The Dissolution of a Pro-Israel Agreement Among US Jews: What Is Taking Shape Now.

It has been the deadly assault of the events of October 7th, an event that shook Jewish communities worldwide more than any event following the creation of the state of Israel.

Within Jewish communities the event proved deeply traumatic. For the state of Israel, it was a profound disgrace. The whole Zionist project was founded on the belief that the Jewish state could stop similar tragedies repeating.

A response appeared unavoidable. Yet the chosen course undertaken by Israel – the widespread destruction of Gaza, the killing and maiming of numerous of civilians – constituted a specific policy. And this choice created complexity in the perspective of many Jewish Americans processed the attack that set it in motion, and presently makes difficult their observance of the day. How can someone mourn and commemorate an atrocity targeting their community in the midst of devastation being inflicted upon a different population connected to their community?

The Difficulty of Remembrance

The complexity in grieving stems from the reality that little unity prevails as to the implications of these developments. Indeed, within US Jewish circles, the recent twenty-four months have experienced the collapse of a fifty-year unity on Zionism itself.

The origins of Zionist agreement within US Jewish communities can be traced to a 1915 essay written by a legal scholar and then future high court jurist Justice Brandeis titled “Jewish Issues; Finding Solutions”. Yet the unity truly solidified subsequent to the Six-Day War during 1967. Earlier, US Jewish communities contained a fragile but stable cohabitation among different factions which maintained different opinions concerning the necessity of a Jewish state – pro-Israel advocates, neutral parties and opponents.

Previous Developments

This parallel existence persisted during the post-war decades, through surviving aspects of leftist Jewish organizations, through the non-aligned American Jewish Committee, in the anti-Zionist Jewish organization and other organizations. For Louis Finkelstein, the head of the theological institution, Zionism was primarily theological instead of governmental, and he did not permit the singing of Israel's anthem, the national song, during seminary ceremonies in the early 1960s. Additionally, support for Israel the central focus of Modern Orthodoxy prior to the 1967 conflict. Jewish identitarian alternatives remained present.

Yet after Israel routed adjacent nations during the 1967 conflict that year, occupying territories such as Palestinian territories, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Jerusalem's eastern sector, US Jewish relationship to the nation changed dramatically. The military success, coupled with persistent concerns about another genocide, led to an increasing conviction about the nation's critical importance for Jewish communities, and generated admiration for its strength. Language concerning the “miraculous” aspect of the success and the “liberation” of areas gave Zionism a theological, potentially salvific, significance. In those heady years, much of previous uncertainty about Zionism disappeared. In that decade, Writer Norman Podhoretz famously proclaimed: “Zionism unites us all.”

The Consensus and Restrictions

The unified position left out the ultra-Orthodox – who largely believed a nation should only emerge via conventional understanding of the messiah – however joined Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Modern Orthodox and the majority of secular Jews. The common interpretation of the unified position, identified as liberal Zionism, was founded on the idea in Israel as a progressive and democratic – while majority-Jewish – nation. Many American Jews saw the administration of Palestinian, Syrian and Egypt's territories post-1967 as not permanent, assuming that an agreement was imminent that would ensure a Jewish majority in Israel proper and neighbor recognition of Israel.

Multiple generations of American Jews grew up with support for Israel a fundamental aspect of their Jewish identity. The nation became a central part in Jewish learning. Israeli national day became a Jewish holiday. Israeli flags were displayed in many temples. Seasonal activities were permeated with Hebrew music and learning of contemporary Hebrew, with Israelis visiting and teaching US young people Israeli customs. Travel to Israel increased and peaked through Birthright programs during that year, providing no-cost visits to the nation was provided to US Jewish youth. Israel permeated virtually all areas of Jewish American identity.

Evolving Situation

Paradoxically, during this period after 1967, Jewish Americans became adept in religious diversity. Acceptance and dialogue between Jewish denominations expanded.

Except when it came to support for Israel – that’s where tolerance ended. One could identify as a conservative supporter or a leftwing Zionist, however endorsement of the nation as a Jewish homeland was assumed, and challenging that narrative categorized you outside mainstream views – a non-conformist, as a Jewish periodical termed it in writing that year.

However currently, amid of the ruin in Gaza, food shortages, child casualties and anger regarding the refusal within Jewish communities who avoid admitting their involvement, that agreement has broken down. The moderate Zionist position {has lost|no longer