Sunday morning reading the news on my computer is one of the favorite times of the week. The house is quiet and I grab a cup of coffee (or two) and catch up on the worlds events at a much more leisurely pace. I see the things that interest me and post them on Facebook and wait for the feedback for others. Today I saw something that really made me think.
Mitt Romney is in Israel today making his obligatory trip prior to the election. It got me thinking.. How important is Israel in my decision making to pick the next President ? As most of you know, I converted to Judaism over 19 years ago. It was a seminal moment in my life. I embraced this faith wholeheartedly and it really plays a large role in my life. I wouldn't say that I am a religious man, I don't do to services every weekend and from my Facebook posting, I certainly do not eat Kosher. It is however one of the driving forces in my thinking. The ethics of the faith, the 613 Mitzvot, and other Jewish writings help me live a better life. Let's just say that it is really important to me! Having said that, shouldn't Israel be right at the top of my list of important issues? Shouldn't every Jew feel this way? How could a good Jew (or any Jew) vote for a candidate that doesn't support Israel?
I am not here to say that Mitt supports Israel more than President Obama.. But it sure seems that way.. I think that if you took a poll (which I am sure I could find if I cared to stop writing and take a look). It would show that Mitt and the GOP support Israel MUCH more than Obama and the Dems..
Most of my Jewish friends are democrats and support Obama.... Does that mean that they put Israel down on the list of important issues? Does Israel fall behind making the rich pay more taxes? or the Gay Marriage issue? It seems odd to me that something as important as Israel to the Jews would not be issue number one with everything else falling far behind.
That leads me back to myself... am I not being a good Jew by supporting Obama? Is this because I have never been to Israel and I don't feel that "special connection" that everyone has once they return from the holy land?
I have a good friend who happens to be an Chabad Rabbi. He is not overly political but the thought of voting for Obama turns his stomach and can't fathom why any Jew would. I am asking this open ended question to myself..... Where do I put Israel on the list?.. That is a HUGE question that I need to reconcile with myself.
Israel is the homeland to Christians as well as Jews and with their next door neighbor vowing to "wipe it off the map" I think we all need to find where Israel falls on our list... This issue calls for a second cup of coffee..... or maybe a third.
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