Over the past three years, I have found myself increasingly puzzled by a phenomenon that I hadn’t given much thought to. Some of the strongest public criticism of Israel and of Jewish organizations comes not only from Israel’s opponents but from Jews themselves. In Brookline discussion groups, on social media, and in national newspapers, Jewish identity is often invoked—”As a Jew…”—to give particular moral authority to criticism of Israel, AIPAC, or other Jewish institutions. At times, I have also been struck by how readily some Jews minimize concerns about antisemitism while focusing instead on whether the Jewish response has been excessive.

I found myself asking: 

Why do some Jews appear to identify more readily with the moral framework of movements that are often deeply critical of Israel and mainstream Jewish institutions than with the Jewish community itself? Is this a new phenomenon, or has it accompanied the Jewish people throughout history?

As I reflected on these questions, I realized that my own instincts had been shaped by a value I had given little thought to, which is beautifully expressed in the Book of Kings. When the prophet Elisha offers the Shunammite woman the opportunity to seek special favor from the king, she simply replies:

בְּתוֹךְ עַמִּי אָנֹכִי יֹשָׁבֶת—“I dwell among my own people” (2 Kings 4:13).

For centuries, Jewish tradition has understood that belonging to the Jewish people is not merely a matter of ancestry or religion but of shared destiny. The rabbis taught, כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה—”All Israel is responsible for one another.” Hillel warned, אל תפרוש מן הציבור—”Do not separate yourself from the community.” Jewish tradition elevated אהבת ישראל—love of the Jewish people—into a religious ideal. Together, these teachings suggest that Jewish tradition developed not only a theology and an ethical tradition but also a profound moral vocabulary of peoplehood. The prophets rebuked Israel relentlessly, yet they never stood outside the covenant. Moses defended the very people who had repeatedly challenged him. Jeremiah wept over the nation whose sins he condemned. Again and again, Jewish tradition teaches that criticism and responsibility arise from belonging.

Yet many Jews today are unfamiliar with this moral vocabulary or do not reflect on what it means. If these ideas no longer shape the way some Jews think about their........

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