The leadership of the US Jewish community is increasingly concerned about the estrangement of American Jews from Israel

The leadership of the US Jewish community is increasingly concerned about the estrangement of American Jews from Israel. Many millennials are indifferent to and even alienated from Israel.  Despite considerable efforts and resources poured into engaging young American Jews with Israel through programs such as Taglit-Birthright, the connection is dissipating. At the same time, the impact of the millennials on American culture, politics and economics grows stronger by the day. 

The leadership of Israel should be concerned.  Disinterest to what is going on in the U.S. is a mistake.  During the time before Rabin was Ambassador, Israel faced many challenges in its relationship with the United States.  After retiring from the military, Rabin chose the ambassadorship to the U.S. as the next step in his public service career because he understood the importance of developing a healthy and fruitful relationship between the two countries.  It was part of his patriotic mission.  He also understood that the U.S. Jewish community played an important role in U.S.-Israel relations.

The upcoming U.S. Presidential election is proof-positive that realities have changed:

• Israel is not an agenda item in the campaign 
• Support for Israel is no longer needed to get Jewish votes and neither candidate has employed a Jewish initiative to get out the vote
• The Obama administration’s Jewish outreach has not been the same as in previous Democratic and Republican administrations 
• It is apparent that policies toward Israel will likely change in the new administration:  How, remains to be seen

Even though the majority of the American Jewish community tends toward liberal political views and religious positions, my (baby boomer) generation embraced Israel unilaterally, donating to it, or supporting it politically as a pillar of democracy and an important ally of the U.S.  We regarded Israel as integral to our Jewish identity regardless of our differences. Today the situation is different and warrants concern. 

American Jews acknowledge the right of Israelis to shape their own political future. Aware of the dangerous and harsh environment in which Israel exists, we never questioned the legitimacy of the government or the State. In the past, Jews came together when Israel was at risk, when there was a crisis and when there were fears it could not defend itself.  That no longer is the case or perception. Americans are no longer as concerned about Israel’s survival.  Despite their political support for Israel, American Jews are increasingly having difficulty associating their values both cultural and spiritual, with those espoused by the leadership in Israel.  Unlike my generation, young people do not see Israel as a second “home” or a need for a place of refuge. This marked change represents a disintegration of the relationship and places a big question mark on the future unity of the Jewish people.

I believe most of what is happening emanates from Israel.  The weakening of the discourse of values in Israel, the censorship applied to views which do not toe the line of the majority or the government, and the persecution of human rights organizations are viewed as threats to democratic values and importantly, create intense discomfort among the American Jews. Many including an increasing number of millennials who are active in “socially responsible” organizations based in the U.S. such as Jews for Justice and the New Israel Fund cannot grasp how "human rights" has become a derogatory term in Israel. The restrictions in the democratic space make it harder for young Jews to take pride in identifying or affiliating with Israel the way my generation did. There is no first-hand collective memory.  We were exposed to accounts of the Holocaust; we feared for Israel’s continued existence.  With the Six-Day War, a dramatic turnaround took place.  Jews felt a great sense of pride in Israel’s military accomplishments and a sense of relief in knowing Israel could defend itself.  Unaffiliated Jews “came out” unafraid to expose their Jewish identity in American society.  They reveled in the heroic Israeli, albeit Jewish feats of the few fighting the many. By contrast, today young people see Israel as a regional superpower with a successful economy, with a sophisticated high-tech industry and one of the strongest armies in the world. Young people today have little experience with anti-Semitism; they feel secure about being Jewish.  They fail to understand the reasons for the continual erosion of the peace process. Many see Israel as acting against the tenets of the collective Jewish conscience, indifferent to the fate of the Palestinians. From their viewpoint, the stronger a country is the more it should take responsibility for setting a positive example to others. The moral issue and what is seen as political short-sightedness doesn’t fit in with their self-perception and what they consider Jewish values. 



Notwithstanding Birthright, and the more religious groups, millennials and young people on college campuses are continually exposed to and even reflect themselves, the sentiment that Israel disrespects human rights; that it is indifferent to the sensitivities of the increased building in the occupied territories and that Israel is not taking adequate action to pursue the peace process.  Ignoring these developments is short-sighted on Israel’s part.

If Israel regards itself as a second home to all Diaspora Jewry, as the spiritual, cultural and political center of the Jewish people it must find better ways to reunite the progressive and younger Diaspora. It has to be capable of accepting the ideological, cultural and religious currents of the entire Jewish people. It does not have to embrace those ideas, but it must make room for them.

I believe the burden of responsibility for change lies within Israel itself. No one expects Israeli citizens to join the Reformed or Conservative Jewish movements or to agree with the views of an ever-increasing number of progressive American Jews.  However, they do need to find common ground, to recognize that these movements and organizations have followings of millions of Jews, and not respecting their existence threatens Jewish unity.   

In light of the size, strength and significance of the American Jewish community, if things remain status quo the divide will grow bigger.  It may lead to a tragic outcome and the weakening of both communities as well as world Jewry. It is time for the leaderships of the government of Israel to understand the seriousness of the situation, see the unity of Jews as a top strategic priority, acknowledge the issues, nurture dialogue and above all, have the courage to make changes. 

Amb. Ned. L. Siegel, is former Ambassador to the Bahamas under President George W. Bush, a founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition and its chairman.  He currently serves as Chairman, the Yitzhak Rabin Foundation, a non-profit organization formed to perpetuate the values, vision and legacy of the late Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin.