There are a few distinct types of patriotism:
- Being a good citizen, following a country’s laws, and supporting its well-being. (P1)
- Taking patriotic pride in identifying with the country where one resides. (P2)
- Feeling loyalty to a politician or party, regardless of particular policies. (P3)
The first type of patriotism is mandatory within Judaism. As Yirmiyahu put it (29:7), Dirshu es shelom ha’ir… vehispallelu ba’adah, “seek the well-being of the city you were exiled to, and pray for it.” As Avos puts it (3:2), hevi mispallel bishlma shel malchus. Even in exile, government is important for our own well-being.
Rav Moshe Feinstein would encourage people to vote, calling America a malchus shel chesed in ensuring people’s safety and religious freedom. Some take this as an endorsement of P2 and patriotic pride, although it might just encourage being a good citizen. One potential challenge is that having real pride in one’s country may take away from one’s pride as a Jew, although it is certainly possible to take pride in two nations simultaneously.
What becomes really problematic is P3, having loyalty to politicians or parties per se. As a pragmatic measure, one might endorse or even be excited about a candidate holding policies or views that one supports. But creating a cult of personality around a political figure or party is dangerous. We should valorize our rabbonim and committed balabatim, not those who pander for our community’s votes while muddying themselves in the political arena.
