A new poll of 1800 Jews conducted by a rightwing online Jewish university, called Jerusalem U, reveals generational slippage in support for Israel. A large majority of younger Jews don’t strongly agree that North American and Israeli Jews “share a common destiny.” And if Israel ceased to exist, one in seven Jews are indifferent. Evidently these Jews are mostly Americans, though nationality is not discussed. (Jerusalem U has links to Aish, and to Bernard Lewis, Alan Dershowitz and Dore Gold.)
Fully 87 percent of Jews polled over the age of 50 strongly agree that “caring about Israel is a very important part of my being Jewish.” Ten percent somewhat agree, 2 percent disagree and 1 percent were not sure. However, Jews ages 18-29 strongly agree at 66 percent, 25 percent somewhat agree, 6 percent disagree and 3 percent were not sure. Just over half of Jews polled over the age of 50 strongly agree and 33 percent somewhat agree that, “North American and Israeli Jews share a common destiny.” Only 37 percent of young Jews (18-29) strongly agree and 39 percent somewhat agree.
Of all of the Jews polled, 94 percent agree that, “Israel is the spiritual center of the Jewish people.” Only 14 percent agree that “If Israel no longer existed it would not greatly impact my life.”…
The poll was done online and was sent to email addresses associated with Jerusalem U as well as several other Jewish databases…. The sample is, therefore, more likely to be of Jews who are somehow engaged in the community rather than in a random sample. ..
The poll shows that over two-thirds of Jewish respondents felt that the biggest barrier to encouraging young Jews to be proud of being Jewish and more connected to Israel was that, “young Jews don’t see it as relevant to their lives.” More so than expense, interest, time constraints or lack of anti-Semitism.
“Fully 87 percent of Jews polled over the age of 50 strongly agree that “caring about Israel is a very important part of my being Jewish.”
It’s easy to say “our mother, drunk or sober”, but it doesn’t help her . If they cared about their mother’s alcoholism, they wouldn’t buy her alcohol. If they really cared about Israel they wouldn’t have sociopaths running the show.
“biggest barrier to encouraging young Jews to be proud of being Jewish and more connected to Israel was that, “young Jews don’t see it as relevant to their lives.”
Why would it be relevant to people living their own lives in the States ?
I guess people are more interested in Miley Cyrus than going to war against the land of Cyrus the Great.
And why does pride in being Jewish have to be routed through Israel ? It’s a shoddy ethnocracy with a penchant for bombing civilians.
Seafoid
Your Understanding regarding been Jewish, is like a donkey understanding Aerospace.
Fully 87 percent of Jews polled over the age of 50 strongly agree that “caring about Israel is a very important part of my being Jewish.”
Israel is not Judaism. So maybe younger Jews are closer to Judaism.
And no state built on religions nationalism is sustainable in the modern world, if ever.
” connected to Israel was that, “young Jews don’t see it as relevant to their lives”
Good…cause it isnt relevant. If tomorrow Israel was no longer Israel it might be a ’emotional’ lose for the oldies but thats all it would be.