‘Which homeland?’ American Jews do not have to choose between Israel and US - opinion

On July 4, 1976, my father interrupted my joy at watching local fireworks to ask me to come inside. He wanted to show me something on the television, something he knew would surprise me. The news was about a hijacked airplane carrying many Israelis and Jews, with hostages held in Uganda. Israel had a daring mission to rescue them, and we watched as Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin welcomed the hostages back home.

My father's impassioned message about Israel being their homeland remained with me, shaping my Jewish identity. Over the years, I've reflected on that night and the question it left me with: which homeland? Israel, as the ancestral homeland, represents Jewish sovereignty and return, while America offered Jewish people a haven from persecution and a chance to fully participate in society.

These are not opposing forms of belonging, but rather both essential to the Jewish people's future. The question of identity and belonging in America has become even more urgent in recent years, especially after the October 7 massacre and the rise of antisemitism. American Jewish communities have made significant contributions to Jewish life and the world, and their strength matters to Israel.

As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, American Torah at 250 encourages us to explore the complex relationship between America and Jewish people, asking what our belonging asks of us.