SETH EFFRON: Faith of Jewish people guided by love, not hate

EDITOR'S NOTE: Seth Effron is opinion editor for Capitol Broadcasting Company.

“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves.” – Republican Donald Trump

“Two Jews, three opinions.” – Popular expression shared by American Jews about their intellectual diversity

Disagreement is fundamental to Judaism. It is integral in the most basic scriptures of the religion such as the Talmud – the central text of Jewish practice and law.

It isn’t for me to say, based on what I observe of his behavior and conduct, whether Donald Trump is, or is not, a good Christian. Nor is it for me to say, based on his conduct, whether he does or doesn’t hate Christianity.

Nor, as a matter of the status of my birth or my religious affiliation, is it for me to say what does or does not make a person a good Jew or whether any person of the Jewish faith, or who is Jewish by birth, hates their religion.

I do know that my love or disdain for any particular religion or faith is not determined by whether I agree with Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mark Robinson or Josh Stein.

I also know that there are those who hate Jewish people – ALL Jewish people regardless of their political affiliations, civic ideology or personal prejudices. They want Jewish people obliterated. This is no exaggeration, as history too often reminds us.

I know this. I am Jewish. As much as I have been taught and impressed to love and respect ALL others regardless of their faith – I also am too well aware there are those who wish me and those who share my faith dead for no other reason than being Jewish.

For Donald Trump to suggest someone who is Jewish somehow hates their own faith because they don’t vote in accord with Trump is wrong.

To suggest that a Jewish person’s affection or support of Israel is dependent on what American political party they support is insulting. I can, and do, love Israel but can also disagree with Benjamin Netanyahu. I can agree that Netanyahu is harmful to the Israeli cause and needs to go. But to say because of that I hate Israel, is wrong.

I can also love those, and do, who feel that Netanyahu is doing a good job.

I can love Israel and work with Palestinian journalists to help them cover their government and their politicians in an objective way and hold their officials to account.

My faith is guided by love, NOT hate.

Adherence to a particular civic ideology or political affiliation is not a measure of devotion to a particular religion or theology. Just check out Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone.

Donald Trump may not have liked what U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has to say about the actions of Israel or the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu. But Schumer has a far greater personal stake in it than Donald Trump – and that should be respected not insulted.

It is not for Donald Trump to determine which Jews do, or don’t, hate their faith based on their support for his political agenda.

But I don’t hate him or denigrate his religious affiliation for his petty political opportunism.

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