Does it mean much Mexico has chosen a leader with Jewish roots?

Normally, the election of a Jewish person to lead a nation (outside of Israel, of course) would be a cause for pride among most Jews. It would be seen as a sign of acceptance.

Even if the politician was a non-practicing Jew, which is the case of Claudia Sheinbaum, a female scientist just elected to lead Mexico, the U.S.’ closest neighbor (along with Canada) and our No. 1 trading partner.

This year the pride will be restrained.

Why?

The world-wide rise of anti-Semitism, which uses as its excuse Israel’s war on Hamas (completely ignoring the atrocious massacre of Israel civilians on Oct. 7 that set off the war) and the elevation of odious tropes.

Such as “Jews will not replace us,” chanted by the tiki torch-bearing neo Nazis knuckle draggers marching in Charlottesville. They believe the conspiracy that Jews are behind a nefarious plot to undermine white, Christian Americans.

The haters can — and will, I predict — use Sheinbaum’s election as “proof” of the world-wide Jewish conspiracy. “They have even taken over Catholic Mexico,” I can hear them say. “What more proof do you need that they are out to replace us?”

It’s a lie, but it will catch fire on TikTok, where too many young people consume what they think is “news.”

Despite that, some Jews do celebrate Sheinbaum’s election as proof of Mexico’s tolerance, and it is sort of an unearned feather in the cap for Jews everywhere. Why pride?

Tribalism.

Although many wish it were not so, in their gut, most people remain tribal.

Maybe to a country, like America.

Maybe to an ethnicity, like Irish or Hispanic.

Maybe to a religion, like Jewish, or Islam.

Maybe to a political party, like Democrat.

Maybe to a gender, like female.

Maybe to an alt gender, like gay.

Maybe to a color, like Black or white.

Maybe to a city, like Philadelphia.

Or even a neighborhood, like Bridesburg.

There is something in our DNA, maybe going back to when we sat around fires in caves, that binds us to our kind, whether it be family, or neighbors, or allies.

We are always most comfortable among people like “us.” It does not mean we hate the “other,” it just means there is an emotional comfort level among “us.”

And when one of “us” achieves something, we share a sense of pride, even when we had absolutely nothing to do with it.

So, I am proud that, say, Albert Einstein unlocked the secrets of the universe, that Sigmund Freud unlocked the secrets of the mind, that Jonas Salk invented a vaccine to defeat polio, that Steven Spielberg expanded the horizons of the screen, that Emma Lazarus wrote a poem that captured America’s idealism, that Irving Berlin set it to music, that Barbra Streisand set new standards in music, as did George and Ira Gershwin, and let’s throw in Adam Sandler, just for fun. This just scratches the surface.

So I feel good about them, although I am in no way responsible for their success.

In the exact same way, me and all other Jews, are in no way responsible for ripoff artist Bernie Madoff, nor corporate raider Ivan Boesky, nor crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried. The vast majority of Jews reject them, completely.

I believe there are more good Jews than bad. I believe the same about Christians. 

Jews represent 0.2% of the human race, and are 1.8% of the American population. We are a very small minority.

And yet, Jews have won 22% of all Nobel Prizes. They have won half of the Pulitzer Prizes for nonfiction. One third of all Oscars for directing have gone to Jews.

I don’t really like doing this because it seems like bragging, but, to paraphrase Muhammad Ali, it ain’t bragging if it’s true.

The “why” of the stunning achievement has been the subject of wide speculation.

Is it genetic? Or is it cultural? Or something else?

I lean toward the theory that there are two things generally true of Jews, and the two things are connected.

First, is love of the “book,” which means the Torah, the holy book of the Jewish people. Reading it is important, which then makes reading important. 

Second, is the questioning of the Torah that is not only permitted in Judaism, but encouraged.

The spirit of inquiry, the asking “why” things are, inevitably leads to different outcomes, some of them wrong, but some that create a fundamental shift in human understanding.

And some people do not deal well with fundamental shifts.

When Abraham became the prophet of a single God, it did not make the believers in multiple gods very happy.

The people — Jews — who were “chosen” to announce the existence of a single God were not always greeted with bouquets and banquets. It did not usually make them the most popular kids in class.

And now, Mexican voters have “chosen” a woman, who is a non practicing Jew, to lead them.

I admit to a little pride, but just a little, and wary that it might create some knee-jerk anti-Semitism.