What is a Jew? A Commentary on the DNC
Prof. Paul Eidelberg
The question "What is a Jew" is more relevant than ever because the core of the conflict between America and Israel on the one hand, and Islam on the other hand, is fearfully an all-compassing theological conflict; and it seems that neither country possesses the spiritual leadership capable of dealing with this conflict. This is especially true of America, as was evident in the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
We saw that the Democratic Party tried to remove the name of God from its 2012 campaign program. This fact has not been properly understood. That unprecedented effort of the Democratic Party should be construed as indicative of the triumph of atheism in that party. Atheism is now rampant in the world's most powerful democracy, a democracy confronted by totalitarian Islam.
Moreover, this democracy is intellectually incapable of identifying America’s mortal enemy because America has been emasculated by the doctrine of moral and cultural relativism, a doctrine the United States imported from Europe in the second decade of the twentieth century—Europe, today called “post-Christian" and “Eurabia."
Although the Democratic Party reversed itself on the God-issue, the motive was political, not theological. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the American Democratic Party +is the party of atheism. The forthcoming November election will be the first election in American history in which the paramount issue—whether muted or not—is theological. America is approaching a climax of world-historical magnitude.
The same may be said of Israel. Note, to begin with, that Jew-hatred is rampant in the West, and it's spreading in the United States. There are two basic causes of this Jew-hatred. The most obvious is the growing influence of the Arab population, whose Jew-hatred is immemorial but is now financed by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Apart from Obama's antipathy toward Israel, it was his desire to nail down the Arab vote that prompted the omission of Jerusalem from his party's program, But there is a more subtle cause of Jew-hatred in America—the Left, which has taken over the Democratic Party.
The Left was weaned on Jew-hatred, as may be seen in Marx’s anti-Semitic diatribe, "On the Jewish Question." Marx was a historical relativist. His relativism underlies Carl Becker's book on the Declaration of Independence, and Charles Beard's economic interpretation of the American Constitution. These two books were published in 1913. Beard’s took academe by storm. Its Marxist-type relativism has not abated this day; indeed, it's well-entrenched in the White House!
What needs to be emphasized, however, is that Jew-hatred in the United States--note its eruption on campuses--should be attributed to the (non-violent) "Liberal-Left" which is steeped in moral relativism. The Liberal-Left simply abhors the morality of the Old Testament, which it attacks via the Catholic Church to avoid the charge of anti-Semitism. This hatred of Judaism is more than enough to make the Left and Islam allies: Jews. True, the Left is atheist; but Muslims are not purists and have no moral qualms consorting with the devil. What’s decisive for them is the target--the Jews.
Now, Islam aside, why do Jews annoy mankind?
The question "What is a Jew" is more relevant than ever because the core of the conflict between America and Israel on the one hand, and Islam on the other hand, is fearfully an all-compassing theological conflict; and it seems that neither country possesses the spiritual leadership capable of dealing with this conflict. This is especially true of America, as was evident in the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
We saw that the Democratic Party tried to remove the name of God from its 2012 campaign program. This fact has not been properly understood. That unprecedented effort of the Democratic Party should be construed as indicative of the triumph of atheism in that party. Atheism is now rampant in the world's most powerful democracy, a democracy confronted by totalitarian Islam.
Moreover, this democracy is intellectually incapable of identifying America’s mortal enemy because America has been emasculated by the doctrine of moral and cultural relativism, a doctrine the United States imported from Europe in the second decade of the twentieth century—Europe, today called “post-Christian" and “Eurabia."
Although the Democratic Party reversed itself on the God-issue, the motive was political, not theological. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the American Democratic Party +is the party of atheism. The forthcoming November election will be the first election in American history in which the paramount issue—whether muted or not—is theological. America is approaching a climax of world-historical magnitude.
The same may be said of Israel. Note, to begin with, that Jew-hatred is rampant in the West, and it's spreading in the United States. There are two basic causes of this Jew-hatred. The most obvious is the growing influence of the Arab population, whose Jew-hatred is immemorial but is now financed by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Apart from Obama's antipathy toward Israel, it was his desire to nail down the Arab vote that prompted the omission of Jerusalem from his party's program, But there is a more subtle cause of Jew-hatred in America—the Left, which has taken over the Democratic Party.
The Left was weaned on Jew-hatred, as may be seen in Marx’s anti-Semitic diatribe, "On the Jewish Question." Marx was a historical relativist. His relativism underlies Carl Becker's book on the Declaration of Independence, and Charles Beard's economic interpretation of the American Constitution. These two books were published in 1913. Beard’s took academe by storm. Its Marxist-type relativism has not abated this day; indeed, it's well-entrenched in the White House!
What needs to be emphasized, however, is that Jew-hatred in the United States--note its eruption on campuses--should be attributed to the (non-violent) "Liberal-Left" which is steeped in moral relativism. The Liberal-Left simply abhors the morality of the Old Testament, which it attacks via the Catholic Church to avoid the charge of anti-Semitism. This hatred of Judaism is more than enough to make the Left and Islam allies: Jews. True, the Left is atheist; but Muslims are not purists and have no moral qualms consorting with the devil. What’s decisive for them is the target--the Jews.
Now, Islam aside, why do Jews annoy mankind?
They seem to be a perpetual gadfly. Why? Try this.
The Jews gifted mankind with ethical and intellectual monotheism. At the outset of the twentieth century, many competitors arose and captured the minds and ambitions of men and nations: suffice to mention scientific materialism, Darwinism, socialism, fascism, and nationalism. The Judea-Christian heritage was abandoned by Europe in the First World War, and Jews had to be annihilated in the Second World War: they gave people a bad conscience. Their Bible places restraints on indiscriminate freedom and equality on the one hand, and on the ever encroaching state on the other. This annoyed bottom-up liberal egalitarians and top-down addicted authoritarians. But it all begins with the God of the Bible. He provides the only solid for of the American Declaration of Independence and must therefore be eliminated.
Erasing God from the DNC party program is tantamount to erasing God from the Declaration of Independence. But since the God of the Declaration is the God of the Jewish Bible, the Democrats came close to erasing, symbolically, the Jews. It was as if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was drafting that document!
So, the real issue in the brouhaha at the DNC was not simply the God issue but also the inseparable Jew issue. One may arrive at this conclusion by noting the unholy alliance between Islam and the Left that was lurking at the Democratic Convention and which surfaced by the omission of God and Jerusalem from initial draft of the DNC party program.
Part II. Why is the Jew a “Problem”?
But let’s step back a bit and ask what is it that makes the Jew a gadfly? The word “Jew” is derived from “Judah” (Yehudah) which means “he shall exalt.” In his very name we behold the Jew’s world-historical purpose. “This people have I created that they may relate My praise” (Isaiah 43:21)—meaning God’s infinite wisdom, power, and graciousness in every domain of existence.
The Jews gifted mankind with ethical and intellectual monotheism. At the outset of the twentieth century, many competitors arose and captured the minds and ambitions of men and nations: suffice to mention scientific materialism, Darwinism, socialism, fascism, and nationalism. The Judea-Christian heritage was abandoned by Europe in the First World War, and Jews had to be annihilated in the Second World War: they gave people a bad conscience. Their Bible places restraints on indiscriminate freedom and equality on the one hand, and on the ever encroaching state on the other. This annoyed bottom-up liberal egalitarians and top-down addicted authoritarians. But it all begins with the God of the Bible. He provides the only solid for of the American Declaration of Independence and must therefore be eliminated.
Erasing God from the DNC party program is tantamount to erasing God from the Declaration of Independence. But since the God of the Declaration is the God of the Jewish Bible, the Democrats came close to erasing, symbolically, the Jews. It was as if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was drafting that document!
So, the real issue in the brouhaha at the DNC was not simply the God issue but also the inseparable Jew issue. One may arrive at this conclusion by noting the unholy alliance between Islam and the Left that was lurking at the Democratic Convention and which surfaced by the omission of God and Jerusalem from initial draft of the DNC party program.
Part II. Why is the Jew a “Problem”?
But let’s step back a bit and ask what is it that makes the Jew a gadfly? The word “Jew” is derived from “Judah” (Yehudah) which means “he shall exalt.” In his very name we behold the Jew’s world-historical purpose. “This people have I created that they may relate My praise” (Isaiah 43:21)—meaning God’s infinite wisdom, power, and graciousness in every domain of existence.
“Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: The world is established on three principles: truth, justice, and peace” (Avot 1:18). The order is significant: truth is the prerequisite of justice and of genuine peace. That’s it: the issue is Truth.
Truth permeating the totality of life--this is the paramount concern of the Sages and the Prophets of Israel. For them truth and Torah are identical. And today, because of the theological crisis of our times and the remarkable advancements in the physical and biological sciences, men learned in the sciences are beginning to reveal the vast array of knowledge hidden in the Torah. It is no accident that Jews have so excelled in the sciences. The convergence of science and Torah is on the agenda of the most learned Jews. This is why the nations are savaging Israel. We are approaching a climax. Ponder this well.
Truth permeating the totality of life--this is the paramount concern of the Sages and the Prophets of Israel. For them truth and Torah are identical. And today, because of the theological crisis of our times and the remarkable advancements in the physical and biological sciences, men learned in the sciences are beginning to reveal the vast array of knowledge hidden in the Torah. It is no accident that Jews have so excelled in the sciences. The convergence of science and Torah is on the agenda of the most learned Jews. This is why the nations are savaging Israel. We are approaching a climax. Ponder this well.
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