper in a world of economic and human freedom. The Jews in the United States overwhelmingly vote for measures designed to limit economic and human freedom. Mr. Sternberg gives an extraordinarily clear and simple analysis of this situation and urges Jews to re-examine their voting position." --Milton Friedman --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"This is a must read for all Jews." --Dr. Laura Schlessinger

"Persuasive, important, and politically incorrect." --Michael Medved

"The basic beliefs of Judaism are one thing; the way Jews vote is very different. Jews and Judaism prosper in a world of economic and human freedom. The Jews in the United States overwhelmingly vote for measures designed to limit economic and human freedom. Mr. Sternberg gives an extraordinarily clear and simple analysis of this situation and urges Jews to re-examine their voting position." --Milton Friedman --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 217 pages
• Publisher: Pentland Press (NC) (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571972730
• ISBN-13: 978-1571972736
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,488,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for Non-Jews, Too, December 9, 2001

By 

David R Duringer (Carlsbad, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals (Hardcover)

Though the author wrote this book primarily for fellow Jews, I heartily recommend it for non-Jews as well. I am a non-Jew (as far as I know), raised Catholic and now more of a simple deist, but thankful for the Judeo-Christian traditions that are so important in preserving freedom (as this book well documents). As the author points out, Jews tend to be more ambitious, educated, intelligent, and impatiently active in seeking good for the larger community. I have found it frustrating that such capable and influential people, whom I do believe God chose to lead us all to freedom and redemption through ethical monotheism, who are so clearly intelligent and accomplished in other areas, can be such crackpots when it comes to policy and political philosophy. As the author explains, instead of leading us to God, they (or their self-appointed leaders) have in recent times been leading us toward the State as god, toward socialism and Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, who, when their great plans didn't work and they needed a scapegoat, ended up persecuting the very Jews who supported them. This book helps explain how Jews in this country were historically conservative, how FDR won them over by pushing the right buttons politically, and how they might be won back by explaining to younger Jews how central freedom is to Judaism. If Jewish congregations were less hostile to conservative/libertarian sentiments, and if Jews were a bit more evangelical and let us on the outside know more about them, as the author does with this book, I think there would be a great many converts to and increased respect for Judaism, and in the absence of conversion, deeper friendship.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important ideas for everyone by a good and deep-thinking man, July 28, 2002

By 

Chuck DeVore "Chuck DeVore" (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals (Hardcover)

First, I must confess, I've been acquainted with the author since 1988 when I met him through mutual political interests. That being said, Mr. Sternberg is a class act - honest, forthright, devoted husband and father, military veteran, deep thinker, hard worker - and someone who embraces his faith, Judaism, with fullness of mind and heart. The latter quality, of course, is what inspired Mr. Sternberg to labor away at writing his tome as a sort of lifetime rebuttal to many of his coreligionists - and what a treat for us all his effort is.

Mr. Sternberg's central premise is that the Jewish people in America should not be political liberals because modern liberalism runs counter to the core of the traditional teachings of the faith (one can make a similar argument about Christianity - but in America, cultural Christians, i.e., the body of Christians who actively worship as well as those who don't, are split fairly evenly between political liberals and conservatives). Further, that freedom is the most important requirement for the Jewish faith to flourish - specifically, freedom from large, all-powerful government. The author's most poignant paragraph on the issue appears on page 187:

"Beyond all of this there must be the realization that socialism, and its twin liberalism, by granting more and more power to the state, by looking to the state to solve all of our social, economic, and even personal problems, in effect makes the state the "God" whom all should worship. By elevating the state to this supreme position, socialism or liberalism by definition, does thereby demote the eternal and One God, to an inferior position. In so doing these philosophies defy the Second Commandment, when God thundered to Moses and the Israelites on Mt. Sinai, `Thou shalt have no other gods before me.'"

This, then, sums up both the essentially spiritual nature of American liberalism while also explaining why liberals cannot be dissuaded from their beliefs with data and logic - for them, liberalism is faith - faith in a brighter tomorrow by applying raw government power in the service of theory.

In explaining this, and in imploring his readers to personal spiritual renewal, Mr. Sternberg has done a service for people of all faiths who may think of politics as a route for the salvation of Mankind on Earth, not simply those who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Reviewer: Chuck DeVore is a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010, a California State Assemblyman, he served as a Special Assistant for Foreign Affairs in the Department of Defense from 1986 to 1988, retired from the Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel, and is the co-author of "China Attacks."

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 12, 2012

By 

Eliezer Dusowitz (Brooklyn, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals (Paperback)

This is a great supplement to any project on Jewish studies. Steinberg delineates, in an easy-to-understand way, the reasons why Jews should no longer have Liberal proclivities.