Does it matter if Jews are in politics?

Yesterday evening, I observed a panel of three local Jewish politicos at University Synagogue in Brentwood, which was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. On the panel were Los Angeles city councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Ana Guerrero, mayor Eric Garcetti's chief of staff, and Richard Bloom, who represents much of the Westside in the California State Assembly. 

It wasn't particularly notable–more just serving as an opportunity for young LA Jews to meet some of their fellow Jewish power players.

One short exchange, though, early on in the evening touched on a question, and an idea, that seems a bit, well, sacrosanct within Jewish political circles. The panel's moderator, political expert Raphael Sonenshein, asked Blumenfield, Guerrero, and Bloom, whether it even matters if Jews are in politics. With longtime Jewish politicians like Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Ca.) and LA County supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky leaving office at the end of this year, these seemingly eternal “Jewish seats” may no longer be Jewish following November elections.

So, as Sonenshein probed, does it matter? Should Jews care whether or not Jews are in politics?

Speaking to a Jewish audience at a synagogue, to expect any member of the panel to argue, “No, it's actually not so important,” would have been a bit optimistic. Risky behavior (and telling Jews that they shouldn't care whether or not Jews are in politics is risky behavior) is not in the DNA of most politicos. Not surprisingly, Blumenfield, Guerrero, and Bloom all said in different ways that, yes, Jews should be in politics, whether as elected officials or as behind-the-scenes staffers.

Jews, they argued, are in an ideal position to a) Trumpet issues significant to Israel, like the boycott, divestment, and sanction (BDS) movement that is particularly active on Southern California campuses, and b) Infuse “Jewish values” into politics, a term that this reporter observes changes according to the party affiliation of the Jewish politician infusing his or her values.

To the first point, there is something to be said about a pro-Israel, pro-Jewish Jew fighting back against anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism (see: Attempt to ” target=”_blank”>not as reliable an ally of the Jewish State as it historically has been. The