Lieberman candidacy raises church/state issues

Hillel Kieval, Ph.D. Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Jewish History and Thought Director, Jewish and Near Eastern Studies Program Arts & Sciences (314) 935-5461 office (314) 863-3183 home

The selection of Senator Joseph Lieberman as a vice presidential candidate focuses the issues of personal faith and separation of church and state. But it may have small political impact, according to Hillel Kieval, Ph.D., the Gloria M. Goldstein Professor of Jewish History and Thought and director of the Jewish and Near Eastern Studies Program at Washington University in St. Louis.

"At the very least, the selection of Senator Joseph Lieberman as the Democrats' vice presidential nominee seems to have energized Jews who are already likely to vote Democratic. Also, conservative Jews may be more likely to vote Democratic out of a sense that Lieberman is bringing a sort of 'moral center' to the ticket," said Kieval, a student of Jewish life both at home and abroad.

Although many evangelical Christians appear to approve of Lieberman, Kieval doubts they will abandon the Republicans in November.

Many observers of American politics initially hypothesized that the selection of an Orthodox Jew might hurt Vice President Al Gore in areas of the country where Jews are scarce and remnants of anti-Semitism still prevail. Clearly, this prediction has not held -- and Kieval is not surprised.

"Precisely because Lieberman is observant is why he's OK with people," Kieval maintains. "A non-practicing Jew might fit the stereotype about the destructive tendencies that secular Jews have on cultural life. People could very easily have pegged a secular Jew as a radical, a throwback, someone who spurns old-fashioned American values. Lieberman's piety helps him avoid this stereotype; it marks him as 'one of us,' someone who shares people's basic values."

Still, Kieval agrees with Abraham Foxman, head of the B'nai Brith Anti- Defamation League, who recently admonished Lieberman for implying that Americans should encourage and support public figures who openly display their religiosity. "Jewish groups have historically opposed the intermingling of church and state, and the sudden appearance of a Jew as a national political figure shouldn't change that," said Kieval.

Kieval is dismayed by the frequency with which this year's presidential candidates have advertised their piety. Incidents such as Gov. George W. Bush's lauding of Jesus Christ as his favorite political philosopher demonstrate "bad style," offered Kieval.

"It is quite disturbing when people don't know how to keep the private private. It shows a real lack of imagination, and worst of all, it trivializes the complex nature of religious faith."

Kieval noted that out of all this year's presidential contenders, only Senators Bradley and McCain declined to discuss their personal religious beliefs. Praising their discretion, he concluded, "One need not profess religious faith to be an effective public servant; rather, one should aspire to live a life in which one's actions demonstrate the power of personal conviction."