The Israel Challenge: Jewish Institutions, Peoplehood, and Young Jewish Engagement.

At the fourth meeting of the CJPE Circle of Fellows, held on February 26, 2025, participants explored the complex and often fraught relationship between younger Jews and Jewish communal institutions—particularly around questions of Israel, belonging, and Peoplehood.

Featuring presentations by Dr. Keren Fraiman (Spertus Institute) and Barak Sella (Harvard Belfer Center), the session centered on the generational divide: younger Jews are not rejecting Jewish Peoplehood, but they are challenging the idea that belonging requires ideological conformity. Many seek spaces where their concerns about Israel—often shaped by broader generational values of justice and inclusion—can be expressed without fear of being labeled disloyal or excluded.

Fraiman highlighted the challenges educators face in navigating emotionally charged discussions about Israel, including institutional hesitancy, lack of training in conflict facilitation, and fear of backlash. Without support and a clear values-based culture, many educators avoid these conversations altogether—leaving young people to seek answers elsewhere.

Sella pointed to a growing disconnect: while younger Jews continue to engage with Israel, many feel their voices are dismissed or delegitimized within Jewish spaces. He argued that institutions must evolve to reflect the lived realities and moral frameworks of the next generation, grounding Peoplehood not in rigid ideology but in open, values-driven dialogue.

Fellows emphasized that discomfort is not a threat but a catalyst for deeper learning. The conversation framed Peoplehood as a dynamic process—one that thrives on honest engagement with difference. Ultimately, the group wrestled with the question: Will our institutions act as gatekeepers of acceptable discourse, or as facilitators of meaningful, pluralistic belonging?

As the CJPE Circle continues its work, the urgency grows to support educators and institutions in cultivating cultures of trust, curiosity, and courageous conversation—especially around the most difficult topics. Read the full meeting summary here.