J Street and Current Directions in American Muslim-Jewish Dialogue

Abstract

There are those in the American Jewish community who argue that the issue of Israel and Palestine drives such an intractable wedge between American Jews and American Muslims that dialogue between the two groups is at best undesirable and at worst impossible. We disagree with this position. We begin this essay with the assertion that such dialogue is necessary on both practical and moral grounds. Thereafter, in light of the necessity for such dialogue, we address how the emergence of J Street as a political force within the American Jewish community, however controversial it may be regarded in some Jewish quarters, is ultimately a positive development for facilitating such dialogue. This essay is predicated on the notion that the American Jewish community needs to recognize that such a development does more than foster a much-needed Jewish-Muslim conversation in the United States. It also promotes a connection and allegiance to Israel on the part of a significant number of younger Jews, whom recent polls have shown are growing increasingly hostile or indifferent to the Jewish state.