American Jews Are Less Swayed By Claims Of Antisemitism Than Ever

For years U.S. Jewish leaders tried to center diaspora identity around Israel. But the battle to redefine antisemitism shows it is no longer working.

by Nathan J. Brown and Daniel Nerenberg, +972 Magazine

Analysts scrutinizing U.S. President Joe Biden’s recently unveiled “National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism” are rightfully asking what the effects of the new policy will be. But there is a backstory to the White House’s document — and to broader efforts to define and combat antisemitism — that shouldn’t go untold.

Much of that story centers around how several American Jewish organizations have, for more than two decades, forcefully combined Israel advocacy with fighting antisemitism in their pursuit of a unified Jewish identity. Those same actors advised the White House as it prepared its new strategy — and while their victory was limited, the implications of their efforts may be far-reaching.

The origins and development of this campaign for Israel-oriented “anti-antisemitism” reveal that it is less about protecting Jews than it is an attempt to rescue a dominant but threatened approach to ensuring Jewish continuity. But with Israel no longer constituting a unifying force for American Jews, the effectiveness of this project seems increasingly in doubt.