Dear friend:

On September 8 one question hit my inbox a dozen times: Why Are Jews Liberal?

It was the title of neo-conservative elder Norman Podhoretz's new book and promotional op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. In truth, what Podhoretz really wants to know is why more Jews aren't, well, like him.

Although his query (and answer) was neither new nor surprising, I felt compelled to respond to one particular claim. In my letter to the Journal's editor, I wrote, in part:
Contrary to Podhoretz's assertion, the America most of our immigrant parents or grandparents found was not a place where anyone who worked hard could become prosperous. The "traditional American system," as Podhoretz calls it, didn't work for us.

Jews suffered discrimination in housing, employment, and education. Our experience was worse than some, less acute than others. Those of us who have been able to succeed have done so in part because our community was committed to changing the traditional American system, to helping it become a place where opportunities were broadly shared.

We organized in unions to protect workers and raise their wages. We petitioned the government to create a safety net to protect the most vulnerable. We argued in court to end discrimination. Many Jews entered the middle class by attending government-run schools, living in government-subsidized housing, and even working in government jobs.

My parents, raised Orthodox Jewish, came here in 1965 from England with very little. But we benefited from public higher education, regulated housing, and a safety net from unemployment insurance. With critical support from these government programs, my Mum enjoyed a successful corporate career and retired at age 59.

Before she died, my mother used to say that, after living near poverty until age 12 and retiring with financial security, we should love America because our family's story is possible and we should be angry that it is still not possible for so many.
Jews and Jewish organizations should be proud of the work we have done to help create economic opportunities for ourselves and others, particularly those pushed to the margins of society. But as our lived experience changes, can we maintain this commitment?

It is meaningful that despite the best efforts of Podhoretz and his fellow travelers, Jews have continued to support efforts to share opportunity broadly. Yet we would be ill served to assume that this will always be true.

I will share my parent's story with my newborn son; it will live on through him. But as we move farther from the margins, we also need strong institutions that manifest our Jewish tradition of justice work, to inspire and mobilize people to challenge social and economic inequalities. No government or individual can create a just society alone.

At Jewish Funds for Justice, we are proud to do our part. Since the 1980s, we've developed new ways to create social change and strengthen low-income communities. From community investing to grantmaking, each of our strategies is guided by Jewish values and inspired by Jewish tradition.

We believe it is our Jewish obligation to partner with those in need no matter their religious or ethnic identity. We lend to create new jobs, affordable housing, and small businesses for poor and working class families. We grant to build the capacity of grassroots groups committed to organizing in low-income communities for better medical care, higher wages, and stronger schools.

In turn, I find that our Judaism is informed and strengthened by our justice work. Which is why I closed my letter to the Journal with this sentiment:
Perhaps Podhoretz will get his wish, but I doubt it. Not as long as Jews take seriously the admonition mentioned thirty six times in the Torah, to remember that we were once strangers. Pulling up the ladder behind us would just feel so... un-Jewish.
As we reflect on the past year and look forward to the year ahead, I wish you and your loved ones a healthy, happy, and meaningful new year. As always, thank you for your support and partnership.

L'Shanah Tovah,

Simon Greer