The Reut Group this week released a report warning that left-leaning American social movements demand that Jews admit they are privileged white people, and so they must disavow their claims of past persecution and abandon their support for Israel which is seen as a white, colonialist nation. The result is that many unaffiliated young Jews turn away from their families’ long time support for Israel and Zionism in order to fit socially in a young milieu where Zionists are unwelcome.
In other words, in today’s America Jews are still permitted to be Jews, they just have to sever their ties to the homeland.
Many Israelis, despite the alarming reports, which usually come accompanied with tales of blatant anti-Semitism against young Jews on campus and in their home communities, don’t necessarily accept as gospel the news of mass flight of Jewish youths from their pride and joy, Israel. As can be seen in local religious-Zionist newspapers, especially the plethora of freebie Shabbat magazines available in synagogues, Israelis don’t doubt the experiences of young Jews who report being assaulted for their religious identity, but, skeptical souls that they are, attribute much of the crisis to exaggeration by the media. It’s because the reported data don’t match their own anecdotal experiences in meeting young Jewish visitors.
The fact is, things have been far worse for Jews in the past, and Israelis meet numerous individuals who don’t follow the leftist trend.
This week, 23 such individuals, young Jews who consider themselves to be politically conservative, visited Israel and insisted on touring the settlements of Judea and Samaria.
It’s probably because they’re sane Jews; they can tell friend from foe; and they love their fellow Jews who chose to live in the fields and villages where our ancestors tended their sheep and goats: Judea and Samaria.
Young Jewish Conservatives is a national grassroots coalition that unites politically active conservative young Jews. Their mission is to empower fellow politically conservative young Jews, give them the tools they need to defend their values, and help them advocate for conservative causes.
Unlike young Jews who make the headlines these days, because it serves the needs of the left-leaning, anti-Israel media, these young Jews are proud to label themselves as conservatives, working members of the American conservative movement.
They say their beliefs stem from pride in their religious faith and their Jewish identity. And as such, they staunchly supports Israel as a critical US ally. It’s part of that rare commodity: sanity. You love your friends, you defend against your enemies.
And they seek to educate young Jews about the importance of Zionism and the urgent need to defeat the efforts to delegitimize Israel. As an association, they actively assist their members who seek a career in politics, the media or in Jewish organizations.
They are our brothers and sisters, they are on our side, and we love them.