American Jews and the Domestic Arena (July 2020–July 2021): Not Like All Other Years

Abstract

For Jews, as for other Americans, the year July 2020–July 2021 was distinguished by the continuing Covid-19 pandemic and a fiercely fought presidential election in which the aftermath was as nerve-rackingly fraught as the vote itself. During these overlapping crises, American Jews watched anxiously as antisemitic episodes emanated both from the extremist right and the extremist left, reflecting rising antisemitism around the world. Jews read new studies conducted by the Pew Research Center, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and others revealing that while the overall number of American Jews seemed to be growing, fewer could be defined as Jewishly “middle-of-the-road.” Younger American Jews were measurably polarized between the most and the least religiously connected; and fewer —especially among young adults—reported themselves as affiliated with particular branches of Judaism. Tensions between Jews in America and Israel escalated in the last months of Trump’s and Netanyahu’s respective leadership terms. During hostilities between Hamas in Gaza and Israel, the two communities, with dramatically different political and experiential profiles, sometimes seemed to be living on different planets, as many younger American Jews distanced themselves from Israel. Not least, American Jewish life was roiled by numerous internal debates, “culture wars” similar in some ways to those prevalent in American society at large, with Jews falling roughly into “conservative,” “liberal,” or “progressive” camps, challenging each other’s values, visions, and definitions of Jewishness.