ByMICHAEL J. SALAMON, LOUIS LIBIN

We have seen the concern mounting. We have experienced it firsthand.

Recently, there have been moments when American Jews who grew up in Democratic households sense unease that turned to something sharper, like betrayal.

For some, it was a particular vote in Congress. For others, an offhand comment on social media, or a protest sign that went a little too far.

But the truth is, the transformation of the Democratic Party’s relationship with Jews and Israel did not happen overnight. It was a slow drift, imperceptible at first, until suddenly it became impossible to ignore.

It’s easy to imagine what we’re seeing now – the open hostility, exclusion, ugly rhetoric – just appeared out of nowhere. But that’s not how this works. The Democratic Party’s evolution on this issue has been years, even decades, in the making. And for those who once felt a sense of belonging, it’s painful to admit just how much has changed.

For years, Jews were woven into the very fabric of the Democratic coalition. Jews marched for civil rights, stood with labor unions, campaigned for social justice.

American Jews [Illustrative]
American Jews [Illustrative] (credit: REUTERS)

American parents and grandparents saw in the party a home and a bulwark against hate. But something shifted. Slowly, tentatively at first, the party began to accommodate voices that were, at best, indifferent to Jewish concerns, and at worst, openly hostile.

The 2012 Democratic National Convention’s platform language on Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was quietly removed, only to be hastily restored after a public outcry. It was a small thing, barely a blip in the news cycle, but it felt like a warning. If support for Israel could become controversial, what else might change?

The years that followed saw a growing discomfort with Israel among progressive activists. Criticism, once focused on specific policies, morphed into something broader, more absolute. The distinction between opposition to Israeli government actions and opposition to the existence of a Jewish state became blurred.

In campus debates and activist circles, “Zionist” became a slur. And often, party leaders acquiesced.

It wasn’t just rhetoric. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, pro-Israel delegates were heckled and shouted down. At the 2020 convention, the party’s left wing pushed for platform changes that would have been unthinkable a generation ago. And most recently, in Chicago, Jewish delegates found themselves praying outside in the summer heat because no space had been reserved for them inside, while two ground-floor rooms were set aside for Muslim prayers, one for men and one for women.

Majority of Democrats don't have extremist positions

What’s most striking is how silent most Democrats have been in the face of these changes. Poll after poll shows that the vast majority of rank-and-file Democrats do not share the extreme positions of the loudest activists.

Most are uncomfortable with the rhetoric of hate, the calls for Israel’s destruction, the demonization of Jews who dare to speak up. And yet, silence prevails. It’s easier to look away than to confront the painful truth: the party you grew up with, the party you loved, is no longer the same.

Why do so many choose to stay quiet? Part of it is denial. It’s hard to admit that something as fundamental as political identity might be in question.

Part of it is a fear of being labeled, ostracized, or being accused of disloyalty. But there’s also a sense of helplessness. The machinery of the party now seems geared toward those with the loudest voices, not the broadest consensus.

This is not a call for American Jews to abandon the Democratic Party. It is important for American Jews to stand up to this shift both for their own sake as well as Israel. Political coalitions are always in flux, and history shows that change is possible. But silence has a cost. When good people say nothing, extremists take over.

Many Democrats are anguished by what’s happening. They are not anti-Israel, nor are they anti-Jewish.

They are uncomfortable, confused, and unsure of what to do. To them, we say: speak up. Write to your representatives. Push local party organizations to stand for the values you believe in. Demand that your leaders draw a clear distinction between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and the kind of rhetoric that endangers Jews here and abroad.

The Democratic Party did not become inhospitable to Jews overnight. It happened bit by bit, meeting by meeting, platform by platform, as too many people looked away. The only way back is to refuse to look away any longer.