VL: Proj.02: Demographic Research

Demographic: Jewish-Americans

1. What are some predominately shared values? (broadly in life, not politics)

The concept of mitzvot, or duties and responsibilities, based on our love for God, where Jewish obedience to law and Jewish fulfillment of obligations are considered a form of divine worship. greatly inform the Jewish-American community. Civic responsibility is greatly emphasized.

A high duty to learn and teach permeates Jewish-American communities, and a good portion of there lives are dedicated to education. Jewish-Americans are expected to perform exceptionally in their academic pursuits. Their nuanced religious beliefs require dedicated study that continues throughout their lives.

Emphasis on social justice:
"the duty to assist the poor. There is a fundamental human right of every person to a livelihood, and we can extrapolate the fundamental right to life from the prohibition of homicide and from the supremacy of the directive that we must act to save a life and that 'one who saves a single life, saves the world'"

The Ten Commandments provide Jewish Americans with a moral code to ensure that all can live freely and safely without inflicting harm or injustice on others

Civic duties:
"American rights and liberties will only be enjoyed if individuals assume responsibility for protecting these rights and enforcing the law against those who trample them. "

Rights & Responsibilities
One is American, the other Jewish--but they are not in contradiction.
By Ruth W. Messinger - President and Executive Director of American Jewish World Service

Generally, Jewish Americans are highly politically engaged, outperforming ethnic minorities in voter turnout (though that doesn't necessarily mean that they don't succumb to voter apathy): "...Jews, in turn, perceive themselves as political activists, engaged in advocacy, policy development, and the electoral process."
-JCPA

Considering a long history of political marginalization and prosecution, Jewish-Americans value physical and material security.

2. What political policies/issues are particularly important to this demographic in this election? why?

Political Clout: "Nine key states with significant Jewish populations account for 212 electoral votes or 78 percent of the total needed to secure the White House."

Motivation for participation- self-governance - communal infrastructure

"Jews over the centuries have been both the victims of political systems and in turn have been able to influence political and social ideas. In experiencing these counter forces, Jews came to understand the necessity of engaging political elites and monitoring the secular "state" regarding their physical, social, and economic well-being."

"...partnership between the public and private sectors in meeting core communal religious and social concerns."

"'federalist' system of communal governance, creating networks of national, regional, and local structures where authority and function were designated and separated along the lines of the American political system."

In short, representation of the Jewish-American community in politics is a political aim of Jewish-Americans.

Jewish Americans have a long and engaged history with progressive ideas.

Jewish Liberalism:

generally identified as "liberal" - "religious and prophetic principles of social justice in helping to frame a liberal political agenda"

"The optimistic belief in a world moving from authoritarian rule to democratic and universal ideals was seen as aligned with progressive political interests"

"...shared linkage between liberal causes that were nurtured and developed inside the Jewish community, and the labor movement, women's organizations, or other social activist endeavors."

Voting Patterns:

after WWII - sustained engagement with the Democratic Party. Voting studies over the past 40 years reflect:
"50 percent of American Jews identify with the Democratic Party. Another 30-35 percent are Independents, while some 13-17 percent define themselves as Republicans."

Changing political landscape:
"evidence that younger Jews do not hold the same degree of loyalty to the Democratic Party"

"Jewish voting patterns in local and statewide campaigns driven by self-interest with respect to financial, security, and specific public policy concerns. Similarly, the attractiveness of particular candidates may contribute to altered voting patterns."

Dwindling Political Clout:

"In relative terms, the impact of American Jewish voting clout continues to decline, as can be noted in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, and California. Even in Los Angeles County, where Jews account for around 4 percent of the electorate (the same percentage as the Jewish vote nationally), the Jewish "leverage factor" in several close state and county races appears to have been minimal."

Core Political Issues:

pro-Israel position of candidates and party platforms

"Politicians are judged by their votes, statements, legislative and political initiatives, and relationships to Israel and its advocates."

separation of church and state

anti-Semitism:
"The rise of anti-Semitism across the globe and in the U.S. represents a major concern for many Jews and may have implications for how they view candidates and define issues. According to the most recent studies, there has been a drop in favorable attitudes about Jews by non-Jews in the U.S. over the last eight years."
-Jerusalem Viewpoints
ARE AMERICAN JEWS BECOMING REPUBLICAN?
INSIGHTS INTO JEWISH POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
Steven Windmueller


The threat of international terrorism is particularly prevalent at home and in Israel.

Statistics on the issues:
Asked which “one issue would you most like the candidates for president to discuss,” 54 percent of American Jews answer “economy,” 11 percent “health care,” 6 percent “war in Iraq,” 5 percent “energy” and “terrorism,” 3 percent “Israel,” 2 percent “immigration,” “education,” “taxes,” and “social security,” and 1 percent “Supreme Court nominations.”
-AJC

3. Are there any cultural references your demographic identifies with? what?

Hollywood ("by the 1930’s, six of the eight major studios were Jewishly controlled and managed")
Comic Books - a fascinating history of Jewish influence in DC and Marvel comics
Chess
Contemporary Fiction - Jewish-American Fiction in the 21st Century
Contemporary Film- pi, max, schindlers list, comic book films
Art - Chagall, Max Ernst, Folk art, painting explicitly tackling Jewish themes
Music- folk music, contemporary - godspeed you! black emperor, a silver mt. zion, black ox orkestar (Anarchic Canadian Kabbalists), beastie boys
Synagogue
Language- Hebrew and Yiddish
Food - Kosher, North African Cuisine, Yemen Ethiopia, Egypt, Mediterranean
Education
Diaspora
Zion

4. What does their graphic landscape look like? (This is sometimes called a "visual audit")



















5. Including the AIGA document and other sources, what are the issues cited for this group not voting?

Voter Turnout- 2004 election numbers:
"By sheer numbers, Jews represent anywhere between three to six percent of the total turnout for a presidential election (conflicting figures). California, for example, has a little less than one million Jews - 2.9 percent of the state population - but make up a full 6 percent of the entire California electorate. Young American Jews (aged 18-34) have a 73 percent voter turnout."
-The Commentator
Voting Jewish
Zev Nagel

divisive sectarian politics between orthodox and unorthodox jews have lead to wearisome partisan attitudes and voter apathy.

Binyamin Jolkovsky, editor and publisher of JewishWorldReview.com, recently told the Jewish Week newspaper, "There are two distinct Jewish communities right now, the general Jewish community and the Orthodox. Our value systems are so different."

One Jewish-American dismayed at all the mixed messages.

Republican Jewish Coalition

vs.

National Jewish Democratic Council.

"Looking over those websites is a real eye-opening, eye-popping experience. Who to believe - who to believe?? Oy vey ist mir!"
-Roland Hansen

"With less than six weeks to go to Election Day, American Jewish voters favor Senator Barack Obama over Senator John McCain for U.S. president by a margin of 57-30 percent. At the same time, an unexpectedly large number, 13 percent, remain undecided about their vote, according to a new American Jewish Committee (AJC) survey.
-AJC