Federations Reassess Zionist Label in U.S. Jewish Surveys

Jewish federation leaders are reassessing how American Jews use the word Zionist after a new Milwaukee Jewish Federation study and national JFNA findings showed a gap between attachment to Israel and the label itself. The Milwaukee survey found 43% of Jewish adults identify as Zionist and 42% do not, while 69% feel emotionally attached to Israel and 84% say it is important for Israel to be a Jewish state. The national findings put Zionist self-identification at 37% while 88% support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish, democratic state. Milwaukee Federation CEO Miryam Rosenzweig said she is drafting a strategic plan and wants to focus on commonality rather than persuading half the local Jews to adopt the label. Brandeis researcher Matthew Boxer said around a dozen federations have asked some version of the question since Chicago's 2020 survey.