🔗 Share this article

It has been that mass murder of October 7, 2023, which deeply affected global Jewish populations unlike anything else since the founding of the state of Israel.

For Jews the event proved deeply traumatic. For the Israeli government, it was a significant embarrassment. The entire Zionist movement had been established on the belief that Israel could stop things like this from ever happening again.

Some form of retaliation seemed necessary. Yet the chosen course undertaken by Israel – the obliteration of Gaza, the deaths and injuries of numerous of civilians – represented a decision. This particular approach made more difficult the perspective of many American Jews grappled with the attack that precipitated the response, and currently challenges the community's observance of the anniversary. In what way can people honor and reflect on an atrocity targeting their community while simultaneously an atrocity experienced by other individuals in your name?

The Challenge of Grieving

The complexity of mourning stems from the fact that there is no consensus about the significance of these events. In fact, within US Jewish circles, the last two years have seen the disintegration of a half-century-old agreement about the Zionist movement.

The beginnings of Zionist agreement among American Jewry can be traced to writings from 1915 by the lawyer subsequently appointed high court jurist Justice Brandeis called “The Jewish Question; How to Solve it”. Yet the unity really takes hold subsequent to the 1967 conflict in 1967. Previously, US Jewish communities contained a vulnerable but enduring parallel existence among different factions which maintained diverse perspectives about the need of a Jewish state – pro-Israel advocates, neutral parties and opponents.

Historical Context

That coexistence continued during the 1950s and 60s, within remaining elements of socialist Jewish movements, through the non-aligned Jewish communal organization, in the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism and similar institutions. For Louis Finkelstein, the leader at JTS, the Zionist movement was more spiritual than political, and he prohibited singing Israel's anthem, the national song, during seminary ceremonies during that period. Furthermore, Zionist ideology the main element for contemporary Orthodox communities before the 1967 conflict. Jewish identitarian alternatives existed alongside.

However following Israel defeated its neighbors in that war that year, occupying territories such as Palestinian territories, Gaza, Golan Heights and Jerusalem's eastern sector, US Jewish perspective on Israel underwent significant transformation. The triumphant outcome, along with persistent concerns about another genocide, resulted in a growing belief in the country’s essential significance to the Jewish people, and a source of pride in its resilience. Discourse regarding the remarkable nature of the success and the freeing of territory gave the Zionist project a spiritual, potentially salvific, significance. During that enthusiastic period, considerable previous uncertainty toward Israel dissipated. During the seventies, Writer the commentator stated: “We are all Zionists now.”

The Consensus and Its Boundaries

The unified position left out the ultra-Orthodox – who generally maintained a Jewish state should only be ushered in by a traditional rendering of redemption – but united Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Modern Orthodox and nearly all non-affiliated Jews. The predominant version of the consensus, later termed liberal Zionism, was founded on the conviction in Israel as a democratic and liberal – albeit ethnocentric – state. Numerous US Jews considered the occupation of Palestinian, Syrian and Egypt's territories post-1967 as temporary, believing that an agreement was forthcoming that would ensure Jewish demographic dominance in Israel proper and Middle Eastern approval of the nation.

Multiple generations of American Jews were thus brought up with Zionism a fundamental aspect of their identity as Jews. Israel became a key component of Jewish education. Israeli national day evolved into a religious observance. Israeli flags decorated many temples. Summer camps integrated with national melodies and learning of modern Hebrew, with visitors from Israel instructing American teenagers Israeli customs. Travel to Israel grew and achieved record numbers with Birthright Israel in 1999, offering complimentary travel to Israel was offered to young American Jews. The state affected almost the entirety of Jewish American identity.

Evolving Situation

Interestingly, during this period after 1967, US Jewish communities grew skilled in religious diversity. Tolerance and communication between Jewish denominations grew.

Yet concerning support for Israel – that represented tolerance reached its limit. One could identify as a rightwing Zionist or a leftwing Zionist, however endorsement of the nation as a majority-Jewish country was a given, and challenging that position positioned you outside mainstream views – outside the community, as a Jewish periodical labeled it in an essay recently.

However currently, under the weight of the ruin of Gaza, starvation, child casualties and frustration about the rejection of many fellow Jews who refuse to recognize their complicity, that unity has broken down. The moderate Zionist position {has lost|no longer