My career is political. I happen to be politically conservative, which inspires rage among many otherwise “tolerant” women in the non-Orthodox Jewish community. Although I would never force my views on anyone else, my choices at many Jewish events involve either sitting silently as everything I believe in is attacked, or dare to speak up and face the equivalent of bullying.

One woman at a dinner party made a joke a few years ago about how cool it would be if Bush supporters were “flammable.” (Would a Burning Bush remain unconsumed was her idea of wit). Yes, to her, lynching was funny.

At a party last week a woman took delight at regaling me with a story about a website placing bets on when Margaret Thatcher (who is currently very ill) will finally die.

In the first case I got angry. In the second case I stayed silent but seethed underneath that such evil could exist in a human heart.

“Ideological Bigotry” is a major problem in the Jewish community, and some Synagogues make it clear in their sermons that “Republicans need not apply.” One Synagogue on Hanukkah took time to attack Donald Rumsfeld.

We will all be better off when people attempt to find common ground rather than deliberately exacerbating differences, whether it be politics or level of religiosity. I know several couples who beat the odds and their differences and “made it” because they worked hard and showed real respect and tolerance of each other, not the fake kind that sounds good but is often not practiced in real life.

eric