Exploring Jewish Life: A Journey Through Communities Post-US Election

For the majority, American Jews are feeling anxious and perplexed in the wake of the US elections and more than a year of conflict in Israel, the repercussions of which are also strikingly apparent in the United States.

During my time in Boston, I connected with a few friends I have known since I served as Israel’s consul general in that city over 15 years ago. They are compassionate Jews who have cherished their affinity for Israel since their youth, being vital members of the Jewish community there. As “progressive” Jews in American terms, throughout the years, they have expressed considerable critique towards Israeli governmental policies, a sentiment that has consistently arisen from their concern and affection for the Jewish people’s homeland.

This time around, I noticed them to be more troubled and anxious than ever before. This is not solely due to the uncertain future they face in the US under Trump’s leadership or because of the continuing war in Israel, the captives who remain unreturned, and the distressing images emerging from Gaza, but also for a more deeply personal reason. Their daughter, a student at a prestigious university, has recently joined JVP (Jewish Voice for Peace), a movement that, despite its seemingly friendly name, acts as an anti-Zionist BDS organization that has transformed the quest for “peace” into a struggle against the very essence of the State of Israel.

As advocates of Israel, my friends face significant challenges in conversing with their daughter and are simultaneously appalled when Jewish community organizations label her antisemitic for protesting against the war and Israeli governmental policies.

The circumstances surrounding my friends’ daughter mirror the experiences of many in the younger generation of the United States, who were raised with Zionist ideals. Many find it increasingly hard to relate to Israel as their parents did, believing that Israel has morphed and no longer aligns with the ethical principles they were taught at home, which are rooted in their Jewish values.

Gatherings across the US

I CONDUCTED a series of gatherings in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Washington DC, and Georgia, where I met with Jews who are anxious about the future of democracy in both nations they hold dear, the US and Israel. 

The media continuously exposes them to the horrors in Gaza, raising concerns about the moral and strategic ramifications for Israel. Concurrently, they still grieve the aftermath of the horrific terror assault on October 7, sharing empathy with the families of hostages, the evacuees, and the bereaved parents of soldiers whose lives are being lost without a clear purpose.

Many of these Jews are also troubled by the ramifications of Trump’s election, as he embodies values that oppose those held by the vast majority of the American Jewish populace. Of American Jews, 71% supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the elections, and they are dismayed that approximately 80% of Israeli Jews prefer Trump.

They are apprehensive regarding the future of the Zionist dream under our right-leaning government, which is supported by Trump’s American Right. They are disturbed by the rise in antisemitic incidents in the US – those incited by some MAGA Republicans around Trump as well as the antisemitic rhetoric present in leftist protests.

These Jews feel disheartened by the naivety of many young people on the outskirts of the progressive movement, who perceive Zionism as a colonialist and racist ideology. They struggle to communicate with the younger generation that lacks familiarity with the initial progressive and secular Zionism of the state’s founders, with which the Jewish community once strongly identified. This is a younger cohort that only observes and hears the current Israeli administration.

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Simultaneously, they are appalled by how the American Right and the Israeli Right utilize accusations of antisemitism against individuals who voice legitimate criticisms of Netanyahu’s governmental policies, or against those who are simply unknowing.

Many of them do not find satisfaction in Jewish federations, synagogues, or legacy organizations that insist on their compliance with the Israeli government’s stance, both regarding the fight for democracy in Israel and in relation to the Palestinian matter.

As Israelis, we must be attuned to these sentiments and must not abandon the younger generation in the US. We must collaborate with our allies there to initiate change. The liberal segments in Israel have demonstrated their strength through unprecedented protests against the government, and we must share this experience with our associates across the ocean, to assist them in rising from their “grief” over the election consequences and to involve them in political endeavors.

This political engagement will reflect the aspirations of the majority of American Jews to rescue Israel from the looming disaster of a binational state, towards which it is heading in the absence of a political resolution, and naturally to safeguard the democracy that is in jeopardy on both sides of the ocean.

We, liberal Israelis, share objectives with numerous partners in the US, and we must unite against common challenges. We need to support their initiatives to integrate and amplify our efforts to preserve the democracy of the nation-state of the Jewish people, which is also their historical homeland.

Strengthening the bond between the liberal communities in Israel and the US will also assist in showcasing the varied aspects of Israeli society to the American populace and help distance them from those who exploit the policies of Netanyahu’s government to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel and to drive young Jews towards the anti-Zionist camp.

As Israelis, we need to tackle this perilous trend, seek to comprehend it, and devise creative responses. These will equip parents with the tools to clarify to their children and their acquaintances that although Israel merits critique, its very existence should never be questioned.

The author is the executive director of J Street-Israel. He has held the positions of an Israeli diplomat in Washington and Boston, and served as a political advisor to the president of Israel.