The Brian Lehrer Show How Gaza and Zionism Are Dividing Synagogues
Mar 31, 2026
Eyal Press, New Yorker writer who reported on synagogue splits over Israel and Gaza. He walks through congregational rifts, rabbis avoiding or taking stands, and how family and generational tensions play out in worship spaces. Short scenes and caller voices illustrate the cultural and moral flashpoints tearing communities apart.
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American Jews Are Deeply Divided Over Gaza
- American Jewish opinion on the Gaza war is roughly split nearly 50/50, exposing a fractured community rather than a monolith.
- Eyal Press emphasizes this division at synagogues like Congregation Beth El and contrasts it with past unified moments like the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Reject The Myth Of Jewish Monolithic Opinion
- The perception of Jews as a unified political bloc is outdated and dangerous; American Jewish views on Israel have never been monolithic and are now more diverse than ever.
- Press emphasizes historical diversity within Jewish opinion and the contemporary amplification of those differences.
Member Protests With Sign Saying Starvation Violates Jewish Values
- Nat Felder, a synagogue member with family in Israel, stood outside his congregation with a homemade sign criticizing Israel's blockade and urging that starvation is against Jewish values.
- His sign read "starvation is against Jewish values. Our support of Israel cannot be unconditional," sparking conflict at Congregation Beth El.