After October 7, like many in the American Jewish community, I was shocked by some reactions on the far-left in the United States. Some were disappointingly quiet. Others, who received the most attention, misguidedly and disgustingly cheered on Hamas. It showed me that, yes, plenty of people are misinformed about Israel and its conflict with the Palestinians, and that the ongoing conflict is also poisonous—certainly for those on the ground directly impacted, but also for American politics.

To be clear, I am unabashedly pro-Israel. By that, I mean that I support a secure, Jewish, democratic state of Israel that adheres to its Declaration of Independence. That also means that I support a strong US-Israel relationship, which, for it to endure, requires bipartisan support. So as much as I would like to dismiss the growing animosity toward Israel, I must acknowledge that the post-October 7 trends we have seen in America, combined with the ongoing Gaza war, have made it politically more difficult for our progressive elected officials to support Israel.

That is why I as a mainstream Jewish American proudly support J Street and its approach to pro-Israel politics. 

What makes me a mainstream Jewish American? Like 71 percent, I tend to lean Democratic. Like 69 percent, I feel connected to Israel.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)