Israeli leaders across the political spectrum are voicing alarm about a declining connection between younger Jewish Americans and Israel, according to an AP poll indicating that support for the country holds less importance in the Jewish identity of adults under 45 compared to older generations.
About four in ten religious Jewish adults under 45 in the United States describe supporting Israel as “extremely” or “very” important to their Jewish identity, compared to roughly half of older religious Jewish adults. The survey of over 1,000 Jewish adults also found that only about half of religious adults believe Israel’s military operations in Gaza are justified, with the figure dropping to two in ten among Jewish adults without religious affiliation.
Israeli officials and Jewish diaspora leaders attribute the shift partly to generational differences in perspective. Younger Jews lack direct emotional connection to historical events like the Holocaust and Israel’s founding, instead evaluating the country through the lens of their contemporary values regarding social justice and human rights. This divide has become more pronounced since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent military response, which triggered widespread protests on American college campuses.
To address the concern, Israeli government agencies and Jewish organizations are expanding exchange programs designed to strengthen ties between younger diaspora Jews and Israel. Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has brought approximately one million young Jewish adults from the United States and elsewhere on free ten-day educational tours, reports that participation has declined since 2023 amid ongoing conflicts. Additional initiatives are targeting secular Jews and Reform Judaism adherents, emphasizing shared ideological values. Israeli young adults are being sent to North America as camp counselors and exchange participants, aiming to rebuild personal connections and demonstrate common ground on progressive principles.
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