I admit it. I am a self-proclaimed political junkie. I vote religiously,

I also consider myself to be a fairly well-versed Jew. I read Torah on Shabbat at my synagogue, and love picking apart a good Midrash (teaching legend) almost as much as my grandfather loved picking apart a good Shabbos chicken. 

So naturally, I was more than excited and quite intrigued to hear there were eight Jewish candidates running for governor in seven states — not to mention the many Jews up for public offices of all kinds all over the country. 

I began to wonder what it would be like to be a Jewish candidate for governor. What, if any, influence would Judaism have on my policies, my drive,and my sense of communal obligation or the way I was received by my potential constituents? 

To answer those questions for myself would have been mere fantasy. So, leaving the fantasy to Hollywood writers, I decided to ask two of the candidates. 

Lois Frankel of Florida is a seven-term legislator from Palm Beach County and one of few state legislators to stand up and be heard on the presidentialballot fiasco. She is currently the House Minority Leader and seemed to be a candidate who would carry her Jewish values with her anywhere. 

"My Jewish values underline my public service," said Frankel."Social justice,giving back to the community, and assisting the disadvantaged are ingrained in me; they are not things I have to consciously bring up." 

Interestingly, Frankel didn’t think that anti-Semitism would cause resistance to her campaign. But friends,many of whom were Jewish,were more concerned — they questioned whether northern Floridians would vote for a Jewish  female candidate. Frankel was told, point blank, by many labor leaders that despite her fabulous record on labor and education issues, they honestly felt she wouldn’t get many votes north of Palm Beach County. She was surprised that these comments came from the seemingly forward-thinking Democrats of south Florida. 

In her campaigning, Frankel had felt well received all over the state. She did not find any anti-Semitism. "People were more similar than different in what they cared about." 

Nevertheless, Frankel did not want to be divisive to her party, so she chose to drop out of the race in favor of a return to her own backyard — a campaign for Mayor of West Palm Beach. 

Steve Grossman from Massachusetts may be on the opposite end of the spectrum from Lois Frankel — but not by way of commitment or policy, for there they are quite similar. The difference seems to lie both in how consciously Grossman sees and imparts his Judaism as a part of his candidacy and in how he feels he has been received because he is Jewish. 

Grossman bases his political and personal views on the four things that his grandfather Max told him were most important in life: having a healthy family, educating his children, providing a good standard of living for his family, and giving back to his community. 

Grossman has brought those values to life by advocating basic self-sufficiency standards in Massachusetts, better health care, and equal rights for all, and also by serving his many communities well. 

Grossman is not shy when asked how he communicates his Jewish values and the effect he feels it has had on a campaign in a state that is 94% non-Jewish. He is more than proud of his heritage and feels the more strongly and genuinely he emphasizes himself as a committed Jewish political leader rather than a political leader who happens to be Jewish, the more respect he has garnered from all of the people of Massachusetts. "All of us would be better off  if we openly talked about those types of basic values that all religions, including Judaism, advocate — social justice being at the top of the list." 

Beyond his grandfather, Grossman often quotes another source of inspiration during public speaking engagements — Isaiah 58:

  …your fasting is not such as to make your voices heard on high… no this is the fast I desire:…it is to share your bread with the hungry, and to take the wretched poor into your home; when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to ignore your own kin. 

In using this passage Grossman highlights his concern for others and acknowledges that his purpose here is to serve his constituents and his deeds will speak for him. 

Certainly all of us have many reasons to celebrate our freedom and acceptance as Jews in America today. No Jewish generation has known more.We should take pride in our commitment, our compassion,and our contributions to our country and the world. 

As for myself, I may still fantasize a bit about being Minnesota’s first female Jewish governor, but come election night you can be sure I’ll be watching the race results with my "I voted" sticker proudly displayed on my chest — don’t forget to earn yours. 

Nina Goldberg has her own estate-planning law practice in Minneapolis. She is active in her local Jewish community and has a standing date with the Managing Editor of Being Jewish to watch The West Wing every Wednesday.

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