From Passion To Rationality: The Changed Attitude Of Ameircan Jews Towards Israel Before And After1980s

Steven M. Cohen, a well-known sociologist whose works focuses on theAmerican Jewish Community, says that Israel was perceived as the pillar of Jewishsurvival in the second half of the twentieth century, with American Jewry playing akey role in ensuring that the state had the capability to perform that function. To alarge extent, the great achievement Israel has made is attributed to American Jewry. Inother words, the development and prosperity of Israel is indispensible to the help ofAmerican Jews.However, after1980s, American Jews did not support Israel as passionately asbefore. From the historical and cultural perspectives, the paper will discuss, AmericanJews’ attitude toward Israel before and after1980s and its consequences of thechanged attitude on the function of Israel in constructing Jewish identity of AmericanJews. American Jews’ support for Israel was very passionate before1980s; but after1980s, their support for Israel was changed to the rationality. Accordingly, the authorpresents the manifestation and reasons of American Jews’ changed attitude in thepsychological, political and economic aspects. And finally, it focuses on exploring theconsequences of the changed attitude in constructing Jewish identity after1980s.From the above analysis, the author makes a conclusion that after1980s,American Jews’ attitude toward Israel has changed from passion to rationality, whichalso shakes the function of Israel in constructing their Jewish identity.