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Two years have passed since that horrific attack of 7 October 2023, an event that deeply affected Jewish communities worldwide like no other occurrence following the founding of the Jewish state.

For Jews the event proved profoundly disturbing. For the Israeli government, it was deeply humiliating. The whole Zionist endeavor was founded on the presumption that the nation could stop similar tragedies repeating.

Some form of retaliation seemed necessary. However, the particular response undertaken by Israel – the comprehensive devastation of Gaza, the killing and maiming of numerous non-combatants – was a choice. This selected path complicated how many US Jewish community members processed the October 7th events that precipitated the response, and it now complicates their remembrance of the anniversary. In what way can people honor and reflect on an atrocity against your people in the midst of an atrocity done to another people in your name?

The Challenge of Mourning

The complexity surrounding remembrance stems from the fact that there is no consensus about the significance of these events. In fact, within US Jewish circles, the recent twenty-four months have seen the disintegration of a fifty-year agreement regarding Zionism.

The early development of pro-Israel unity within US Jewish communities can be traced to writings from 1915 written by a legal scholar who would later become supreme court justice Louis Brandeis called “Jewish Issues; Finding Solutions”. But the consensus became firmly established after the six-day war during 1967. Earlier, US Jewish communities contained a delicate yet functioning cohabitation across various segments which maintained diverse perspectives concerning the need for Israel – pro-Israel advocates, neutral parties and anti-Zionists.

Previous Developments

This parallel existence continued throughout the 1950s and 60s, through surviving aspects of Jewish socialism, in the non-Zionist American Jewish Committee, in the anti-Zionist religious group and similar institutions. Regarding Chancellor Finkelstein, the leader of the theological institution, pro-Israel ideology had greater religious significance than political, and he forbade the singing of Israel's anthem, the national song, at religious school events during that period. Furthermore, Zionist ideology the centerpiece within modern Orthodox Judaism before the 1967 conflict. Different Jewish identity models existed alongside.

However following Israel defeated its neighbors during the 1967 conflict during that period, taking control of areas comprising Palestinian territories, Gaza, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, US Jewish perspective on the nation underwent significant transformation. The military success, along with persistent concerns about another genocide, produced a growing belief regarding Israel's critical importance within Jewish identity, and created pride regarding its endurance. Language concerning the “miraculous” aspect of the outcome and the freeing of land assigned Zionism a spiritual, almost redemptive, importance. In that triumphant era, a significant portion of previous uncertainty regarding Zionism disappeared. During the seventies, Commentary magazine editor the commentator famously proclaimed: “We are all Zionists now.”

The Consensus and Its Boundaries

The unified position excluded the ultra-Orthodox – who largely believed a Jewish state should only emerge via conventional understanding of redemption – but united Reform, Conservative Judaism, Modern Orthodox and the majority of unaffiliated individuals. The most popular form of the unified position, what became known as progressive Zionism, was based on the conviction regarding Israel as a progressive and democratic – albeit ethnocentric – country. Many American Jews saw the control of Arab, Syrian and Egyptian lands following the war as provisional, assuming that a solution was forthcoming that would guarantee a Jewish majority in Israel proper and regional acceptance of the state.

Several cohorts of American Jews grew up with Zionism a core part of their identity as Jews. Israel became a key component in Jewish learning. Israeli national day evolved into a religious observance. Israeli flags decorated most synagogues. Youth programs were permeated with Israeli songs and learning of modern Hebrew, with visitors from Israel and teaching American teenagers national traditions. Travel to Israel grew and peaked with Birthright Israel during that year, providing no-cost visits to the country was offered to young American Jews. The state affected nearly every aspect of US Jewish life.

Evolving Situation

Interestingly, in these decades after 1967, US Jewish communities developed expertise regarding denominational coexistence. Open-mindedness and communication among different Jewish movements expanded.

However regarding Zionism and Israel – that represented tolerance ended. You could be a rightwing Zionist or a progressive supporter, yet backing Israel as a majority-Jewish country was assumed, and questioning that narrative placed you outside mainstream views – an “Un-Jew”, as a Jewish periodical termed it in writing recently.

However currently, during of the ruin of Gaza, famine, young victims and outrage over the denial of many fellow Jews who avoid admitting their responsibility, that unity has broken down. The moderate Zionist position {has lost|no longer