As American Jews mourn the younger generation\u2019s supposed alienation from Israel, many blame Bibi rather than their decisions to raise their kids on tikkun olam\/social justice diets that Poisoned Ivy League Progressives distorted and turned against Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you expect?\u201d many ask. \u201cJews born after 2000 have only known an Israel defined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing, religious fanatics.\u201d<\/p>\n
This formulation foolishly defines Israel, our forever-homeland, by its often-unstable governments. Living in a polarized nation that\u2019s zig-zagged from Barack Obama\u2019s and Joe Biden\u2019s America to Donald Trump\u2019s America, they don\u2019t always judge their country by its leaders.<\/p>\n
Defining Israel in partisan terms ignores what over 900,000 young Jews have discovered on Birthright and other Israel experiences: that the Jewish connection to Israel is eternal and existential.<\/p>\n
Even many who haven\u2019t visited Israel \u2013 yet! \u2013 have been shaped by their Birthright buddies\u2019 identity revelations. Seeing Israel, feeling it, tasting it \u2013 and meeting Israelis \u2013 reframes the conversation. I understand why Palestinians try to make every conversation about \u201cthe conflict\u201d into their agenda. But why do so many Jews fall into that same trap?<\/p>\n
Framing Jews\u2019 relationship with Israel in identity terms as existential transcends Left and Right. It\u2019s not a pro-Netanyahu or pro-Trump move: It\u2019s simply the Zionist way.<\/p>\n
Zionism is broad-based enough to welcome a kaleidoscope of opinions. Zionism goes far beyond today\u2019s headlines, emphasizing that Jews are a people as well as a religion; that we are tied to one particular homeland; and that we have the right to establish and now develop a state on that homeland.<\/p>\n
In less partisan times, with less angry leaders and a less hostile world, many would recognize Zionism\u2019s spacious, welcoming tent for all kinds of Diaspora Jews. Similarly, Israel includes a stunning array of Jews, from ultra-Orthodox to hyper-modern, from conservative capitalists to Peace Now socialists.<\/p>\n
SADLY, THE media barrage against Bibi and Israel\u2019s wars of self-defense, intensified by the polarized discourse around Donald Trump, obscures these deeper, non-partisan connections. This creates an Indignation Gap. Last week, many anti-Trump Jews \u2013 representing 60% of American Jewry \u2013 fumed as Israel voted with America in the UN against Ukraine and President Trump smacked-down the beleaguered country\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n
I, too, support Ukraine against Vladimir Putin\u2019s evil invasion. But I am struck that many of these same Trump-bashing liberal Jews, so resistant to a Ukrainian ceasefire, kept insisting that Israel cease fire prematurely. And they weren\u2019t angry when previous president Joe Biden hogtied Netanyahu and Israel, again and again, as we fought evil.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t about \u201cwhat-abouting.\u201d It\u2019s taking the collective temperature, noting what triggers many American Jews\u2019 political passions these days \u2013 and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Strategically \u2013 and ideologically \u2013 I focus on Generation Birthright not the Bibi-Bashers. Having crisscrossed North America on book tour this February, I am so inspired by the many young pro-Israel activists I met in Hillels, at Chabad centers, in day schools, and at two Z3 (Zionism 3.0) conferences.<\/p>\n
I worry less about them being alienated by Bibi or Itamar Ben-Gvir or draft-dodging haredim (ultra-Orthodox), because they enjoy mature, multi-dimensional relationships with Israel. Seeing Israel in a broader context, they appreciate how much their Zionism has shaped them, inspired them, fulfilled them.<\/p>\n
I do, however, worry about the ongoing trauma, especially as Hamas\u2019s slaughter of the Bibas boys and mass hostage abuse has thrown so many of us back to our October 7 anguish zones.<\/p>\n
Here is the real challenge to a healthy Zionist movement and conversation today. While never forgetting October 7, we must stop being October 7 Jews or Zionists. Being so reactive is unhealthy. It gives the Jew-haters of Hamas, on campus, and beyond a defining power over us they do not deserve.<\/p>\n
JUST AS Americans should pivot American history around the launch of the great American experiment in 1776 and not the first slave ship\u2019s arrival in 1619, Jews must not build our story around October 7.<\/p>\n
Israel remains more defined by 1948, by its character as Altneuland, Old-New land, by the push making Hebrew the new state\u2019s language and by the new state\u2019s flourishing in multiple ways, than by Hamas\u2019s failed attempt to destroy the state on one nightmarish day.<\/p>\n
When I spent my gap year in Israel, a teacher in a communications course had us make a picture illustrating a one-line slogan, advertising-style. I asked an artistic friend to draw a couple in a tuxedo and a wedding gown, with one brandishing a cross and the other a Jewish star. Underneath, I wrote in bold letters: DON\u2019T LET HITLER WIN!<\/p>\n
The teacher loved it. I quickly learned to hate it. I prefer Jewish Journeys to guilt trips. I want Jews seeking out other Jews for positive reasons, because it\u2019s easier for two to build a Jewish home together. Similarly, I want young Jews embracing Israel for constructive Zionist reasons \u2013 and not just to defy our enemies.<\/p>\n
For centuries, while overcoming persecution, this has been the great psychological challenge for individual Jews \u2013 \u2013 and our great collective success. Last week, my son met an army buddy skiing on the French Alps. Wherever the friend goes, as he lives life zestfully, he carries a flag picturing two friends murdered by Hamas, proclaiming: \u201cEetanu, b\u2019chol makom,\u201d \u201cWith us, everywhere we go.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the Fearless Zionism we need: defiant, even mournful when necessary, but jubilant, proud and positive, always. We aren\u2019t Jews because of our enemies or despite these haters. We\u2019re proud Jews and Zionists because it\u2019s our birthright, our privilege, grounding us while inspiring us.<\/p>\n