A recent Jerusalem Post report carried an intriguing finding: A majority of “connected” American Jews surveyed by the Jewish People Policy Institute would prefer to see Israel’s opposition defeat the current governing coalition in the upcoming election.
My first reaction was not surprise at the result. It was: Why are we asking?
The survey was conducted by JPPI, an Israeli think tank headquartered in Jerusalem. Its “Voice of the Jewish People” panel surveyed 804 American Jews. Fifty-four percent preferred an opposition victory, while 14% favored the current coalition. Another 24% said it was not their place to express a preference.
That last group may have had a point.
JPPI itself acknowledges an important limitation: Its sample is not representative of all American Jews. Rather, it is intended to reflect the views of Jews who are relatively connected to Jewish life, Israel, or Jewish identity. That qualification matters.
