David Luchins, a senior vice president of the Orthodox Union and chair of the political science department at Touro College, spoke of the political power of American Jews during a June 6 program at Congregation Ahavas Achim.
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June 23, 2009
A seasoned political scientist and leading figure in the Orthodox community said he believes there is still room for the American-Jewish community and President Barack Obama to find agreement on Israel.
Dr. David Luchins, a longtime senior vice president of the Orthodox Union and chair of the political science department at Touro College since 1978, also said the Jewish community will continue to exert “impressive” political influence by forming coalitions with others and taking the moral high ground.
Speaking June 6 at Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park on Is the Party Over? American-Jewish Political Power Faces New Realities, Luchins said the Jewish community can take encouragement about future dealings with Israel based on how Obama has so far framed the discussion about peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
“So far, President Obama has only cast it as being in the moral interest of the U.S.,” he said in a phone interview with the NJ Jewish News after Shabbat.
Historically the Jewish community has had its greatest success when “we have the moral high ground,” said Luchins, adding that challenges framed as being in the “strategic interests” of the United States generally don’t succeed.
Such setbacks include former President Ronald Reagan’s decision to sell AWACS planes to the Saudi Arabian military over the objections of the Jewish community.
“Ronald Reagan personally called senators and suggested that to vote against [the sale] would be treasonous,” said Luchins, who served on the staff of former New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan for 20 years, rising to become senior adviser.
In fact, Luchins said, he doubts there will be a confrontation between the Obama administration and the Jewish community as long as the administration continues with its present tone. And, he said, he believes “from a moral perspective, most of the Jewish community supports” Obama.
Turning to the specific topic of his Shabbat talk, Luchins said, “Individual Jews have great [political] power.”
The numbers themselves are an indicator of just how much power the Jewish community wields, according to Luchins. In the 1930s when Jews comprised approximately 5 percent of the U.S. population, there were none in Congress. By contrast, today when Jews make up 1.7 percent of the U.S. population, there are 14 Jews in the 100-member Senate alone.
“We’ve averaged a minyan, 10 U.S. senators a year, since 1980,” added Luchins. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel “belongs to an Orthodox shul and his kids go to day school.”
Moreover, in the midst of the recent bank crisis, on the day the bank bailout bill was rejected by the House, the Senate adjourned for Rosh Hashana.
“No one complained,” said Luchins. “There was no anti-Semitism. Most people said, ‘Happy New Year.’ We live in a society that is remarkably free of anti-Semitism.”
When the Jewish community unites, it has historically been successful in achieving its goals. He cited passage of the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment, which tied normal trade relations with the former Soviet Union to the rights of Jews and other religious minorities to emigrate freely, as a prime example of what has been achieved through unified efforts.
“We’re very divided on issues today,” acknowledged Luchins. “We are allowed to disagree. But when Israel is threatened we become united very quickly.”
Luchins cited several talmudic and Torah sources to back up his assertions about working for the good of the greater community. He quoted the 20th-century sage Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, who said, “If you want something for yourself, then pray for everyone else.”
“If you want vouchers and aid for your children to go to yeshiva, are you prepared to do the same for Rev. [Jeremiah] Wright’s children or for children in mosques to go to school?” questioned Luchins.
“We have a right as Americans to fight for what we want,” said Luchins. “But we should as Americans do it in a way that doesn’t alienate everyone else.”
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