This law professor wants to build a US Jewish consensus in an age of deep polarization

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, a law professor at DePaul University, discusses her new book 'Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to Do About It' in an interview with JTA. She argues that a majority consensus exists among American Jews on Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, fighting antisemitism, and accepting criticism of Israeli policies as legitimate. Kwall excludes anti-Zionists from her proposed consensus.

In an interview with JTA, Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, a law professor at DePaul University, discusses her new book 'Polarized: Why American Jews Are Divided and What to Do About It.' Kwall argues that American Jewry is deeply polarized, with the primary divide between politically and religiously liberal Jews (75% of the community) and politically and religiously conservative Jews, largely Orthodox. She distinguishes this polarization from healthy diversity by pointing to a trend of vilification, where disagreement leads to labeling opponents as immoral. Kwall proposes a majority consensus that includes recognition of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, a commitment to fighting antisemitism across the political spectrum, and acceptance that criticism of Israeli government policies is legitimate. She explicitly excludes anti-Zionists from this consensus, stating that a tent without walls collapses. The interview covers the causes of polarization, the asymmetry between left and right in different environments, and the challenge of building a sensible middle ground.