The Dissolution of a Zionist Consensus Within American Jews: What's Taking Shape Now.

Marking two years after the horrific attack of the events of October 7th, an event that shook Jewish communities worldwide more than any event since the establishment of the Jewish state.

Within Jewish communities it was shocking. For the Israeli government, it was a profound disgrace. The entire Zionist endeavor had been established on the assumption that the Jewish state could stop such atrocities repeating.

Military action appeared unavoidable. But the response that Israel implemented – the comprehensive devastation of the Gaza Strip, the deaths and injuries of many thousands non-combatants – represented a decision. This particular approach made more difficult the perspective of many American Jews grappled with the October 7th events that set it in motion, and presently makes difficult their commemoration of the day. In what way can people honor and reflect on a horrific event against your people during devastation done to other individuals attributed to their identity?

The Difficulty of Remembrance

The difficulty of mourning lies in the fact that no agreement exists regarding the significance of these events. Indeed, among Jewish Americans, the recent twenty-four months have seen the breakdown of a fifty-year consensus regarding Zionism.

The early development of Zionist agreement among American Jewry dates back to an early twentieth-century publication by the lawyer who would later become high court jurist Justice Brandeis titled “Jewish Issues; How to Solve it”. But the consensus became firmly established subsequent to the six-day war that year. Previously, US Jewish communities maintained a delicate yet functioning coexistence among different factions that had diverse perspectives regarding the requirement of a Jewish state – pro-Israel advocates, neutral parties and opponents.

Historical Context

This parallel existence persisted throughout the post-war decades, in remnants of leftist Jewish organizations, through the non-aligned American Jewish Committee, within the critical Jewish organization and similar institutions. For Louis Finkelstein, the chancellor at JTS, the Zionist movement had greater religious significance rather than political, and he forbade singing the Israeli national anthem, the Israeli national anthem, at JTS ordinations in the early 1960s. Additionally, Zionist ideology the main element of Modern Orthodoxy before the six-day war. Different Jewish identity models coexisted.

Yet after Israel routed neighboring countries in the six-day war in 1967, taking control of areas comprising Palestinian territories, Gaza Strip, the Golan and Jerusalem's eastern sector, the American Jewish connection with Israel underwent significant transformation. Israel’s victory, along with enduring anxieties regarding repeated persecution, resulted in a growing belief about the nation's critical importance within Jewish identity, and a source of pride in its resilience. Discourse regarding the remarkable aspect of the success and the “liberation” of land provided the Zionist project a theological, almost redemptive, significance. During that enthusiastic period, a significant portion of previous uncertainty toward Israel dissipated. In the early 1970s, Writer the commentator stated: “Everyone supports Zionism today.”

The Consensus and Restrictions

The unified position left out strictly Orthodox communities – who generally maintained a Jewish state should only emerge through traditional interpretation of redemption – but united Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Modern Orthodox and the majority of secular Jews. The common interpretation of the consensus, what became known as progressive Zionism, was based on the idea in Israel as a liberal and democratic – though Jewish-centered – country. Many American Jews viewed the control of Palestinian, Syria's and Egypt's territories following the war as not permanent, believing that a solution was forthcoming that would guarantee Jewish demographic dominance in Israel proper and Middle Eastern approval of the nation.

Multiple generations of Jewish Americans were thus brought up with Zionism a core part of their Jewish identity. The nation became an important element within religious instruction. Yom Ha'atzmaut evolved into a religious observance. Israeli flags decorated religious institutions. Summer camps integrated with Israeli songs and learning of the language, with visitors from Israel and teaching American teenagers Israeli culture. Trips to the nation grew and achieved record numbers with Birthright Israel by 1999, offering complimentary travel to Israel was offered to young American Jews. Israel permeated virtually all areas of the American Jewish experience.

Evolving Situation

Ironically, throughout these years following the war, US Jewish communities developed expertise regarding denominational coexistence. Open-mindedness and communication across various Jewish groups grew.

Yet concerning Zionism and Israel – there existed pluralism ended. You could be a rightwing Zionist or a progressive supporter, yet backing Israel as a Jewish state was assumed, and questioning that narrative positioned you beyond accepted boundaries – outside the community, as a Jewish periodical described it in an essay that year.

However currently, under the weight of the ruin in Gaza, starvation, child casualties and anger regarding the refusal by numerous Jewish individuals who refuse to recognize their complicity, that unity has disintegrated. The moderate Zionist position {has lost|no longer