Is Bernie Sanders Jewish? Bernie Sanders is a famous politician in the United States. Since 2007, he has been the senator from Vermont. Besides that, he is one of the top candidates for the Democratic ticket for president in 2020.
A lot of people might not know this, though: Sanders is also Jewish. Quite the feat—he is the first Jewish person in U.S. history to win a major party presidential primary.
So, how does Sanders connect with his Jewish faith and heritage? And how does that change his beliefs and political views? Here are some facts and interesting things I learned about Bernie Sanders’ religion.
Sanders Was Born and Raised in a Jewish Family
Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 8, 1941. His parents were brought there from Poland as Jews. Eli Sanders, his father, sold paint and most of his family died in the Holocaust. Dorothy Glassberg, his mother, was a housewife who died when Sanders was 18.
Sanders grew up in a simple Flatbush apartment. He went to public schools and Hebrew schools in that neighborhood. He also had a bar mitzvah, which is a Jewish honor for 13-year-old boys. He later said that growing up Jewish showed him how important it is to treat people with respect and do what’s right.
Sanders Has Visited Israel and Worked on a Kibbutz
He worked on a kibbutz, which is a group farm, for a few months when Sanders was 22 years old. In his own words, the event made him feel closer to his Jewish roots and the land of Israel. Aside from that, he learned about the past and culture of the Jews and how they fought for peace and survival.
Since then, Sanders has been to Israel several times. In 2015, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders.
He has also said that he supports Israel’s right to exist and protect itself. He has also called for a fair and long-lasting end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Sanders is Happy That He is Jewish, but He is Not Very Religious
Sanders has often said that being Jewish makes him happy and is an important part of who he is. Anti-Semitism and other kinds of racism and bigotry have also been called out by him. He has spent Jewish holidays like Passover and Hanukkah with his family and friends, and he has also gone to church services.
For the most part, Sanders is not pious or observant, though. As a Jew, he is not part of any particular group or denomination, and he does not follow the religious rules or practices of the faith. “Not particularly religious” and “not actively involved” with organized religion are words he uses to describe himself.
He would rather talk about the moral and social parts of Judaism than the religious or doctrinal ones. He once said “We are all in this together” which is what makes him holy.
Sanders’ Political Ideas Are Affected by the Fact That He is Jewish
As a Jewish man, Sanders’ political views are shaped by Jewish beliefs and ideals like kindness, fairness, democracy, human rights, and justice. People like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela have influenced him.
He sees them as examples of “socialist Jews.” Rav Abraham Joshua Heschel, a famous Jewish activist and scholar who marched with King in Selma, has also had an effect on him.
Sanders calls himself a democratic socialist, which means he wants a more fair and democratic society where the government works for everyone instead of just a few rich people.
He backs policies like free college, higher minimum wage, progressive taxation, protecting the environment, changing the way campaigns are funded, changing the way the criminal justice system works, and giving everyone human rights, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
His views on these policies are not only good for the United States but also in line with Jewish beliefs.
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In Conclusion
Bernie Sanders was born Jewish and has Jewish roots and identity. He loves being Jewish and is proud of his heritage, but he is not very religious or follows strict rules in his life.
His Jewish beliefs and values shape the way he acts and thinks about politics. He’s the first Jewish candidate for president of the United States who really has a chance to win.
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