A poll of American Jews by the Jewish Voters Resource Center offers some findings which the communal establishment should find alarming:
- 92% believe that the Gaza war has increased anti-Semitism.
Considering that a majority of respondents oppose, and are disgusted by the War, it’s safe to say that Jews feel that Israel’s war has endangered them. 73% believe that the Iran war has increased anti-Semitism. In this case respondents, who are almost uniformly opposed to the attack on Iran, believe that Israel has dragged the US, and by extension Jews into it. That’s why they fear an anti-Semitic response and being blamed for it. - Among the list of “top issues” for Jews, Israel places fifth. Considering that a separate poll found that only 37% of American Jews considered themselves Zionist and 30% find themselves somewhat or fully detached from Israel, it’s clear that Israel no longer has the resonance or allegiance it once had.
- Regarding religious affiliation, the communal groups would have us believe that Jews are largely affiliated with one of the various denominations. By extension, they view Jews as largely affiliated with the organized community. However, while 37% consider themselves Reform (the largest denomination), 35% have no denomination at all.
- While the majority of respondents say they are “attached” to Israel. A majority of young Jews feel “unattached” to Israel. This bodes ill for American Zionism, the Israel Lobby, and Israel’s future relationship to American Jewry. Young Jews are, by and large repelled by what Israel and Zionism has become.
- 24% of American Jews believe in a one-state solution. This once was considered an outlier anti- Zionist view among American Jews. This along with a recent poll which found that 14% of American Jews consider themselves anti-Zionist, shows this is no longer the case.
- 82% said that a candidate’s views on Israel would have no bearing on their vote. Over time, this will put quite a dent in Aipac, as its entire existence is based on tying the Jewish vote to Israel’s interests.
While these findings will be surprising and troubling to the communal elites, they have been a long time coming. The trend of alienation and distance between Israel and American Jewry began some years ago and has been growing over time. Israel’s genocide in Gaza and military adventurism in Iran and Lebanon has sparked a radical shift, which has accelerated this process.
Also, keep in mind that there may be a certain bias in the polling, since the questions clearly articulate the views and agenda of the Jewish establishment. Meaning, the results may be even more distressing for Zionists than they appear here.
