Key facts
- Israelis are concerned about a declining connection with younger Jewish Americans.
- Younger Jewish Americans place less importance on supporting Israel for their Jewish identity compared to older generations.
- Rising antisemitism and differing worldviews are contributing factors to this disconnect.
- Programs like Taglit-Birthright Israel are working to strengthen ties through educational tours.
- A significant portion of Jewish Americans question the justification of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Israelis across the political and religious spectrum are expressing concern over a perceived weakening connection with younger Jewish Americans. A recent AP poll suggests that younger Jewish adults consider support for Israel less critical to their Jewish identity than older generations. This trend is viewed with alarm by Israeli officials and Jewish leaders, who see a strong relationship with diaspora Jews as a strategic asset.
Leaders like Itai Nixon from Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs emphasize Israel's role as the state of the Jewish people. Lesley Sachs, chair of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism, worries about diaspora Jews losing the sense of Israel as a potential homeland, particularly in the face of rising antisemitism. She notes that for younger generations, historical events like the Holocaust and the importance of Israel in times of need are less prominent.
Organizations like Taglit-Birthright Israel are working to counter this by offering free 10-day tours of Israel to young Jewish adults, aiming to foster a deeper connection beyond controversial politics. The CEO, Gidi Mark, stated the program is more necessary than ever to show participants what they might lose by disengaging.
Divisions over the recent ceasefire in the Iran war have also impacted Israeli perceptions, with a significant drop in belief that President Trump prioritizes Israel's security. This diplomatic tension highlights the growing concern that many young progressive Americans, including Jews, find supporting Israel irreconcilable with their current worldviews.
The decline in support has become particularly noticeable since the October 7, 2023, attack and Israel's subsequent military operations in Gaza. Protests, especially on college campuses in the U.S., have followed. Data from an AP-NORC poll indicates that only about 4 in 10 religious Jewish adults under 45 in the U.S. consider supporting Israel "extremely" or "very" important for their Jewish identity, compared to about half of older religious Jewish adults. Furthermore, only about half of religious Jewish adults believe Israel's military operations in Gaza are justified, a figure that drops to 2 in 10 among religiously unaffiliated Jewish adults. Despite these divisions, a majority of Jewish adults in the U.S. perceive prejudice against Jewish people as a serious problem.
Officials like Asaf Zamir, deputy mayor of Tel Aviv, argue that while opposing the government is acceptable, understanding Jewish history necessitates understanding Israel's role. To address these concerns, both the Israeli government and religious organizations are bolstering exchange programs, including sending young Israelis to North American Jewish summer camps and offering free trips to Israel for non-Israeli Jews.