Skip to main content
Log in

Go Out and See What the People Are Doing

  • Published:
Contemporary Jewry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on a range of sources, there is ample evidence of a general decline in American Jewish identification with Israel, a pattern especially evident today among younger Jews in their twenties and thirties and among Jews who identify with the political left. Survey findings alone are of only limited utility in capturing the underlying social reality and the erosion of connections to Israel stemming from peer pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. I argued this thesis in Werteimer (2008).

References

  • Alexander, Edward, and Paul Bogdanor, eds. 2006. The Jewish divide over Israel: Accusers and defenders. Transaction Books.

  • Bass, Avi. 2009. Northern Illinois University, Jewish Faculty Roundtable, November 5, 2009. Downloaded Nov 6, 2009.

  • Cohen, Steven M. 1987. Ties and tensions: The 1986 survey of American Jewish attitudes toward Israel and Israelis. NY: American Jewish Committee 1987.

  • Cohen, Steven M. 2002. Changing conceptions of Jewish collectivity among adult Jews and their implications for Jewish education: A dual research project. Jerusalem: The Jewish Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, Steven M. 2006. A tale of two jewries: The “inconvenient truth” for American Jews. NY: Jewish Life Network/The Michael Steinhardt Foundation.

  • Cohen, Steven M., and Ari Y. Kelman. 2008. Beyond distancing: Young adult American Jews and their alienation from Israel. Andrea and Charles Bronfman Foundation, May 2008, p. 13. http://www.acbp.net/About/PDF/Beyond%20Distancing.pdf.

  • International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. 2010. www.ijsn.net/home.

  • Jewish Professors. Dec 21, 2002. Jewish professors keep divestment drive alive. www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1221-02htm.

  • Jewish Voice for Peace. April, 2010. Ad Signed by 263 Jews in Support of UC Berkley’s Divestment Measures. www.scribd.com/doc/29932279/Jewish-support-for-Divestment-from-Israel-Occupation-at-UC-Berkley.

  • Michaelson, Jay. Sept 25, 2009. How I am losing my love for Israel. Forward. http://www.forward.com/articles/114180/.

  • Pew Research Publications. Jan 13, 2009. Modest backing for Israel in Gaza crisis: No desire for greater U.S. role in resolving conflict. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1076/modest-backing-for-israel-in-gaza.

  • Schechter, Solomon. 1906. Zionism: A short statement. In Seminary Addresses. NY: Jewish Theological Seminary, 1959 (reprinted).

  • Waxman, Chaim I. 1992. All in the family: American Jewish attachments to Israel. In Studies in contemporary Jewry. NY: Oxford University Press.

  • Waxman, Chaim.I. 1996. Weakening ties: American Jewish baby-boomers and Israel. Jerusalem: Magnes Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertheimer, Jack. 2008. American Jews and Israel: A sixty year retrospective. In American Jewish Year Book. NY: American Jewish Committee.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jack Wertheimer.

Additional information

Babylonian Talmud: Eruvin 14b.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wertheimer, J. Go Out and See What the People Are Doing. Cont Jewry 30, 233–239 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12397-010-9046-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12397-010-9046-3

Keywords

Navigation