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Two years have passed since that horrific attack of October 7, 2023, an event that deeply affected Jewish communities worldwide unlike anything else since the establishment of the Jewish state.

For Jews it was profoundly disturbing. For the state of Israel, it was deeply humiliating. The whole Zionist movement rested on the belief which held that the Jewish state would ensure against similar tragedies repeating.

A response appeared unavoidable. Yet the chosen course that Israel implemented – the comprehensive devastation of Gaza, the killing and maiming of many thousands of civilians – represented a decision. This selected path made more difficult the way numerous American Jews processed the October 7th events that triggered it, and it now complicates their observance of that date. How can someone honor and reflect on an atrocity targeting their community while simultaneously an atrocity experienced by another people in your name?

The Challenge of Grieving

The complexity surrounding remembrance lies in the reality that there is no consensus as to the significance of these events. In fact, for the American Jewish community, the recent twenty-four months have experienced the breakdown of a decades-long consensus about the Zionist movement.

The origins of Zionist agreement among American Jewry can be traced to a 1915 essay by the lawyer and then future supreme court justice Louis Brandeis named “Jewish Issues; Finding Solutions”. But the consensus truly solidified after the six-day war during 1967. Earlier, Jewish Americans housed a delicate yet functioning coexistence across various segments which maintained different opinions about the need for a Jewish nation – Zionists, non-Zionists and opponents.

Previous Developments

This parallel existence continued through the mid-twentieth century, through surviving aspects of Jewish socialism, through the non-aligned Jewish communal organization, within the critical American Council for Judaism and other organizations. In the view of Louis Finkelstein, the chancellor of the theological institution, Zionism had greater religious significance than political, and he prohibited performance of Israel's anthem, the Israeli national anthem, at religious school events during that period. Nor were Zionist ideology the main element of Modern Orthodoxy until after the six-day war. Jewish identitarian alternatives existed alongside.

But after Israel overcame neighboring countries during the 1967 conflict in 1967, seizing land such as Palestinian territories, Gaza, Golan Heights and Jerusalem's eastern sector, US Jewish connection with Israel changed dramatically. Israel’s victory, coupled with longstanding fears regarding repeated persecution, led to an increasing conviction regarding Israel's vital role within Jewish identity, and generated admiration in its resilience. Discourse about the remarkable quality of the victory and the reclaiming of areas assigned Zionism a religious, even messianic, importance. In that triumphant era, a significant portion of the remaining ambivalence toward Israel dissipated. During the seventies, Writer the commentator famously proclaimed: “We are all Zionists now.”

The Agreement and Its Boundaries

The Zionist consensus excluded Haredi Jews – who generally maintained a Jewish state should only emerge via conventional understanding of redemption – but united Reform Judaism, Conservative, Modern Orthodox and the majority of unaffiliated individuals. The most popular form of this agreement, what became known as left-leaning Zionism, was founded on the idea regarding Israel as a democratic and liberal – while majority-Jewish – state. Many American Jews considered the occupation of Palestinian, Syria's and Egypt's territories after 1967 as temporary, assuming that a resolution was forthcoming that would maintain Jewish demographic dominance in Israel proper and regional acceptance of the nation.

Two generations of US Jews grew up with support for Israel a core part of their Jewish identity. Israel became a key component of Jewish education. Israeli national day evolved into a religious observance. Israeli flags were displayed in many temples. Youth programs became infused with national melodies and education of contemporary Hebrew, with visitors from Israel instructing American youth national traditions. Travel to Israel expanded and peaked through Birthright programs during that year, when a free trip to Israel became available to Jewish young adults. The nation influenced virtually all areas of US Jewish life.

Evolving Situation

Paradoxically, during this period post-1967, Jewish Americans became adept in religious diversity. Tolerance and discussion between Jewish denominations grew.

Except when it came to support for Israel – there existed tolerance reached its limit. One could identify as a right-leaning advocate or a liberal advocate, yet backing Israel as a majority-Jewish country was assumed, and questioning that narrative categorized you beyond accepted boundaries – outside the community, as a Jewish periodical labeled it in writing in 2021.

However currently, during of the destruction in Gaza, famine, child casualties and anger over the denial of many fellow Jews who decline to acknowledge their responsibility, that unity has collapsed. The liberal Zionist “center” {has lost|no longer