It is absolutely right that American Jews are not subjects of the State of Israel. We do not owe allegiance to any Israeli government (nor do Israeli citizens, who likely would agree with Mark Twain’s definition of patriotism: ‘loyalty to country always, to government when deserved’). Our covenant is with the Jewish people, with Torah, and with the societies in which we live as loyal citizens. That distinction matters and should never be blurred.

But the current moment asks something more and different of us.

The challenge facing American Jewish Zionism today is not primarily that too many Jews are confusing support for Israel with support for its government. It is that Israel’s very legitimacy, not merely its policies, is increasingly under assault. In that context, the........

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