TIME: Why Fewer Young American Jews Share Their Parents' View of Israel

[marmar]

Why Fewer Young American Jews Share Their Parents' View of Israel
By Dana Goldstein Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011


"I'm trembling," my mother says when I tell her I'm working on an article about how younger and older American Jews are reacting differently to the Palestinians' bid for statehood at the United Nations. I understand the frustrations of the Palestinians who are dealing with ongoing Israeli settlement construction and sympathize with their decision to approach the U.N., but my mom supports President Obama's promise to wield the U.S. veto, sharing his view that a two-state solution can be achieved only through negotiations with Israel.

"This is so emotional," she says as we cautiously discuss our difference of opinion. "It makes me feel absolutely terrible when you stridently voice criticisms of Israel."

A lump of guilt and sadness rises in my throat. I've written harshly of Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006 and assault on Gaza in 2009, and on civil rights issues in Israel. But speaking my mind on these topics — a very Jewish thing to do — has never been easy. During my childhood in the New York suburbs, support for Israel was as fundamental a family tradition as voting Democratic or lighting the Shabbos candles on Friday night. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2095505,00.html#ixzz1ZiqciavR

[COLGATE4]

1. Younger American Jews are way too far removed from their

parents' (and grandparents') experience with and reaction to the Holocaust. Because of this singular event for those generations nothing trumped the absolute necessity for a Jewish state, i.e. a place where Jews knew with absolute conviction that they would not be hounded and persecuted as they had been for millenia throughout the rest of the world. Younger Jews take a much more relaxed, moral equivalency view of the Isreal v Palestine question, since they bring only their American experience to bear on the question.

[classysassy]

2. The younger Jews

have seen and heard how other religious and ethnic groups are treated around the world and most are supportive of those seeking justice.The older Jews are fixated on the Holocaust and they should be,but there are other evils that exist in the world and they also need our attention." Never forget", should also apply to the evils of today.

[COLGATE4]

3. I don't disagree, up to a point. But I do think that, to young American

Jews the State of Isreal is simply one more country among many in the U.N. - there is nothing special about it to them. They don't have the appreciation that the older generations have for what it represents to all Jews - the one place from which they can never be marginalized or expelled.

[Chef Eric]

5. It's "Israel," not "Isreal." That's the second time you've misspelled it.

Maybe I don't appreciate Israel in quite the same way that the "older generations" of Jews do. But I do appreciate it enough to spell it properly.

[COLGATE4]

20. Thank you for your insightful and carefully thought out contribution

to the general discussion. I'm sure many people will find it invaluable.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Not even worth it.

[Fearless]

4. The same as gay rights of all youth. They are less affected by conservatism.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. What?

[Fearless]

9. There is a buffer generation between young people today

and the conservative radicalism of the 1950's. Children largely model their beliefs after those they respect (generally family but not always, sometimes friends, teachers, the media, etc.) If children's parents are less likely to be radically conservative, then logic states that their children will be less likely to be affected by radically conservative values and likewise less likely to believe in them themselves.

Additionally with the advent of television and mass media... predominantly liberal... and the decline of influence of organized religion across the nation, children are less exposed to conservatism in their developmental years, thus they are less likely to espouse radical conservative views than their parents, grandparents, etc.



Edit: To tie this back to the OP, children of Jewish families are less likely to espouse the widely held conservative support for Israel / hatred of anything Palestinian.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. OK...now I see where you are coming from. I didn't understand your other comment.

BTW: This propagandist bullshit, "conservative support for Israel / hatred of anything Palestinian", has got to go. Are you Jewish? If so, which group (Reform....)?

Edit: Spelling (why is "nw" a word?!)

2nd edit; Word change to sound less nazi-esque.

[Fearless]

11. Fair enough. Sometimes what is thought and what is said is different.

And as for Israel/Palestine...

I do not mean that Israel should not be supported. I believe both should be supported and both should have the right to exist. Anywhere else in the world and this would be a non-issue. Hypothetical: Ok, there are two groups of people who hate/dislike/differ in opinions from each other. One wants to blow up the other and vice versa. The international community steps in and provides mediation or separation. Clearly in the case of Israel/Palestine mediation is not working. Therefore they should be split up. There are many plans out there including joint share of Jerusalem and territorial claims that average Israelis/Palestinians can agree on. Radical ideologues on both sides are to be omitted from the argument. BOTH states have a right to exist, because people have basic human rights. The right to a home and safety, IMHO, is one of them. Neither state has the right to persecute the other and both should be held equally responsible on a case by case basis for atrocities that may occur between them. If an international court needs to be set up, so be it, but only under a few mutual tenets:

1. Both nations have a right to exist.
2. Both nations have a right to safety.
3. Both nations have a right to co-exist in places that both lay claim to without fear of danger.
4. Both nations have a right to a voice on the international stage and in determining their own futures.
5. Violence against or perpetrated by EITHER nation or by citizen(s) of either nation will be prosecuted in identical fashion for each party, no favoritism, no bias.
6. Neither nation has the right to vocalize or otherwise incite violence or ill will against the other nation.



As for conservative values...

Pro-Israel / Anti-Palestine is a position held by many radical conservatives. It is not exclusive to conservatives. But it is a statistical fact that more conservatives are Pro-Israel and Anti-Palestine than liberals.




http://www.gallup.com/poll/146408/Americans-Maintain-Broad-Support-Israel.aspx


As for my religion of choice...

I am an egalitarian strong atheist.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Well, we agree on something.

I agree both should exist. Israel should be allowed to continue to exist and Palestinians can have their own state(s). However, you are conflating. Just because one is pro-Israel it doesn't mean that the same person is anti-Palestine; the opposite is true. The poll you posted simply shows where peoples sympathies lie. The reason I asked about your religious preference is because you don't seem to know much about Judaism.

[Fearless]

16. You are correct that being pro-A doesn't make you anti-B

However in terms of my comment regarding the conservative POV, that is just the case. I could look for a poll talking about the anti- position based on political party, but it's getting late tonight... perhaps in the morning.

And rest assured that I do know quite a bit about the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Seems we agree on something again.

You look for that poll. I would be interested in seeing it.

As for your knowledge about the IP conflict, given some of your comments, I don't know if you "quite a bit" or not, but that wasn't what I said...read my comment again.

[Muskypundit]

8. I cannot tell you how many times this exact situation has occurred

with myself, my mother, and my grandfather. For whatever reason, there is a giant disconnect in the generations.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

12. I look at Israel pretty much the same way I looked at South Africa

A bunch of Europeans lost in a strange land who believe through force and really high walls they can avoid responsibility for their actions against the indigenous population. My parents aren't too bothered but much of my observant family on the east coast won't even speak to me anymore. (Were talking people with paintings of Benjamin Netanyahu in their living room)

[Behind the Aegis]

14. That is just sad, but it does show the power of propaganda...

...and that anyone can slurp it down like...well, kool-aid.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

15. What propaganda?

Millions have been displaced by this ridiculous experiment and has brought nobody peace and security. Is that in dispute?

They should have given us Bavaria or Baden something. The neighbors might not have been too friendly but it probably wouldn't have started a sixty year war.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[COLGATE4]

19. Yep, the neighbors in Bavaria would have been charming. We

did get to sample some of their hospitality 1932-1945.