Israeli government officials, religious leaders, and advocacy organizations are expressing concern about a perceived weakening of ties between Israel and younger Jewish Americans. According to an AP-NORC poll, approximately 4 in 10 religious Jewish adults under 45 in the United States describe supporting Israel as “extremely” or “very” important to their Jewish identity, compared to about half of older religious Jewish adults surveyed.
Israeli leaders across political and religious lines view this generational shift as significant for both Israel and the global Jewish community. Officials from Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs characterize the connection to diaspora Jews as strategically important, while leaders of progressive Jewish movements in Israel argue that weakening bonds represent a shared failure. Some Israeli officials have linked concerns about younger American Jews’ attachment to Israel with rising antisemitism in the United States, suggesting that awareness of a Jewish homeland carries particular weight amid security threats to Jewish communities.
The trend has become more pronounced following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack and subsequent military operations in Gaza. The AP-NORC survey found that only about half of religious Jewish adults support Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, with that figure dropping to approximately 2 in 10 among Jewish adults without religious affiliation. Protests opposing Israeli government actions have been particularly visible on American college campuses.
In response, both Israeli government agencies and Jewish religious organizations are expanding cultural exchange initiatives. Programs such as Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has brought approximately one million young Jewish adults to Israel since 2000 for ten-day educational tours, are being reinforced. The Israeli Reform movement is also increasing efforts to send young Israelis to North America as camp counselors and through other programs designed to build direct personal connections.
Israeli officials suggest that one-on-one interactions and shared ideological messaging may help younger diaspora Jews maintain stronger connections to Israel. Participants in these exchange programs represent diverse perspectives on Israeli politics and policy, with some Israeli participants noting surprise at the intensity of anti-Israel sentiment among their American Jewish peers’ social circles.
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