Why a Jewish Caucus

Certain people have asked why have a Jewish caucus in the Libertarian Party. Some in good or bad faith have asserted that an identity-based caucus is divisive. This post will begin to address these claims or concerns.

First, we are not the first identity-based or even religion-based caucus; nor are we the only active such caucus. Some basic research will confirm this.

Second, the founders of this caucus found two needs that are only limited by the number of observant and/or identifying Jews in the Libertarian Party. The first need is to coordinate observance and community. The 2024 national convention in D.C., as most national conventions and state conventions do, encompassed the Jewish Sabbath. The author of this post encountered several visible Jews and we spontaneously conducted an abbreviated service Saturday morning. With greater coordination, the caucus can organize kosher meals and services to enable observant Jews to be participants in the Party. The caucus can also be there to remind people of major Jewish holidays and to organize around the Sabbath if able. An observant Jewish life is demanding. "Libertarianism" does not and cannot demand non-observance, just as it does not demand atheism or the rejection of all identities and creeds outside of political philosophy. The second need is more situational. The Israeli reaction to the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 has ignited a long latent thread of Antisemitism that has unfortunately permeated the fringes with which the Party often overlaps. The extent to which Anti-Israel criticism may be navigated without crossing the line into Antisemitism is a topic for another day. For now, it is clear enough to say that the line is often clearly crossed by a vocal minority. Jews in the Party or those potentially attracted to the Party need to be confident that they are not entering or operating in an organization whose members allow Antisemitism to fester without criticism or pushback. Every Jew possessing a mainstream affiliation who is active in the Party has questioned the propriety of their continued membership or identification with the libertarian movement writ large given the raised rhetoric and lack of care that some prominent people have voiced. The presence of a Jewish Caucus communicates that there are at least some in the Party who are working to make or sustain the Party as a space where Jews are welcome to spread and further liberty--just as most other people of various faiths and identities are welcome.