It is quite seldom that anyone of the frum ilk has anything nice to say about Obama, he seems to be whatever the opposite of moshiach is for most frum Jews. So when I received the following email I jumped for joy, not because I love or hate Obama, but because I love when frummies go against the grain. The author wished to remain anonymous for fear that he wouldn’t receive next month’s kollel check.
I cannot espouse my political views publicly for fear of retribution, my chavrusa would break up with me, my rebbe would probably revoke my kollel membership and surely my children would be thrown out of school. So I play the game, yes I’m perfectly frum (even though I have unfiltered internet – otherwise frum satire wouldn’t be accessible) so anyway I believe that frum Jews should vote for Obama and I’ll tell you why. I should preface this by saying that although I’m eligible for government benefits I do not utilize the services because of the fact that my parents and in-laws support me, why should I take welfare money out of the hands of people who don’t have generous family to support them.
I feel that it’s a loss for Judaism when public schools give off for Jewish holidays because Jewish students don’t have to feel any different when the rest of the students. So to with immoral political policy like that of the Obama administration, gay marriage is goof for the Jews because the less religious the rest of the country is the more we can maintain our separateness. So the more liberal someone is, the easier it is for us to maintain our authentic Jewish way. The second we get too comfortable with our government, is the second we start becoming lax in our ways.
Of course it’s not only gay marriage, but this is probably the most important direct breach of our Torah values in politics. Abortion bans do not allign with halacha, neither does the death penalty, but gay marriage needs no commentary, it is simply assur in every way shape or form and so it being assur leads us to be insular rather than together with other groups.
A lot of folks comment negatively on our insularity, but I wish they would realize how long we have survived due directly to our insularity.
“A lot of folks comment negatively on our insularity, but I wish they would realize how long we have survived due directly to our insularity.”
Sad but true statement.
So, we should contribute to the social destruction of the goyim because it serves our group interests.
You know, Hitler ascribed this kind of behavior to us…
It’s actually for this reason that the Alter Rebbe supported the Czar against Napoleon.
I think there’s a reason he sent the e-mail to a blog called Frum Satire.
(BTW, the author’s sharp enough to recognize that Kollel guys don’t know that gay marriage is a state law issue, not a federal issue.)
Yes, let’s stay painfully insular. Because that in no way contributes to the covering up of child abuse, Rubashkin-like business practices, etc. And really, who cares about all that when gays are getting married, people!
– Yisroel
Articulated as only a kollel man could.
I think this is poorly constructed satire. I can’t imagine that a serious person would write something like this.
Most orthodox Jews will not vote for Obama, but a lot of the chassidim will since Democrats tend to provide more government handouts, which they use at a much higher rate.
You’re so right. and it’s very sad. we’re talking about a man who uses foul language in public (calling romney a bulls***ter), endorses the discussion of woman losing their virginity (his YouTube ad), has never once visited israel in his presidency, still thinks that Iran can be dealt with “diplomatically”, and completely ruined the american economy. but a lot of chassidim will be voting for him cuz they’re too lazy to get a job
I think gay sex is assur, not gay marriage. Does any evidence exist that legalizing gay marriage will lead to an increase in gay sex?
while he has a good point about maintaining Jewish life, I dont think its a very good idea to elect the president of the country based on them, sort of cutting off your nose in spite of your face
If this is real, it’s a horrible line of reasoning. We cannot stay completely insulated from the world around us. Even in the most insulated communities we are subservient to our host government, and therefore, have to interact with it. For better or for worse, we do get influenced by the prevailing morals of the world around us. I can feel it all the time, when things that are are described as abominations in the Torah are commonly viewed as normal and healthy. It’s a struggle sometimes to remember how wrong certain things are. Instead it makes me want to say “it’s not for me, but there’s nothing wrong with others doing it”. That’s a slippery slope.
And what happened to us being the light unto the nations? Why can’t we speak out in a non-threatening way (by voting, say) about things we believe will change the whole world for the better if we have that choice?
No, I won’t dictate to the outside world how they should live, but if moral issues were the only things separating the candidates, I would certainly vote for the moral values I believe in.
But they’re not, and that’s the reason *I* am voting for Obama. Because if the economy collapses from under us, if public health is not taken care of, if our host government makes so many enemies in the world that it will be dangerous to go outside, the morals of our neighbors will be the last thing on our minds.
BZ, if you are worried about a USA administration “making enemies for us”, you should vote for anyone BUT Obama.
Here is Obama’s record:
Egypt: Was US ally. Now, is letting Iranian warships through Suez canal, holding US citizens hostage, and replacing a repressive dictatorship with a MORE repressive AND anti-USA dictatorship.
Libya: Was lone nut case. Now is Al Qaida base.
Tunisia: was friendly, now is anti-USA
Yemen: pro US dictator replaced by anti-US dictators
Syria: about to become Al Qaida state
Afghanistan: Lost to Taliban
Iraq: lost to Iran buddies.
Iran: same Iran, now with clear sailing to Nuclear Weapons.
Israel: now criticised for building apartments in North West Jerusalem (Har Shlomo), while . . .
Palestinian Authority: joins with Hamas, Obama yawns.
Oh and also, Obama fail in Korean Dispute, China, far east.
Sour relations with England . . .
But bows down to Saudi King . . .
Anyone who cares about the best interests of the United States of America, and is honest and intelligent, has to vote against Obama.
Obama has been a foreign policy disaster.
And no, I am not impressed that Obama ordered the SEALS in to
execute Bin Ladin, AFTER the Pakistani government put Obama
under house arrest in their military capital so that Obama could
score some freebe points with ease. (But no F18 top-cover, please
when you send you teams in, said the Pakis to Obama . . .)
thank you someone sensible on this post!
You should vote for Obama because that would help the poor, the sick, the orphan, the widow, the elderly, the disabled, the needy, and the mentally ill. You should vote for Obama because he tries to make peace. It was militant Zealots who caused the present Jewish exile. You should vote for Obama because he is a disciple of Aaron. You should vote for Obama because he emobodies the true teachings of the torah, because he is caring individual, who cares about the persecuted. Avraham had a door open on every side of his home. You should show kindness to strangers, because you were once a stranger in a strange land. You should vote for Obama, because you will not reveal the Moshiach through your righteousness. No man can stand before heaven’s strict judgment. The Moshiach will only be revealed when Jews return to their natural ruth, when Jews engage in gratitous acts of kindness. Just because you are not your brother’s keeper does not mean you are not responsible for his welfare. Midah keneged Midah. When we show chesed, rachmones, and ahavah we reveal the truth that all is one. When we engage in finite acts of chesed, rachmones, and ahahva below, we elecit ayn sof midos above. Your tshuva and kindness will open the portals of heaven. You choose whether you wish to stand before your king in judgment, or if you wish to elicit your father’s love. The world stand’s on three things, one of those being acts of loving kindness. The chossid says, “What is yours is yours, and what is mine is yours.” If you are selfish what are you really? If you do not help yourself, and you sacrafice your life to help others, who will be for you? Heaven will be for you. Heaven will manifest itself beneath your feet and become a solid bridge. Chessed reveals the unity of creation. Chessed reveals heaven’s presence in this world.
The Democrats will give us m’fo”s: Medicaid, Food Stamps and Section 8.