Israelis, American Jews and the general American society

• Published date: 30 September 2021
• Author: KALMAN J. KAPLAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Let us first examine each of these communities in terms of their underlying needs and fears, and then suggest that these two communities are often working at cross-purposes to each other We will start with: (1) a brief discussion of the needs and fears of American Jews vis-à-vis the general American society. We then will (2) apply this same analysis of needs and fears to Israeli society. And finally, (3) we will suggest how this plays out regarding attitudes and actions of Israelis and American Jews to each other, regarding acceptance by of the general American society, which is a goal of both American Jews and Israelis.

1. American Jews and the general American society.

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While American Jews have gained a level of acceptance and prominence in the general American society, there remain lingering self-doubts and fears that this acceptance is conditional and could be canceled. There are probably numerous factors for this. However, we want to concentrate on one. The fear among some American Jews is that their support for Israel will open a fissure in their relationship with the general American society.

The age-old charge of dual loyalties has always lingered in the background. But now it has been supplemented by a much more current angst emerging from aspects of the woke culture. Ignoring the facts, Israel has been criticized mercilessly in many public arenas, especially, though not exclusivity, at American universities. This is especially threatening to Jewish families as the great majority of Jewish parents in America want their children to succeed. They do not want them to be blocked or hindered. However, suddenly it seems that support for Israel may be an obstacle in this American Jewish project.

This trend has been especially true in parts of the social sciences, humanities, language departments and law schools, which previously have represented a dominant point of entrance of American Jewry into the general American community (which despite all the posturing critiques, still does exist). This has been less true in medical school and fields pertaining to the hard sciences and engineering.

Rather than being a source of pride and a vehicle of acceptance, Israel seems to have plunged back into a pariah status among the very groups to which American Jews have always tried to assimilate -the liberal, seemingly progressive American society emblematic of part of the Democratic Party of the past. This has been exemplified by the over-the -top...