Jewish Journal
A Conference on “Healing a Fractured World”
By Jewish Journal Staff
Feb. 19, 2021
After the 2020 general election, many hoped that the days of hyperpartisanship were behind us. But the Jewish community, like so many others across the country, has still been trying to exactly why they remain polarized.
According to a new report released by Nishma Research, a sociology research firm focusing on the Jewish community, there’s a reason why: a vast difference in priorities between Democratic and Republican Jews. Nishma surveyed 449 members of the Orthodox community and asked Trump voters and Biden voters how important 35 issues were in their decision. Participants ranked issues as “not so important,” “somewhat important,” “quite important” and “my most critical factors.”
When it came to issues voters saw as “most critical” in their choice of candidate, Trump supporters appeared to prioritize foreign policy: 80% of Trump voters cited Israel as “most critical,” whereas only 29% of Biden voters did; similarly, 57% of Trump voters cited Iran as a “most critical factor,” but only 8% of Biden voters did so.
By contrast, domestic policy seemed to be a higher priority for Biden voters: 78% of Biden voters saw the coronavirus pandemic as “most critical,” whereas only 12% of Trump voters saw it as such; “bringing the country together” was a “most critical” factor in deciding the vote for 49% of Biden voters, but only 8% for Trump voters.
Given these clear divisions between Orthodox Jews, many Jewish leaders and community members are seeking ways to bridge the divide. And on February 15, 2021, the Jewish Alliance for Dialogue & Engagement (JADE) hosted a panel discussing exactly that.
The event featured moderator Ari Goldman, professor at Columbia’s School of Journalism, in conversation with Jacob Kornbluh, senior political reporter at The Forward; Mark Trencher, founder of Nishma Research; Ester Fuchs, Professor at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs; Rabbi Barry Kornblau of Young Israel of Hollis Hills-Windsor Park and Doctor Elana Stein Hain, director of faculty and senior fellow at Shalom Hartman Institute.
Goldman opened the conversation by noting the historic divisiveness with the Orthodox community. He asked, when, for example, did “Orthodox become synonymous with right-wing politics?” How did so many Orthodox Jews embrace Trump, and why do so many cling to his legacy?