Why are Anti-Zionist Jews creating new places to pray?

JVL Introduction

The established Jewish institutions have become so entwined with (virtually) uncritical support for Israel, even in the midst of a genocide and ethnic cleansing that many Jews who want justice and freedom for Palestinians are turning away from those synagogues and establishing new communities within which to practise their Judaism.

The phenomenon is, unsurprisingly most marked in the USA since this has the largest Jewish population outside Israel but we are seeing signs in the UK as well with new communities coming together in Brighton and Newcastle to observe Shabbat and the Jewish festivals. Others are framing some of their activism around Jewish rituals, eg many areas have opportunities to share a Shabbat and last year in Hastings and this year in Manchester local Jewish Groups for Palestine have sukkahs on the street; many local groups have hosted Passover Seders and much more.

As well as this fascinating article, I would recommend this video “Why so many American Jews are turning away from Israel“, which includes a non zionist Shabbat service too. (The video was made by the Guardian with Matthew Cassel, Tom Silverstone and Katie Arnold). Matthew Cassel has made other and powerful videos for the Guardian, eg interviewing settlers and Palestinians.

This article was originally published by Ha'aretz on Sun 20 Sep 2026. Read the original here.