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Editor's Letter
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Younger Jews' Disillusionment
A
s American Jews, we must take heed of a new
report that reinforces the widening gulf between
young Jews in America and the Jewish ancestral
homeland. Jews 35 and younger are more detached and alien-
ated from Israel, a trend going back decades. Such a red flag
doesn't bode well for future American support of Israel.
The Sept. 6 report, "Beyond
Distancing: Young Adult American
Jews and their Alienation from Israel,"
can't be discounted. It's the work of
two of America's top Jewish research-
ers, Steven Cohen and Ari Kelman.
It's commissioned by the Andrea and
Charles Bronfman Philanthropies.
And the stakes are too high.
Among the findings: Forty-eight
percent of respondents 35 and young-
er say "Israel's destruction would be
a personal tragedy" compared to 78
percent of those 65 and older. Just 54 percent of the younger
group are "comfortable with the idea of a Jewish state" com-
pared to 81 percent in the oldest age group, 74 percent in the
50-64 age group and 64 percent in the 35-49 age group.
Notably, 60 percent of younger Jews
feel that "caring about Israel is an
important part of being Jewish." That
contrasts with 80 percent of those 65
and older; but 60 percent is still sig-
nificant, giving hope that all is not lost
trying to bring younger Jews and Israel
closer.
The study is based on the 2007
National Survey of American Jews con-
ducted by the Chicago-based marketing and research firm
Synovate Inc. It only considers the views of non-Orthodox
Jews because Orthodox Jews tend to have dramatically closer
ties to Israel.
Most Compelling
The study's key finding isn't shocking: American Jewish
detachment from Israel will grow as younger Jews age. Clearly,
they don't like hard group boundaries. Cohen told the New
York-based Jewish Telegraphic Agency: "The idea of a Jewish
state reflects hard group boundaries — that there is a distinc-
tion between Jews and everybody else. That does not sit well
with young Jews."
Zionism may mean less to younger Jews, but that doesn't
mean they necessarily feel less Jewish. The distinction is sig-
nificant. Many studies and anecdotal evidence demonstrate
great cultural and religious vitality and creativity among
younger Jews. Israel is just not as much a part of that equa-
tion. That is what the larger Jewish community must grapple
with. In his JTA interview, Cohen put it bluntly: "We're seeing
this growing phenomenon of Jews who have no problem say-
ing the Shema, but won't sing `Hatikvah.'"
It's important to contrast the national results with the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's 2005 population survey.
The local study found that 58 percent of local Jews younger
than 35 are extremely or very attached to Israel, higher than
the 35-64 group. Zionism means something among a lot of
younger local Jews thanks not just to Federation's strong sup-
port for the Jewish state, but also the range of Israel-oriented
young adult programs hosted by several communal groups.
There's a love of Israel among many younger Jews here that
isn't all political. The uninspired ties to Israel cited by the
national young adult salon movement could learn from our
example.
Visits Matter
No one should be surprised that younger Jews become more
aware of Israel after spending quality time there. Birthright
Israel, for example, has given almost 150,000 Jews ages 18-
26 a free, organized two-week trip over the past seven years.
Among young Jews who have traveled to Israel once, 34
percent are highly attached, according to the new report. The
percentage grows to 68 percent for those who have lived in
Israel for at least a semester. Only 19 percent of young Jews
who have never been to Israel show a high level of attachment.
The power of Birthright in building Jewish identity and
Zionist interest is immense. Birthright and similar Israel
travel programs — the longer, the better — give eyewitness
opportunities for younger Jews whose only knowledge of the
Jewish state is what CNN filters.
We must reverse the detachment of our younger generation
from Israel. The threat of terror is ever present there. Hamas
and its ilk hate Zionism and Jews.
Israeli border communities are acutely
vulnerable. On Sept. 3, the second day
of the new school year, Islamic Jihad
pelted Sderot with seven rockets. One
of these Palestinian-fired rockets land-
ed in a courtyard next to a day care
center. None of the 15 kids was hurt.
Panicked mothers, already angered by
the Israeli government's failure to pro-
tect their city just a mile from the Gaza Strip, scurried to get
screaming toddlers to safety.
In Perspective
Let's not overlook the bigger picture. In wartime in the Middle
East, American Jews — the younger generation included
— continue to stand with Israel. Israel travel is up among all
age groups. So younger Jews in America can be brought back
into the Zionist fold. We just need to accelerate that.
Ultimately, Jewish education — more of it at an earlier
early age — is a crucial building block to hooking younger
Jews on Israel. Learning can take varied forms: day schools,
synagogue schools, Jewish camps, Hebrew classes, Israel-
originated Web sites, the Israeli news media, peer missions to
Israel, interaction with Israeli Americans.
On May 8, Israel turns 60. The "Beyond Distancing" study
affirms that a segment of younger Jews in America is feeling
more engaged with Israel even as a larger number becomes
more disillusioned. This dichotomy points up a heady chal-
lenge confronting Jewish America in the long shadows of the
new year of 5768.
"Beyond Distancing" online: www.acbp.net/publications.html
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What can the organized Jewish commu-
nity do to reverse the troubling trend?
How concerned should the Jewish com-
munity be about future generations?
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September 13 • 2007
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