How Jews Are Turning into the New American Compass

In an era of deep partisan division, where foreign policy decisions are often filtered through tribal loyalties rather than strategic merit, the American Jewish community is emerging as a potential moral and strategic compass for America. The recent U.S. bombing of Iran's Fordow nuclear facility serves as a powerful case study. In the wake of October 7th, American Jews have developed a unique and clear-eyed perspective that transcends the binary politics of the moment.

In recent years, a "restraint foreign policy" approach has gained traction across the political spectrum, fueled by the painful legacies of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. This bipartisan consensus calls for a dramatic reduction in U.S. military presence abroad, emphasizing diplomacy over intervention. Yet, this aversion to foreign entanglement has persisted even in the face of unambiguous threats. Iran, a fundamentalist Islamist regime, is responsible for the deaths of nearly a thousand American soldiers in Iraq; and its proxies have carried out terror attacks planned against American officials. They have made it clear that their policy is "death to America." So despite Iran calling America the "great Satan" and striving to develop weapons of mass destruction, most Americans preferred inaction. A chart presented by the Economist in partnership with YouGov shows that in the days leading up to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, there was a majority in both parties who opposed it, with a typical variation across party lines.

From the Economist, June 26 2025

The same chart also vividly illustrates how American public opinion on military action can rapidly polarize along partisan lines once a political event becomes associated with one party’s leadership. Immediately after the attack, the data reveals a dramatic shift: Republican support surged to around 75%, while Democratic support plummeted, indicating a strong alignment with the prevailing sentiment within each political tribe. This pattern suggests that once a controversial action is claimed by one pole of American society, the opposing side consolidates its stance in the opposite direction.

This phenomenon is not unique to this particular event or party. If a Democratic president had ordered the same strike, it is likely that Republicans would have aligned more closely with isolationist positions, distancing themselves from the use of force abroad, while Democrats would have shown greater support for the action. In both scenarios, the debate ceases to be about the merits or risks of the policy itself and instead becomes a reflection of partisan identity. The discussion, therefore, is conducted in political colors rather than substantive terms, with each side responding less to the action and more to the identity of the actor. This dynamic underscores how, in contemporary American politics, major decisions are quickly reframed through the lens of tribal loyalty, reducing space for nuanced or cross-partisan deliberation.

Interestingly, as was shown by a more recent YouGov poll conducted after the US bombing of Iran, 51% of American Jews approved of the attack, making them one of the most supportive religious groups surveyed - slightly behind Mormons (54%) and Protestants (52%). The poll highlights that American Jews, as a group, were more likely than average to view the military action favorably. Statements from major American Jewish organizations were overwhelmingly supportive of the strikes, describing them as “historic” and necessary for global and Jewish security. This support diverged sharply from the stance of most Democratic lawmakers and voters, a notable development given that the majority of American Jews traditionally vote Democratic - which is not the case for Mormons and Protestants, who are likely to identify as conservative and vote Republican.

Since October 7th, Jews have developed a unique perspective that often deviates from classic binary partisan views in polarized America. The emotional and conscious connection to Israel, the reawakened of collective memories, and the current challenging lived experience, seems to contribute to a more realistic and nuanced perspective. Jews take literally the calls in Iran for "death to America" and are not inclined to interpret them as an attempt to “convey a message” or strengthen a point. The rise of antisemitism following October 7th provided greater clarity to many Jews, helping them see the connection between fundamental Islamism in Gaza or Tehran and calls to globalize the intifada in New York.

The common perception is that American Jews are experiencing a deep identity challenge that conflates universal with particularistic values. Younger and more liberal Jews are more likely to express ambivalence or opposition, reflecting broader generational and ideological divides within the community. The rise of identity politics in America - particularly in the last decade - did not yield in the rise of a stronger distinct Jewish identity like in the case of other minority groups. Quite the contrary, a growing number of Jews have internalized the universalistic progressive framework that views them as "white and privileged." This view, in turn, has been undermining their particularistic identity and fueling ambivalence toward Israel, which many see as a liability to their social and political standing in America. And that was only the background of the wave of antisemitism that followed October 7th. Seemingly, these are the worst of times for Jews in America. 

Jews are not only victims of antisemitism but also of its politicization in the American discourse on both poles of the political spectrum. Antisemitism and its politicization following the massacre, has acted as a powerful catalyst for a genuine particularistic American Jewish perspective that transcends rigid partisan divides. Voicing this “Jewish perspective” by institutions, community leaders and journalists is an indication of the American Jewish community's ongoing process of rebuilding and strengthening its resilience. This new reality was not forged by the actions of communal institutions, but it presents them with an invaluable opportunity to "reboot Jewish life in America."

This is also good news for America. By breaking from reflexive political binaries, the American Jewish community can serve as a vital social and national security compass, demonstrating a path to engage with contentious issues based on ethical clarity and substance, rather than the tribalism that currently dominates public discourse. Indirectly, this also could serve as good news for Israel, who became a wedge issue in a polarized America.