Relations between the Israeli government and large swathes of US Jewry have deteriorated acutely in recent years. The new government presents an opportunity to reboot this relationship and embark on a path of building bridges over the chasm.
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The gaping fissure between Israel and US Jewry is old news, but the comments by the former Israeli ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, painted an even grimmer picture. With his undiplomatic words, Dermer said Israel should invest in the evangelical community in the US more than the Jewish community, large segments of which have been critical of Israel. In a nutshell, this is the legacy imparted by Netanyahu, who throughout his tenure as prime minister ignored most American Jews – bringing us to where we are at today.
This chasm doesn't just stem from Israeli policy. Essentially, three primary fault lines divide the relationship: On the ethical level, Israel is becoming less liberal and more nationalistic, while the majority of American Jews are liberal and belong to non-Orthodox streams of Judaism; on the diplomatic-political level, surrounding Israel's ongoing presence in the West Bank; and on the religious level, Israel is becoming more traditional and intolerant of the religious pluralism that exists in the United States.
A Pew poll of US Jews conducted in May predicted that the future will pose an even greater challenge. According to the poll, the younger US Jews are, the less they identify with being Jewish and with Israel. Hence, while 66% of American Jews say they have a relationship with Israel, only 48% of Jews under the age of 30 feel that way. Another factor behind the considerable anger progressive US Jews harbored against Israel was Netanyahu's close relationship with former President Donald Trump, who they detested.
This giant rift cannot be bridged in a day. However, the new Israeli government is an opportunity to start the healing process. To do this, the government must implement a series of practical and symbolic measures. Many US Jews who do want a relationship with Israel feel the Jewish state "doesn't care about them." If Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, himself the son of immigrants from the US, were to reach out to the Jewish community, in a different tone, it could be a significant first step in the right direction. At the same time, the government must also take practical steps. Now that the High Court of Justice essentially recognized non-Orthodox conversions, taking this sensitive issue off the table, the government should implement the clauses of the coalition agreement that can somewhat alter the relationship between religion and state. Voicing its support for a more pluralistic form of Judaism could also help.
Responsibility for mending the relationship doesn't only fall on Israel. Leaders and organizations in the US that hold Israel dear to their hearts must work to bolster the bonds to the Jewish state, mainly among the younger generations. In the face of the anti-Zionist voices from the far-left there, they must be a clear pro-Israel voice. They need to recognize that Israel is not the embodiment of their progressive American fantasy. The State of Israel is a tapestry of different shades and values and with that, support for it shouldn't be conditioned on an ethical worldview. Bridging the chasm between Israel and the large Jewish community in the US is a Jewish and Zionist challenge of the utmost importance. The new government must meet this challenge head-on.
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