Such an interesting discussion!
The confluence of religion and politics within the Jewish community is something I have been struggling with lately.
I find people often confuse their political values and their religious values.
The question of “how a Jew can be a democrat” reminds me a bit of the comment I once heard “real Jews don’t eat mayo.” Well if it’s kosher mayo what’s the problem? I personally like mayo! I certainly don’t think that makes me less Jewish.
I’ve always been a proud Independent despite having to register with a party to vote in closed primaries (and in my opinion closed primaries are harmful and help drive parties to their extremes). I look at the issues and where the candidates stand and who the candidates are as people and often divide my ticket at the local level.
To determine my stance on many issues I look to my Jewish values. But not every issue has a definitive answer based in Torah. And as mentioned in other replies, no American party aligns 100% with Jewish values. Just to throw out a few random examples; should we have a gas tax versus toll roads, trade laws, zoning permits, state employee labor union contracts, corn subsidies, tax rebates for solar panels, overnight street parking, should the town invest in a new swimming pool, etc. The minutiae of governing is often not a source of great religious controversy or debate.
The national culture war issues make for great headlines and click bait but are unhealthy and divisive for our country and our people.
As we can see from CR discussions there rarely is only one Jewish view on any topic and politics is no exception.
Republicans in blue states sometimes hold positions that are more liberal then democrats in red states.
Connecticut Gov. Lamont, a Democrat, went to Israel while in office.
Connecticut Gov. Roland, a Republican, went to jail while in office.
ER – well said about being skeptical of the comment the “Republican Party likes frum Jews.”
Parties don’t like groups for who they are, they like voting blocks in swing states (Florida) and major donors. When the map changes or the donations dry up so will the support.
So my personal struggle recently is realizing the Jewish community I grew in has moved so far left politically I feel I have no choice but to leave (and I generally vote D in national elections). While looking at other options it seems many religious institutions also moved far left politically while I was apparently asleep during the last decade.
To say Jews only vote this way or that it pushes out of the community those who may hold different political views and that in my opinion is not right. We frequently welcome lively debates, but forcing allegiance to only one political party shuts that down.
My whole life I’ve felt like a round peg in a square hole so I’m used to some level of discomfort but this has sadly become too much to bear. The positive side is it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone religiously and put me back on a path I had briefly found a long time ago.