A new poll by AP-NORC, which surveyed 1,022 Jewish adults, found a split among younger Jews and older Jews concerning their faith and political support for their ancient homeland, Israel.
In a Los Angeles Times story about the poll, 30-year-old Ari Pollack represented many young Jews who believes the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) committed “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.
That view is held by 3 in 10 religious Jews in the survey who are under age 45. Among Jews who are 45 and older, that view is held by 2 in 10.
Pollack also said that he opposes the "dogmatic" teaching of pro-Israeli ideas, and that it has kept him away from attending regular synagogue services.
Cameron Bernstien, a 27-year-old medical student, is quoted in the story taking a similar stand. "I pray for people in the land of Israel. I don't need to pray for the state,” he said.
Sophia Witt, executive vice president at Students Supporting Israel, blames the anti-Israel stance among younger Jews on an antisemitic culture on college and university campuses.
“If you don't follow, you are cancelled,” Witt said, referring to pressure among faculty and students to view Israel as the murderous aggressor and Palestinians as innocent victims.
That stance is certainly the dominant one, and the only acceptable one, on countless campuses.
Even after Hamas launched a surprise attack in October 2023, murdering or kidnapping more than 1,200 Israeli civilians, that military operation is described as a courageous attack against the “Zionist occupiers,” meaning the Israelis who were gunned down.
Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student who fought deportation, is on camera in 2024 calling the Hamas attack "armed resistance" against Israel.
Whitt told American Family News that young Jews are being pushed to abandon Zionism, the belief that Jews have a legal and moral right to possess and control their ancient homeland.
The goal of Students Supporting Israel, she said, is to counter anti-Zionism with a pro-Israel approach and to support students and grassroots pro-Israel advocacy.
“We're not just one person. We're a team. We're all together,” she insisted. “No one feels like they're alone because they have the backing of an entire movement.”
