Race in Contemporary Politically Conservative Jewish Thought

Abstract

This essay argues that politically conservative Jews deploy a post-racial politics to both align themselves with whiteness and deny what they view as a progressive claim that Jews are white. It gives an overview of how people have negotiated Jewish identity in the American context. Then, it offers a definition of politically conservative Judaism and explores how conservative Jews relate to “the left,” including progressive Jews. It further examines the insider and outsider narratives of this group. Finally, it engages with conservative Jewish responses to claims of Jewish whiteness, both drawing out the stakes of this conservative and some key assumptions within it.