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Sociologists Stephen Cohen and Ari Kelman have now confirmed what everyone already knew: Young American Jews do not care very much about Israel. They are not just apathetic about Israel, that indifference is "giving way to downright alienation," write Cohen and Kelman.
More than half of Jews under 35 said that they would not view the destruction of Israel as a personal tragedy. The death and expulsion of millions is something they could live with. By those standards, they probably would not see the Holocaust as a "personal" tragedy either.
More than half of Jews under 35 said that they would not view the destruction of Israel as a personal tragedy.
"These results are very upsetting," said Jewish Agency chairman Zev Bielski. He then proceeded to give an inane explanation for those numbers: the comfortable life of most American Jews.
Cohen and Kelman know better. And their answer is summed up in the demographic they did not interview for their study: Orthodox Jews. A survey of young Orthodox Jews would have yielded a diametrically opposed and highly embarrassing result.
Among younger Jews, those for whom their Judaism is important -- primarily the Orthodox -- will remain connected to the fate of their fellow Jews in Israel. Most Orthodox American youth will study in Israel after high school, some for many years. And almost all will visit Israel many times. Eretz Yisrael is not a mere abstraction for them, but the center of the spiritual life of the Jewish people.
The majority of young American Jews and the majority of young Israelis share in common a lack of interest in their Judaism. But that shared negativity provides little basis for a relationship. Shared gene pools won't do it either -- that smacks of racism. And ethnic identity, it turns out, cannot be passed down, or survive the breakup of ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods.
What young Jews under 35 feel towards Israel goes beyond apathy to outright resentment. Israel complicates their social lives and muddies their political identity. Only 54% profess to be comfortable with the idea of a Jewish state at all. In Europe and on elite American campuses, internationalism and a world-without-borders are the rage. The Jews of Israel, with their stubborn insistence on protecting their nation-state, are, as always, out-of-sync.
Young American Jews do not wish to be tarred with their atavisms. On campus and where enlightened folk meet, Israel is scorned as a colonial oppressor. Who wants to be identified as a sympathizer with apartheid? Young American Jews today share fears of being out of step with their enlightened peers.
Molly Umberger, whose mother is program director of the leftist New Israel Fund (NIF), told the Jerusalem Post that she views both Israel and Palestinians as having made lots of mistakes and the situation as complicated, but generally "tries not to think about [ Israel]." (No wonder when Bruce Temkin, the director of the NIF, describes Israel as a "turn-off.") Daniel Alperin, 33, describes his interest in Israel as waning when he began to hear "the bad stuff" -- probably about the time he entered college.
Already the trends lines were pointing in this direction forty years ago. In a 1965 Commentary symposium of younger Jewish intellectuals -- the least religiously identified segment of American Jewry -- only one expressed complete comfort with Israel's creation and pride in its accomplishments, and he eventually made aliyah. The rest expressed various degrees of discomfort with Israel's militarism (and this was before 1967 and the "occupation"). The only Jewish identity they acknowledged at all was that of the "Jew" as the perpetually alienated critic of those in power -- not exactly one upon which to base a connection to other Jews. Now the rest of American Jewry is catching up to those once young intellectuals.
The historic bargain linking American Jewry and Israel since the founding of the State is coming to an end.
The implications of Cohen and Kelman's findings for American Jewry are great. The historic bargain linking American Jewry and Israel since the founding of the State is coming to an end. The terms of the deal were unspoken, but clear: Israel would provide American Jews with a sense of pride and identity as Jews, and they, in turn, would shower upon Israel their financial and political support. But Israel is no longer a source of pride for many Jews, and the identity it provides is not one which they wish to share.
But the survey signals something else as well: a declining understanding on the part of American Jews of Judaism in terms of a national identity that imposes obligations to one's co-nationals.
Cohen and Kelman are wrong to argue that ethnic identity is being replaced by religious identity. For when young American Jews say that they view their Judaism as a religious not national identity, the religion they refer to is a pretty tepid affair. Precisely because it is so tepid does it fail to provide them a sense of connection to their fellow Jews, whether in America or abroad. It is a religion largely lacking connection to the Land of Israel, and even more importantly to the defining event in Jewish history the giving of Torah at Sinai. Absent the latter, there is no common mission to link the descendants of those who stood at Sinai.
The impact of the declining sense of responsibility to one's fellow Jews is being felt within American Jewry itself, not just in attitudes towards Israel. Already only 6% of giving by mega-Jewish foundations goes to remotely Jewish causes. It is hardly surprising, for instance, that non-Jewish spouses are not eager to contribute to Jewish causes. In time, funding the institutions of American Jewry will become ever more difficult.
The political implications for Israel are large as well. Fortunately, Professors Walt and Mearsheimer are wrong about an Israel Lobby comprised mostly of those with Jewish-sounding names. It is devout Christians, and not some nefarious Israel Lobby, which is the primary bulwark of American support for Israel today. That we have to rely on Christian support, rather than our fellow Jews, however, is a very mixed blessing indeed.
This article originally appeared in the Jerusalem Post.
(46) danny , November 8, 2007
once upon a time
i grew up with little or no attachment to israel.this summer my wife and six children made aliyah through the facilitations and grants from nefesh benefish.in addition a christian group gave us financial assistance with the move.(for the love of jews not to get rid of us).the turning point was twin towers.i will spend my 47th b-day living in our homeland.
(45) American Sabrah , November 8, 2007
Young People in General are Oblivious.
In addition to Mr. Rosenblum's article, I have several questions I wish to ask. How many young Americans (jews and gentiles) view 9/11 as a personal tragedy? How do young Britons and Europeans feel about their countries gradually becoming islamisized? How many young non-religious Christains view Christmas as a religious holiday? How many young people are in touch of whats going on around them?If young Israelis are not combatting in front lines,then they are too busy partying and clubbing at discoettes to pay heed to whats going on outside the night clubs. Young people are generally apathetic and cynical to the world around them. They wouldn't be stirred if their region is being threatened by a nuclear attack. Some older adults have the same view.
(44) Beth , November 7, 2007
G-d with us.
It is shocking to read that any Jew regardless of age or religious observance, would not have concern for Israel. Although I am 32 and was born after the events of the holocaust, that does not make the atrocities of that event any less real or less important to me than of someone born in that time. The truth is that Jews have been fighting for independent existence ever since G-d's promise to Abram, and I believe this shall continue well into the future. Each time I see Israel have to give up land, or hear about terrorist acts, my heart cringes. I admit I get a bit angry as well. G-d's blessings have been flowing into Israel since its return to independence, and I know that he sustains it still today. The day that G-d departs from Israel will be the day that I would flee to the hills. As for now, anyone who even thinks about taking on the Army of Israel better be prepared to take on the army of the L-rd as well.
(43) Ioana , November 5, 2007
I am not a jewish girl, but I love judaism and jews and it's a blessing for me having friends among jews. And the fact that the hebrew language still exists (latin, greek etc. - all died) and Israel has been declaired an independent state it's a huge sign of God's love for you, people! I am proud to be friends with jews. I would be prouder to be a (born) jew...
(42) M. Lampard , November 2, 2007
Christians are your best friends!
I am sad that Christians as friends of Israel is a 'mixed blessing'. I know history comdemns us regarding the treatment of jews. However, Christians who know their Bible cannot but be friends of Israel, and what happens to Israel deeply concerns and effects us.