American Jews and Israel: A Growing Disconnect

The Uncomfortable Truth: Disconnected American Jews Are Out of Touch with Israel’s Reality.

It’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth: Quite a few American Jews are dangerously disconnected from the brutal realities of the Middle East and Israel’s fight for survival. In their echo chambers of privilege and comfort, they cling to ideals of peace, coexistence, and human rights—values that Israel also cherishes, but which are ruthlessly exploited by its enemies.

The Luxury of Naivety

From their safe, suburban homes in America, they express outrage over “Israeli aggression” without ever hearing the chilling sound of rocket sirens, without ever feeling the cold fear of knowing that terrorists could tunnel into their child’s bedroom. They criticize the IDF’s self-defense measures while having the luxury of never needing to defend themselves. They call for restraint, diplomacy, and dialogue with people who chant “Death to Israel” without flinching.

The Echo Chamber of Moral Superiority

In progressive circles, moral superiority is currency, and Disconnected American Jews are all too eager to buy into the myth of Israel as an oppressive occupier. They champion Palestinian rights while ignoring the indoctrination of hate in Palestinian schools, the glorification of terrorists, and the billions of international aid dollars funneled into terror tunnels instead of hospitals and schools. Worse still, they engage in a grotesque form of moral relativism—equating the actions of Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization, with the democratic state of Israel simply because it fits their ideological narrative. They post hashtags and support movements that call for the destruction of Israel, naively believing they are championing human rights.

Woke Ideals vs. Middle Eastern Realities

Disconnected American Jews have bought into the false narratives peddled by woke ideology, falsely believing that all conflicts can be resolved through dialogue and understanding, bagel lunches and singing kumbaya. They fail to grasp that in the Middle East, compromise is seen as weakness, not virtue. They do not understand that for Israel’s enemies, this isn’t about land or borders; it’s about the annihilation of the Jewish state.

The Cost of Their Disconnect

This ideological shift is not just naive—it’s dangerous. Recent Gallup poll data reveals that only 33% of Democrats now hold a favorable view of Israel, and overall, only 54% of Americans have a favorable view of Israel, the lowest rating since 2000. That’s a dramatic decline that reflects a growing skepticism among disconnected American Jews towards Israel’s policies. This trend emboldens Israel’s enemies, legitimizes antisemitism, and undermines Israel’s right to defend itself. By supporting narratives that paint Israel as the aggressor, these individuals are inadvertently aligning with those who deny Israel’s very right to exist. They empower the BDS movement, justify acts of terror as “resistance,” and enable the rewriting of Jewish history.

The murders of peace activists like Vivian Silver, Hayim Katsman, and Bilha and Yakovi Inon on October 7 prove that for Hamas, all Jews are targets—regardless of political beliefs. These activists, devoted to peace and Palestinian rights, were not spared. The idea that pro-Palestinian activism grants immunity is a dangerous illusion. Hamas does not distinguish between left-wing activists and right-wing Zionists. When they kill, they kill Jews—of all beliefs and backgrounds. Their deaths expose a harsh truth: for radical Islamist groups, Jewish existence itself is the target.

Willful Ignorance or Cowardice?

Are they truly ignorant, or are they just cowards? Are they so desperate to be accepted by the progressive left that they are willing to betray their own people? Are they so blinded by their privilege and comfort that they cannot comprehend the existential threats Israel faces daily?

A Personal Reflection: What Happened to Jewish Unity?

A Personal Reflection: What Happened to Jewish Unity?

Growing up in the USSR, Jewish unity was a given. There was no left or right—only survival. The Soviet regime suppressed our identity, yet we stood together. Our passports didn’t ask if we were secular or religious; they simply stamped us “JEW.” That one word defined us, marked us, and united us. We knew that our enemies didn’t care about our politics or beliefs—they hated us for who we were.

But today, that unity is shattered. In America, I see Jews rally for every cause—climate change, social justice, saving elephants—yet stay silent when it comes to Israel. Synagogues and Jewish organizations champion every issue except the one that should matter most: the survival of the Jewish state. It blows my mind that we can march for every oppressed people except our own. We can demand justice for every nation’s right to exist—except Israel’s.

In Soviet times, unity wasn’t a choice; it was survival. We didn’t need a slogan to remind us of our bond—it was written in our history, our passports, and our souls. But today, as antisemitism rises at breakneck speed and Israel fights for its future, too many American Jews hesitate to stand with their own people. We were once proud to declare our identity. When did we become afraid? When did we forget that without unity, we are nothing?

The Silent Surrender: Afraid to Be Openly Jewish

As I drive through the streets of Boston and its influential suburbs, it’s easy to tell which homes quietly stand with Israel—but they don’t fly the Israeli flag. There’s a new and puzzling phenomenon: blue ribbons tied to trees and signs that don’t even declare “We Stand with Israel.” Instead, they read, “Until All Hostages Come Home.” Now, let’s assume that I know about the blue ribbons, and I understand what they stand for. But for 90% of people who drive by, these blue ribbons mean nothing. One of my neighbors even thought that these trees were marked like that for a tree-cutting company. This ambiguous symbolism, rather than a bold and clear statement of solidarity, reflects a deeper fear of openly standing with Israel.

I always find myself asking: Why not simply hang a beautiful blue and white flag with the Star of David? Why not display a sign that boldly says, “We Stand with Israel,” as proudly as you see at practically every Chabad location? Why is it that Reform and Conservative temples choose the language of caution and ambiguity-while some temples have nothing at all? This isn’t just about semantics—it’s about fear. It’s about being afraid of openly being Jewish and openly declaring: “I live here, and I support Israel.” It’s about wanting to belong in liberal circles, about being terrified of the social backlash that comes with openly supporting the Jewish state. This phenomenon reflects a deeper crisis of identity. It shows a community that has internalized antisemitism to the point of self-censorship. They are willing to show symbolic support, but they are afraid to stand boldly and visibly with their people. They are afraid to be seen, to be counted, to be proudly Jewish.

The Cowardice of Convenience: When Silence Equals Betrayal

Only a week ago, in the heart of Needham, Massachusetts, a group of people gathered in the center of town holding signs that read: “Needham for Palestine,” “Honk for Free Palestine,” “No More US Arms for Israel.” Their message was loud, clear, and unapologetically anti-Israel. I tried to expose this on a Facebook community group for Needham, believing that people should see the rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment brewing in their own backyard. The post quickly gained traction—almost 200 people supported it with pro-Israel messages and likes within 30 minutes. But then, the post was removed—censored by the very people who should have stood by me. The most shocking part? The group is moderated by three Jewish individuals. When my post was removed, the moderator first texted me, stating: “You made your post knowing that it will be deleted and knowing it was against our rules.” As our conversation continued, she informed me that the group is “for local news only” and that my post “attacked and insulted my neighbors, and there is so much wrong with my post.” Apparently, Needham residents protesting Israel, demonizing Jews, and waving signs supporting Palestine is not considered local news anymore. Apparently, publicly advocating for the destruction of the Jewish state isn’t “insulting” to anyone. But exposing their actions and daring to defend Israel is against the group rules. The hypocrisy is staggering. The people who should have stood up for the truth, who should have stood up against hate, chose to silence a fellow Jew instead. Why? Because it was inconvenient. Because they didn’t want the hassle. Because they were too afraid to take a stand. The most nauseating part? The conversation ended with the line: “But Eugene, you know that we are all Jewish. We do stand with Israel.” If that’s what standing with Israel looks like, then we are in more trouble than I thought. If being “inconvenienced” is enough to silence our voices, then we have already lost the battle. This is the sad reality of what “standing with Israel” means today in America. It means standing silently in the shadows, afraid to speak out, afraid to upset the status quo, afraid to be visibly Jewish. It means choosing social comfort over solidarity, political correctness over principle. This is not just disappointing—it’s a betrayal. It’s a betrayal of our history, our people, and our identity. It’s a betrayal of the generations who fought, struggled, and died for the right to be Jewish, for the right to have a homeland, for the right to exist. This is what happens when we are too afraid to put a flag on our lawn, too afraid to post on social media, too afraid to declare our identity. This is what happens when we choose convenience over courage. If we can’t stand with Israel here, in the safety of American suburbs, then where can we? If we are too afraid to declare our loyalty to our people in the comfort of democracy, then what does that say about our unity? This isn’t just about a Facebook post—it’s about who we are and what we stand for.

The Historical Lesson: Division Equals Destruction

History has taught us a painful and undeniable truth: When Jews are divided, they suffer dearly. In the First Century, Jewish infighting and political divisions weakened Jerusalem from within, paving the way for the Roman destruction of the Second Temple. During the Holocaust, a lack of global Jewish unity allowed Nazi propaganda to divide and conquer, leading to unimaginable horrors.  Today, the division between Disconnected American Jews and the realities of the Middle East threatens Israel’s very existence. Our enemies have always understood this. They exploit our divisions, manipulate our moral debates, and weaponize our ideological battles to weaken us from within. And as history has shown, a divided Jewish people is a vulnerable Jewish people. It’s Time to Remember Who We Are It’s time to remember the lessons of our history, the struggles of our ancestors, and the reality of our enemies. It’s time to stand together and proudly say: “We are Jews, and we stand with Israel.” Because if we don’t stand with Israel, then who will?