Most American Jews aren’t ‘Zionist’ — so what are they?
JVL Introduction
Arno Rosenfeld’s newsletter Antisemitism Decoded is always thoughtful though we may often disagree with his emphasis or interpretation.
The latest one, came by email with the subject line: “Most American Jews aren’t ‘Zionist’ — so what are they?”
Surveys in the past never asked the question, probably because they were afraid that their taken-for-granted assumption that such support was overwhelming, would be called into question.
Recently, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) bit the bullet and asked.
They found that only 37% of American Jews identify with the term “Zionist” (while at the same time, 88% believe that “Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state”.)
How to make sense of this?
The response of Mimi Kravetz, chief impact officer at JFNA, is hilarious, arguing that these results demonstrated that Jews misunderstand the term Zionism!
You do wonder, if two-thirds of US Jews don‘t understand the term, who the hell does!
Step in Mimi Kravetz again: “Zionism means supporting the State of Israel”.
Even so, the 88% who support Israel’s right to exist as “a Jewish, democratic state” may well think that the actually existing State of Israel, an ethnocratic, genocidal, apartheid state, bears only a passing resemblance to such a non-existent, idealised entity.
RK
This article was originally published by the Forward on Wed 11 Feb 2026. Read the original here.
Who’s ‘Zionist’ anyway?
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They found that only 37% of American Jews identify with the term “Zionist” (while at the same time, 88% believe that “Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state”.)
On the face of it the 88% are probably right and it is a good aim. Perhaps such an entity may eventually evolve.
I recently wondered about changing attitudes of Jewish Americans, especially the youth. Interesting results, yes need for further research. Thank you.
I wonder how well informed American Jews (and Americans generally) actually are about Israeli laws, governance and education? These shower life chances, power, personal security and wealth on one group and forcibly deny other groups the same privileges. They also enlarge the size of the advantaged group (only) by encouraging migration from foreign co-religionists.
Like many of us let down by our own mainstream media, my friends and family know little about Israel as a society and state. They see and abhor Israel’s genocidal acts since Oct 2023 but they don’t realise the linkage there is between these and Zionism (as commonly interpreted).
Human beings taught to believe they’re “special” often do treat those designated as lesser mortals very badly. They’re particularly likely to misbehave when there are no effective sanctions to stop them.
Groups made powerless by the dominant group can’t protect themselves … until the power imbalance moves in their favour. Trump and Netanyahu are determined it won’t. Perhaps the rest of the world will ensure it does.