Joseph Lieberman: Too much media hype, too little orthodoxy

The great fun of an election year is to quibble over issues ranging from the grave to the inconsequential. Should the surplus be used to cut taxes or pay down the debt? Is Bush really as dumb as the media makes him out to be? What did you think of Al Gore's clothing selection at his last public appearance and how will that affect him at the polls? This election is full of them. So here's another one:

Is Joseph Lieberman really an Orthodox Jew?

The casual observer of the 2000 race will naturally answer in the affirmative. Ever since the mid-August selection of the Connecticut senator, John Q. Public has drowned in the media frenzy surrounding Gore's VP pick. Headlines and buzz statements such as "Joseph Lieberman, the first Jew selected as a running mate for high office," and "Joseph Lieberman, who will not ride in a car on Saturday," have all played a role in the race and its coverage by the media. What has caused such a stir, however, is not just that Joe Lieberman is Jewish. Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is Jewish, as is California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. This is even better: Lieberman is an Orthodox Jew, or, at least, identifies himself as such.

But again, is Lieberman really an Orthodox Jew?

Let's look at some facts. In general, Orthodox Judaism prohibits abortion, except in certain cases such as when a mother's life is at risk. Lieberman, however, is very pro-choice and respects the right of a woman to choose the fate of her pregnancy. Lieberman does not wear a yarmulke in public, as is the custom for most Orthodox Jews. While Lieberman does follow the letter of the law vis-a-vis the Jewish Sabbath, such as not writing or using electricity, he has gone to work on the Sabbath during his two terms in the Senate. He served as a juror in the Clinton impeachment trial (on the Sabbath), and has voted when the Senate is in session on Friday night or Saturday (he votes by voice). While the letter of the law is important, the spirit of the law is also important in Judaism. These acts are not in the spirit of the law.

Many rabbis have defended Lieberman's actions, and Lieberman himself has, in a number of interviews, explained how he has attempted to forge a happy medium between the rigors of his job and the strictures of religious practice. Many Lieberman supporters point to another example of Orthodox Jews who do not follow the Sabbath completely: Israeli soldiers, who, in defense of their country, are forced to bend or completely break the rules in order to fulfill the duty of defending the Jewish state. Lieberman supporters have made this comparison in order to defend his way of life. I, on the other hand, believe this is like comparing apples and oranges.

After discussing the issue with many people, I have noticed two themes that have become readily apparent: orthodoxy and orthopraxy. In Judaism, as in other religions, there is a tradition of ideology and a tradition of practice. What has come out of these conversations is that no one can agree on a strict criterion for religious identification. Is it possible for someone to identify himself as an Orthodox Jew if he believes in a certain ideological tradition but does not observe ritual law? Conversely, can one identify himself similarly if he strictly observes the rituals but follows the ideological path of another Judaic denomination? Lieberman seems to have strayed somewhat on both the ideological and the orthopractic fronts from Orthodox Judaism.

I praise Lieberman for his devotion to and passion for his work and his faith. His unique religious situation also offers the American people an interesting look at spiritual identity. We live in a society that labels people based on what they think and what they do. You have strong Muslim beliefs but never pray at the mosque — are you a "true" Muslim? You pray at Mass regularly but are a strong advocate of abortion rights — are you a "real" Catholic?

So, given Lieberman's abortion views (which are antithetical to Orthodox ideology) and his religious practice (which is not in the spirit of the law) I ask again: Is Lieberman really an Orthodox Jew? Complex issues of ethnic and religious identity pervade American society. Perhaps another question is more valid, one that addresses this as well as some of the more inconsequential issues in this election: Does it really matter? Seth Wikas is a Near Eastern Studies major from Beechwood, Ohio. He can be reached at sawikas@princeton.edu.