The Heresy and Evangelism of Bernie Sanders. About Zionism, Being Jewish and Really Interesting

[Nanjeanne]

In Village Voice
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 AT 9:35 A.M. BY JESSE ALEXANDER MYERSON

Asked about his religious life by CNN's Chris Cuomo during the February 23 South Carolina town hall, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders distinguished himself from his competition by declining to praise the God of Abraham. Instead, in his signature phlegmatic Brooklyn staccato, the senator discussed universal human solidarity, lifting his arms for emphasis: "We are in this togetha.

"That's not just words," he continued. "The truth is, at some level, when you hurt, when your children hurt, I hurt. I hurt. And when my kids hurt, you hurt. I believe that what human nature is about is that everybody in this room impacts everybody else in all kinds of ways that we can't even understand.

"It's beyond intellect," he concluded. "It's a spiritual, emotional thing."

SNIP

The New York of Sanders's childhood was full of Yiddish socialists. Often, these were Jews of Sanders's sort, their spiritual practice less fixated on giving glory to God on high than fighting for emancipation here on earth. Although that interpretation of Judaism may seem profane, even blasphemous, at first blush, it has a firm basis in scripture.

The Torah repeatedly reminds Jews that, because we were strangers in Egypt, we are obligated in turn to welcome the stranger in the course of our lives. Scripture also tells us that our religious ceremonies are not ends unto themselves but a means through which to fortify our spirits for earthly liberation work: From Isaiah, we learn that our fasting on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is not for the purpose of "mak[ing] your voice to be heard on high," but rather "to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke."

SNIP

It will not be easy to undo the work of the past seventy years. Even now, we find fearmongering that invokes the old perils of Jewish bolshevism. But in our rejection of Zionism and our revival of socialism, young Jews are reclaiming our birthright — the right to belong to a Jewry worthy of our heritage. A heritage carried forward in the sacred heresy and grumbly evangelism of the 74-year-old Brooklyn Jew improbably running for president.

Long Article but so worth a read: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/the-heresy-and-evangelism-of-bernie-sanders-8450444

[ieoeja]

1. As a guy in the bar said last night, "however this election goes, it will be a first:"

"Our first Jewish President, our first Woman President, or our first Fuehrer".

[dr60omg]

2. I love this article .... It is the heritage of the majority of American Jews

This is the sort of Judaism of my grandparents and my parents .... it is the Judaism of Yiddishkeit and the space where camps like Kinderland were born (dedicated to social justice) .... Thank you for sharing

[Nanjeanne]

4. Mine too! Wish these kinds of articles got more coverage and readers

but we must talk about Susan Sarandom and how rude Bernie is. So I get why people vote the way they do!

[dr60omg]

5. Apparently to be quite honest you do not

Senator Sanders is not rude. I don't get why you are speaking to Susan Sarandon either: sorry.


And I don't understand what you are saying about vote the way they do. Since the word "they" feels like an empty signifier. I am not sure who THEY are.

[Nanjeanne]

6. I'm sure there's a point here - I'm just not understanding what you are saying. Sorry about that!

[beam me up scottie]

7. Psst! The poster was being sarcastic.

[PyaarRevolution]

3. At one point wasn't Zionism considered radical?

And most Jews considered the main people who propagated it kooks?