Israeli officials, religious leaders, and cultural organizations are expressing apprehension about a perceived decline in attachment to Israel among younger Jewish Americans, according to reporting from Jerusalem.
An AP-NORC survey of Jewish adults found that approximately 4 in 10 religious Jewish adults under 45 in the United States characterize support for Israel as extremely or very important to their Jewish identity, compared with roughly half of older religious Jewish adults. The poll also indicated that only about half of religious Jewish adults say Israel’s military operations in Gaza are justified, a figure that drops to 2 in 10 among Jewish adults without religious affiliation. The survey included 1,022 respondents identifying as Jewish by religion or through culture, ethnicity, or family background.
Israeli government officials and religious leaders across the political spectrum view the relationship with diaspora Jews as strategically significant. Itai Nixon, who leads the diaspora department for Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, stated that Israel represents the state of the Jewish people generally. Lesley Sachs, chair of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, characterized the connection as a strategic asset for both Israel and Jews worldwide, expressing concern that younger diaspora Jews are losing the sense of Israel as a potential homeland, particularly amid rising antisemitism.
Organizations focused on building connections between Israeli and diaspora Jews have intensified their efforts. Taglit-Birthright Israel, which has brought approximately one million young Jewish adults from North America and elsewhere on free ten-day tours since 2000, has noted that participation has declined since 2023 amid multiple conflicts. The organization and other programs are particularly targeting secular Jews and adherents to Reform Judaism, which emphasizes progressive values. Israeli officials noted that Orthodox Jews abroad tend to maintain stronger ties to Israel compared with other Jewish populations.
Asaf Zamir, a deputy mayor of Tel Aviv, stated that increased antisemitism underscores the rationale for a Jewish homeland, though he acknowledged that opposition to Israeli government policies remains distinct from understanding Jewish history and identity. Exchange programs involving young Israelis traveling to North American Jewish camps and diaspora Jews visiting Israel are being expanded as part of broader efforts to strengthen these connections.
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