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It has been the mass murder of the events of October 7th, an event that profoundly impacted world Jewry more than any event following the founding of the state of Israel.

For Jews it was shocking. For the state of Israel, the situation represented a profound disgrace. The entire Zionist movement had been established on the belief that the Jewish state would prevent similar tragedies repeating.

Some form of retaliation seemed necessary. However, the particular response that Israel implemented – the comprehensive devastation of Gaza, the casualties of numerous of civilians – was a choice. This particular approach complicated the way numerous American Jews processed the attack that precipitated the response, and presently makes difficult the community's remembrance of the anniversary. How does one honor and reflect on a horrific event against your people while simultaneously a catastrophe experienced by a different population connected to their community?

The Challenge of Mourning

The challenge surrounding remembrance stems from the reality that no agreement exists as to the implications of these developments. Actually, among Jewish Americans, this two-year period have seen the disintegration of a half-century-old unity regarding Zionism.

The early development of Zionist agreement within US Jewish communities extends as far back as writings from 1915 by the lawyer and then future high court jurist Justice Brandeis called “Jewish Issues; How to Solve it”. But the consensus became firmly established subsequent to the Six-Day War in 1967. Previously, US Jewish communities contained a delicate yet functioning parallel existence among different factions which maintained different opinions concerning the requirement for Israel – Zionists, neutral parties and opponents.

Previous Developments

That coexistence persisted during the 1950s and 60s, through surviving aspects of Jewish socialism, through the non-aligned US Jewish group, in the anti-Zionist religious group and other organizations. Regarding Chancellor Finkelstein, the chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Zionism was primarily theological instead of governmental, and he prohibited performance of Israel's anthem, the national song, at religious school events during that period. Nor were Zionist ideology the central focus for contemporary Orthodox communities before the 1967 conflict. Jewish identitarian alternatives coexisted.

However following Israel overcame its neighbors during the 1967 conflict in 1967, occupying territories comprising the West Bank, Gaza Strip, the Golan and East Jerusalem, the American Jewish relationship to the nation evolved considerably. Israel’s victory, coupled with longstanding fears about another genocide, resulted in an increasing conviction in the country’s critical importance for Jewish communities, and created pride for its strength. Rhetoric about the extraordinary nature of the outcome and the reclaiming of areas gave the Zionist project a spiritual, even messianic, importance. In those heady years, considerable previous uncertainty toward Israel vanished. In the early 1970s, Commentary magazine editor Norman Podhoretz famously proclaimed: “We are all Zionists now.”

The Consensus and Its Limits

The unified position left out strictly Orthodox communities – who generally maintained a Jewish state should only be ushered in through traditional interpretation of the messiah – however joined Reform, Conservative Judaism, contemporary Orthodox and the majority of secular Jews. The predominant version of this agreement, what became known as liberal Zionism, was established on a belief regarding Israel as a progressive and democratic – though Jewish-centered – country. Countless Jewish Americans viewed the control of Arab, Syria's and Egyptian lands post-1967 as not permanent, believing that an agreement would soon emerge that would guarantee a Jewish majority within Israel's original borders and neighbor recognition of the state.

Two generations of US Jews grew up with Zionism a fundamental aspect of their identity as Jews. The nation became a central part within religious instruction. Israel’s Independence Day turned into a celebration. Blue and white banners decorated many temples. Youth programs became infused with national melodies and education of the language, with visitors from Israel instructing American teenagers Israeli customs. Travel to Israel grew and achieved record numbers via educational trips in 1999, offering complimentary travel to the nation became available to Jewish young adults. The nation influenced nearly every aspect of Jewish American identity.

Evolving Situation

Interestingly, in these decades following the war, American Jewry became adept regarding denominational coexistence. Open-mindedness and discussion between Jewish denominations increased.

However regarding support for Israel – there existed tolerance ended. One could identify as a right-leaning advocate or a leftwing Zionist, however endorsement of the nation as a Jewish state remained unquestioned, and criticizing that narrative categorized you outside mainstream views – an “Un-Jew”, as a Jewish periodical labeled it in a piece in 2021.

Yet presently, amid of the destruction in Gaza, famine, child casualties and anger over the denial within Jewish communities who refuse to recognize their involvement, that unity has collapsed. The centrist pro-Israel view {has lost|no longer