Israelism: The Awakening of Young American Jews

Direccted by Erin Axelman and Sam Eilertsen (2024)

Film Review

American millennial Jews are becoming increasingly critical of Israel’s violent occupation of Palestine. This film follows two young American Jews, whose views on Israel shifted 180 degrees after they visited Palestine and witnessed the mistreatment of Palestinians by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). The first a woman, Simone Zimmerman; the second Aitan, who, after enlisting in the IDF, witnessed fellow troops brutalizing Palestinians.

Both Simone and Aitan experienced very traditional Jewish upbringings, attending private Jewish schools and summer camps and participating in organized trips to Israel. In both cases, what they now see as systematic brainwashing, led them to strongly identify their Judaism with the success of Greater Israel.* During high school trips to Israel, they were “encouraged” to wear military uniforms, learn to shoot weapons and engage in military games.

Along with with consistent pressure to join the IDF, they were also pressured to attend AIPAC (American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee) conferences and lobby US politicians on behalf of Israel. Simone reveals that following graduation, 10% of her high school class enlisted in the IDF.

In her first year of university, Simone was troubled by the testimonials of young Palestinians encountered speaking out against AIPAC  and US support for Israel’s genocidal policies. Through them she met a Palestinian educator who takes young Jews from all over the world on tours of the West Bank and Gaza. Despite being brought up to hate Palestinians, who she encountered were open, welcoming people living ordinary lives. In the West Bank, she met farmers who talked about beaten at checkpoints, about settlers throwing dead animals and chemicals in their wells and about the government housing ban that forced them to live in caves.

Aitan is a young American Jew who eventually served two years in the IDF, fully believing everything he was taught about Palestine being empty land prior to the arrival of empty Jews, about non-Jews who lived their previously treating the land poorly and about all Palestinians wanting to kill Jews.

Shocked and dismayed as he watched fellow IDF members drive innocent Palestinian families from their homes to use them as military outpost, his reaction on witnessing the brutal beating of a Palestinian workman arbitrarily detained at checkpoint was profound shame at not speaking out.

Becoming heavily involved in the Jewish Voice for Peace and the Boycott and Divest Movement after returning to the US, Simone has lost many of her childhood and AIPAC friends. In fact at many protests, millennials find their parents on the other side of the fence

She’s very concerned that Israel’s current genocidal campaign in Gaza is greatly increasing open antisemitism among white power groups, resulting in open attacks on full synagogues. It distresses her that the American Jewish community is wiling to sacrifice the American Jewish community for the political future of Israel.

*”Greater Israel” refers to a long term Zionist campaign to incorporate Egypt, Syria and Lebanon into the state of Israel, along with parts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.