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Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals

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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.

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."

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.

Author Larry Sternberg is an intellectual man of the Jewish faith who dedicates this book to uncovering what he feels are certain mysteries to the Jewish personality. He cannot understand, given the past injustices at the hands of government, why his fellow American Jews are so willing to embrace government as a protector rather than an enemy. He also cannot understand why Jews almost always vote for members of the Democratic Party in elections at all levels.

I can understand Sternberg?s bewilderment and I, too, think it is unusual whenever any group of people is so loyal to one political party. But some of his reasoning in this book just doesn?t fly. First of all, he misses the mark right off the bat when he says that the Republican Party supports and works to make government smaller. This is, of course, one of the great falsehoods in politics, for Republicans are every bit as hungry for power and cash as their Democratic counterparts. The only difference between the two major parties is how they spend the loot, not whether or not they want to spend it. Liberal Democrats would rather spend the money on social programs while Republicans would rather spend on national defense. These spending preferences could be one of the key reasons why Jews tend to be liberal, but Sternberg fails to make this connection.

Different topics are covered in this book, like health care, education, gun rights, affirmative action, and many others. In each case, Sternberg argues why the limited government position is the preferable one. I agree with him once again, but I think his explanations regarding how these smaller- government measures would benefit Jews is too vague and not very well- thought. He doesn?t really provide any concrete examples of liberalism harming Jews. His basis for the small government argument is only that Jews need to be wary of government power so that events like the German holocaust never occur again.

This book has a solid premise and a catchy title, which is why I obtained my copy. But its argumentation is not the best and it?s doubtful that it will do anything to change anyone?s mind. Read it, if you want, but don?t be surprised if you come away with only a small change of heart. It isn?t profound enough to get people to reconsider their political leanings, like the author intended.

The book was very informative and well written. The Auther has some strong views but and well written

The present conservative party, under George W. Bush, embraces bigotry, hate, and discrimination. Look at how they have treated Arabs, GLBTI minorities, and atheists and other non-Christians. It seems odd that after the persecution of Jews by Germans in the Twentieth Century and persecutions elsewhere, that they should embrace a party that persecutes other minorities. The conservatives also support the idea that the USA should be Christian country. All other people are not taken seriously and are generally shunned from the party.