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Why are young British Jews feeling alienated from Israel?

Social media and far-left ideologies are pushing young people away from Zionism

October 30, 2024 13:18
Jewish British,young people (Photo: Benjy Lewis)
More and more young British Jews are starting to question their attachment to Israel, says Benjy Lewis (Photo: Benjy Lewis)
2 min read

Why should I care about Israel?” “What has it got to do with me as a British Jew?” These questions are becoming too frequent among young Jews in this country. When I hear them, I envision our shared history and identity slipping away – locked-up and lost in a sea of misinformation, misunderstanding and apathy.

For many younger Jews in the diaspora, Israel feels distant, both geographically and emotionally. It’s sometimes seen as a foreign entity, where people speak a different language and embrace a different culture.

Living comfortably in cities like London, many young Jews rarely consider life beyond western democracy or the significance of Israel’s existence. Few understand the feeling of running to a shelter when a siren sounds or being conscripted at 18. Zionism, once essential for Jewish survival, now feels controversial or even unnecessary; after all, wasn’t Israel already re-established in 1948?

Younger members of the British Jewish community are starting to become unaware of the fact that they are part of an indigenous people, with deep historical ties to the Land of Israel. There is a perception that Israel is only important if you are religiously observant or have family there. I remember returning from a trip to Israel, and my English class partner said that she had never been. When I asked if she wanted to go, she replied: “No. I’m not really religious.” But is Israel only for religious Jews?