What’s Good For The Jews?

An Orthodox rabbi friend who’s been studying the Alt Right for a couple of years says to me: “I now notice that all Jewish arguments revolve around what is good for the Jews. More or less secular education? What is good for the Jews. Jews in positions of political power? What is good for the Jews? West bank settlements? What is good for the Jews. These arguments are not about abstract principles of right and wrong. They all boil down to different perspectives on group interests. My job as an Orthodox rabbi is to deepen Jews’ in-group identity. When I hear anti-semites such as Patrick Little and Tanstaafl, I’m now sympathetic to them because they are looking out for the interests of their group as I look out for my group. I never thought I’d be here. It’s weird.”