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Marking two years after the deadly assault of the events of October 7th, which shook global Jewish populations like no other occurrence following the establishment of the Jewish state.

For Jews the event proved deeply traumatic. For the Israeli government, the situation represented a profound disgrace. The whole Zionist movement had been established on the assumption that Israel would prevent things like this occurring in the future.

Some form of retaliation appeared unavoidable. Yet the chosen course Israel pursued – the widespread destruction of Gaza, the casualties of tens of thousands non-combatants – constituted a specific policy. This selected path made more difficult the perspective of many American Jews grappled with the attack that set it in motion, and currently challenges the community's commemoration of the anniversary. In what way can people honor and reflect on an atrocity affecting their nation while simultaneously an atrocity done to another people connected to their community?

The Complexity of Mourning

The complexity of mourning lies in the fact that no agreement exists regarding what any of this means. Actually, for the American Jewish community, this two-year period have seen the disintegration of a decades-long unity about the Zionist movement.

The early development of pro-Israel unity among American Jewry dates back to a 1915 essay written by a legal scholar and then future high court jurist Louis D. Brandeis titled “Jewish Issues; Addressing the Challenge”. But the consensus truly solidified following the Six-Day War in 1967. Earlier, Jewish Americans housed a vulnerable but enduring cohabitation between groups which maintained diverse perspectives concerning the necessity of a Jewish state – pro-Israel advocates, neutral parties and anti-Zionists.

Historical Context

This parallel existence persisted during the post-war decades, within remaining elements of leftist Jewish organizations, within the neutral Jewish communal organization, in the anti-Zionist Jewish organization and similar institutions. In the view of Louis Finkelstein, the head at JTS, Zionism had greater religious significance rather than political, and he forbade singing the Israeli national anthem, the national song, at religious school events in those years. Additionally, Zionism and pro-Israelism the centerpiece of Modern Orthodoxy prior to the 1967 conflict. Different Jewish identity models remained present.

However following Israel overcame neighboring countries in that war in 1967, taking control of areas including the West Bank, Gaza, the Golan and East Jerusalem, US Jewish perspective on the country changed dramatically. The triumphant outcome, along with longstanding fears regarding repeated persecution, led to an increasing conviction regarding Israel's essential significance to the Jewish people, and a source of pride for its strength. Language concerning the extraordinary nature of the victory and the freeing of territory gave the Zionist project a spiritual, potentially salvific, importance. In those heady years, much of the remaining ambivalence regarding Zionism dissipated. In the early 1970s, Writer the commentator declared: “Zionism unites us all.”

The Unity and Restrictions

The unified position did not include strictly Orthodox communities – who typically thought a nation should only emerge via conventional understanding of the Messiah – yet included Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, contemporary Orthodox and nearly all non-affiliated Jews. The common interpretation of this agreement, identified as progressive Zionism, was established on the idea about the nation as a democratic and liberal – albeit ethnocentric – nation. Many American Jews considered the administration of local, Syria's and Egypt's territories after 1967 as temporary, assuming that a solution was imminent that would ensure Jewish population majority within Israel's original borders and regional acceptance of the state.

Several cohorts of US Jews grew up with support for Israel a fundamental aspect of their Jewish identity. The state transformed into an important element in Jewish learning. Israel’s Independence Day became a Jewish holiday. Israeli flags were displayed in religious institutions. Seasonal activities were permeated with Israeli songs and the study of contemporary Hebrew, with Israeli guests and teaching American teenagers Israeli customs. Travel to Israel increased and peaked with Birthright Israel during that year, when a free trip to the country became available to US Jewish youth. The nation influenced virtually all areas of US Jewish life.

Evolving Situation

Ironically, during this period after 1967, Jewish Americans became adept at religious pluralism. Acceptance and communication between Jewish denominations expanded.

Except when it came to support for Israel – there existed pluralism reached its limit. One could identify as a rightwing Zionist or a liberal advocate, yet backing Israel as a Jewish homeland remained unquestioned, and challenging that position categorized you outside mainstream views – an “Un-Jew”, as one publication described it in an essay in 2021.

Yet presently, under the weight of the destruction in Gaza, famine, dead and orphaned children and outrage regarding the refusal of many fellow Jews who refuse to recognize their responsibility, that unity has collapsed. The centrist pro-Israel view {has lost|no longer