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Marking two years after the horrific attack of 7 October 2023, an event that deeply affected world Jewry more than any event since the creation of the Jewish state.

Among Jewish people the event proved deeply traumatic. For the state of Israel, the situation represented a profound disgrace. The entire Zionist movement had been established on the belief which held that the nation could stop similar tragedies occurring in the future.

Some form of retaliation seemed necessary. But the response undertaken by Israel – the comprehensive devastation of the Gaza Strip, the deaths and injuries of numerous of civilians – represented a decision. This selected path created complexity in how many US Jewish community members understood the October 7th events that triggered it, and currently challenges the community's observance of that date. How can someone mourn and commemorate a tragedy affecting their nation in the midst of a catastrophe experienced by another people in your name?

The Complexity of Remembrance

The challenge of mourning exists because of the circumstance where there is no consensus as to the implications of these developments. In fact, among Jewish Americans, the last two years have experienced the collapse of a decades-long agreement regarding Zionism.

The early development of Zionist agreement across American Jewish populations can be traced to a 1915 essay authored by an attorney who would later become supreme court justice Louis D. Brandeis named “The Jewish Problem; Finding Solutions”. But the consensus became firmly established subsequent to the 1967 conflict in 1967. Previously, Jewish Americans contained a vulnerable but enduring coexistence across various segments which maintained different opinions concerning the need for Israel – Zionists, non-Zionists and anti-Zionists.

Previous Developments

This parallel existence continued throughout the mid-twentieth century, through surviving aspects of socialist Jewish movements, through the non-aligned US Jewish group, within the critical Jewish organization and comparable entities. Regarding Chancellor Finkelstein, the head of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Zionism was primarily theological instead of governmental, and he prohibited the singing of Israel's anthem, the national song, at JTS ordinations during that period. Furthermore, Zionism and pro-Israelism the central focus for contemporary Orthodox communities prior to that war. Jewish identitarian alternatives coexisted.

But after Israel defeated neighboring countries during the 1967 conflict that year, occupying territories including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, US Jewish connection with the nation evolved considerably. The triumphant outcome, coupled with enduring anxieties of a “second Holocaust”, resulted in an increasing conviction regarding Israel's critical importance within Jewish identity, and generated admiration for its strength. Discourse concerning the “miraculous” nature of the victory and the “liberation” of territory provided the movement a spiritual, even messianic, meaning. During that enthusiastic period, considerable the remaining ambivalence regarding Zionism vanished. During the seventies, Commentary magazine editor Norman Podhoretz declared: “Everyone supports Zionism today.”

The Consensus and Its Limits

The pro-Israel agreement did not include strictly Orthodox communities – who generally maintained a Jewish state should only emerge via conventional understanding of redemption – yet included Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, Modern Orthodox and the majority of secular Jews. The predominant version of this agreement, identified as progressive Zionism, was established on a belief about the nation as a democratic and free – while majority-Jewish – nation. Numerous US Jews viewed the control of local, Syrian and Egyptian lands after 1967 as provisional, believing that a solution was forthcoming that would maintain Jewish demographic dominance in pre-1967 Israel and regional acceptance of the nation.

Several cohorts of US Jews were raised with pro-Israel ideology a core part of their religious identity. Israel became a central part within religious instruction. Israel’s Independence Day turned into a celebration. Israeli flags decorated many temples. Summer camps were permeated with Hebrew music and the study of the language, with Israeli guests and teaching American youth national traditions. Travel to Israel expanded and reached new heights through Birthright programs during that year, offering complimentary travel to the nation was offered to young American Jews. Israel permeated nearly every aspect of US Jewish life.

Evolving Situation

Ironically, during this period post-1967, US Jewish communities developed expertise at religious pluralism. Open-mindedness and communication across various Jewish groups increased.

However regarding support for Israel – there existed tolerance reached its limit. One could identify as a conservative supporter or a leftwing Zionist, yet backing Israel as a Jewish homeland remained unquestioned, and questioning that position categorized you outside the consensus – a non-conformist, as a Jewish periodical described it in writing recently.

But now, under the weight of the devastation of Gaza, food shortages, child casualties and frustration about the rejection of many fellow Jews who avoid admitting their responsibility, that unity has collapsed. The liberal Zionist “center” {has lost|no longer