Jewish right

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The term Jewish right refers to Jews who identify with or support right-wing or conservative causes.^{[citation needed]} The Jewish right is not a monolithic designation. Its application ranges from advocacy of religious morals to conservative politics.

Jewish religious values and conservatism

According to a Pew Research Center survey the majority of Orthodox Jews in the United States identify as conservative. Although this is a plurality, rather than majority, among those linked to Modern Orthodox Judaism.^[1]

History

In Britain Harold Soref was a member of the Conservative Monday Club and opposed to Communism. In Germany, apostate Lev Nussimbaum had an extremist hostility to Socialism and Communism, favoring monarchism and converting to Islam.

Revisionist Zionism, religious Zionism and the Israeli right

The more nationalistic faction of Zionism, Revisionist Zionism, had some right-wing elements. One of their ideologues, Abba Ahimeir, was influenced by Oswald Spengler. This relates to forms of right-wing politics in Israel that are nationalistic and in some cases expansionist. Yisrael Beiteinu may contain influences from this stream of thought.

Other right-wing parties in Israel have a more religious orientation and are influenced by forms of Religious Zionism. The Jewish National Front states that the "Torah of Israel is the primary source of human morality"^[2] although it states openness to secular members.^[3] In addition the National Union coalition contains Renewed Religious National Zionist Party.

Among the more militant groups Kach and Kahane Chai had some supporters outside Israel, but has since been banned.

United Kingdom

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield is one of the best known names in British conservative history and although not Jewish by religion (a practicing Anglican), was ethnically Jewish and proud of his Jewishness.

In the period of Thatcherism, the Conservative Party courted the British Jewish community. The then Chief Rabbi, Immanuel Jakobovits, was a close ally of Margaret Thatcher and some of Thatcher's cabinet members were Jewish, such as Keith Joseph, Leon Brittan, Malcolm Rifkind and Nigel Lawson.

During the 2000s, Michael Howard, of Jewish background, served from 2003 to 2005 and contested a general election as leader of the Conservative Party.

United States (Republican Party)

Origins

Several Jewish philosophers and politicians would be important to the history of the American Right in the United States. Frank Meyer was a co-founder of the National Review and noted for Fusionism that mixed libertarianism with conservatism. Ralph de Toledano was also an earlier figure for the magazine and wrote for The American Conservative in his final years. Irving Kristol is sometimes seen as a founding figure for neoconservatism. Although not conservative themselves several American advocates of anarcho-capitalism, like Murray Rothbard (a disciple of von Mises), were Jewish and influential on elements of the right.

By the 1980s, Jewish conservatives and right-wingers began to have more organization. In 1985 the Republican Jewish Coalition formed. The group's policy platform concerns include terrorism, national security, United States-Israel relations, US policy concerning the Middle East, immigration, energy policy, education, affirmative action, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, adoption, crime, taxes, welfare reform, faith-based initiatives, health care, Medicare reform, Social Security reform and government reform.^[4]