# How do American Jews typically feel about Israel and Zionism? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177 "2026-04-10T21:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/21 "2026-04-12T00:10:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > My father’s family was of a category of Jew that was very observant but ALSO felt that the foundation of modern Israel was in error. They’re belief was that it was the role of the promised messiah to do that, not a bunch of WWII survivors. That reminds me of an old joke. I will tell you only the punchline. G\*d says, “What do you mean I didn’t try to save you? I sent you a raft, a motorboat, and a helicopter.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/22 "2026-04-12T00:12:49Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > defining “Zionism.” I assume you’re not using “believing Israel has a right to exist” as your definition, but there are plenty of people who use it or one even wider. What is your definition if not that? It most definitely does not require any specific political stances other than that. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/23 "2026-04-12T01:16:21Z")
Well, that’s my question; I’ve read those who seem to think of the word as being narrower than that, even some who use it as a pejorative, and I’m honestly confused. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/24 "2026-04-12T02:15:44Z")
I can speak only for my very atypical self. I can remember a feeling of pride at the founding of Israel. I was 11 at time and had experienced a nasty instance of anti-semitism that I would rather not go into. So Israel was a safe haven. Not that I was religious then or now. Over the years, they won the 6 day war and the Yom Kippur wars and I was prouder still. But in 1976 I spent a month in Israel, gave some talks and enjoyed it. But the settler group was just getting started and I was appalled. I knew that that would be (and has been) the undoing of the Israel I knew (yes, and loved). Of one thing I am certain. If in the near future Israel ceases to exist, there will be one person to point to as responsible: netanYahoo. I now realize that the reason the European countries supported the founding of Israel, it was to solve their Jewish problem: what to do with all the refugees. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/25 "2026-04-12T02:24:09Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > Netanyahu doesn’t speak for all Israelis, just as tRump doesn’t speak for all Americans. One can love the idea of a Jewish homeland while objecting to the West Bank settlements. I think this is the most common sentiment. Good points. Yes, most American Jews support at least the idea of Israel, even if only half or so support Bibi the crook and what he is doing. And the attacks in Iran really have nothing to do with this. > [@Leaper](#): > > The hard part is defining “Zionism.” I assume you’re not using “believing Israel has a right to exist” as your definition, Yes, we should define Zionism. I define it as “Israel has a right to excist” ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/26 "2026-04-12T02:42:00Z")
All things considered this seems like the least horrible solution. But the devil is always in the details- where would propose to draw the line ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2026, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177/27 "2026-04-12T08:04:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, we should define Zionism. I define it as “Israel has a right to excist” Perhaps we should also note the following: Anti-Zionist - Israel does not have the right to exist Non-Zionist - Does not think the folks who founded modern Israel were in the right but now that the country does exist it should be allowed to continue to exist. One problem is that there are folks who conflate “Israel” with “All Jews everywhere”. > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I now realize that the reason the European countries supported the founding of Israel, it was to solve their Jewish problem: what to do with all the refugees. Yes. I have encountered people here in the US who sincerely believe all Jews should be “encouraged” to leave the US and move to Israel “where they belong”. Do I need to point out what’s wrong with that sentiment? I’d like to think the folks in this thread don’t need that explained. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177.md?page=1)