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It has been the horrific attack of October 7, 2023, an event that shook global Jewish populations unlike anything else since the creation of the state of Israel.

For Jews the event proved profoundly disturbing. For Israel as a nation, the situation represented deeply humiliating. The entire Zionist project was founded on the presumption which held that the nation would ensure against similar tragedies from ever happening again.

Military action seemed necessary. But the response that Israel implemented – the comprehensive devastation of the Gaza Strip, the killing and maiming of numerous of civilians – was a choice. This selected path made more difficult the way numerous American Jews understood the attack that precipitated the response, and presently makes difficult the community's observance of the day. How can someone honor and reflect on an atrocity against your people during devastation done to other individuals attributed to their identity?

The Difficulty of Mourning

The difficulty of mourning stems from the reality that no agreement exists about the significance of these events. Indeed, among Jewish Americans, the recent twenty-four months have witnessed the breakdown of a half-century-old agreement on Zionism itself.

The early development of pro-Israel unity across American Jewish populations can be traced to a 1915 essay by the lawyer subsequently appointed Supreme Court judge Louis D. Brandeis named “The Jewish Problem; How to Solve it”. However, the agreement really takes hold following the Six-Day War that year. Before then, US Jewish communities housed a fragile but stable cohabitation across various segments that had a range of views concerning the necessity for a Jewish nation – Zionists, non-Zionists and anti-Zionists.

Previous Developments

This parallel existence persisted through the mid-twentieth century, in remnants of socialist Jewish movements, through the non-aligned US Jewish group, among the opposing American Council for Judaism and comparable entities. In the view of Louis Finkelstein, the leader of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Zionist movement was primarily theological rather than political, and he prohibited the singing of the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, during seminary ceremonies during that period. Nor were Zionism and pro-Israelism the main element for contemporary Orthodox communities until after the six-day war. Jewish identitarian alternatives remained present.

But after Israel overcame neighboring countries in the six-day war during that period, taking control of areas comprising the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, the American Jewish relationship to the nation underwent significant transformation. The military success, coupled with persistent concerns regarding repeated persecution, produced a growing belief regarding Israel's critical importance to the Jewish people, and a source of pride regarding its endurance. Language regarding the extraordinary aspect of the success and the reclaiming of territory provided the movement a religious, potentially salvific, importance. During that enthusiastic period, a significant portion of previous uncertainty toward Israel vanished. During the seventies, Writer the commentator famously proclaimed: “Zionism unites us all.”

The Agreement and Its Boundaries

The unified position did not include strictly Orthodox communities – who typically thought a Jewish state should only be established via conventional understanding of redemption – however joined Reform Judaism, Conservative, Modern Orthodox and the majority of non-affiliated Jews. The predominant version of this agreement, later termed progressive Zionism, was based on the idea regarding Israel as a democratic and liberal – though Jewish-centered – state. Numerous US Jews considered the administration of Palestinian, Syrian and Egypt's territories following the war as not permanent, assuming that a solution would soon emerge that would ensure Jewish population majority in Israel proper and regional acceptance of the state.

Multiple generations of US Jews were thus brought up with Zionism a fundamental aspect of their Jewish identity. The nation became a key component of Jewish education. Yom Ha'atzmaut evolved into a religious observance. Blue and white banners adorned religious institutions. Summer camps integrated with Israeli songs and education of modern Hebrew, with visitors from Israel instructing American youth Israeli customs. Trips to the nation increased and peaked with Birthright Israel during that year, offering complimentary travel to the nation was offered to US Jewish youth. Israel permeated almost the entirety of Jewish American identity.

Evolving Situation

Ironically, throughout these years after 1967, US Jewish communities developed expertise in religious diversity. Tolerance and communication between Jewish denominations expanded.

However regarding support for Israel – there existed tolerance reached its limit. One could identify as a rightwing Zionist or a progressive supporter, yet backing Israel as a Jewish homeland was assumed, and challenging that perspective positioned you outside mainstream views – outside the community, as a Jewish periodical termed it in writing recently.

However currently, during of the destruction of Gaza, food shortages, child casualties and frustration regarding the refusal by numerous Jewish individuals who decline to acknowledge their complicity, that consensus has broken down. The moderate Zionist position {has lost|no longer