Countervailing Trends in American Jewry: An Interview with Norman Podhoretz


 

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Author(s): Manfred Gerstenfeld

Research Area: Culture and religion

Keywords: Public Opinions; Israel attachment; Religious Denominations; Generational Issues

Type: Other

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The author presents excerpts from an interview with Norman Podhoretz, the retired editor of Commentary magazine, discussing trends in the American Jewish community. Podhoretz discusses increasing indifference to Israel and Jewish identity among the upcoming generations of American Jews, but also a trend toward greater religious observance in some sectors of the community. He further discusses the effects of Palestinian violence upon American Jewish political opinion, which, Podhoretz contends, remains supportive of Israel, but otherwise "stubbornly liberal".