Abstract
Fascination with the famed “Black-Jewish coalition” in the United States, whether real or imaginary, is hardly a new phenomenon of academic interest. Much has been written on the complex, ever-evolving web of reciprocity that once characterized this strategic partnership along the liberal-left spectrum. However, the current trend of inter-community distance and at times, disdain, between white Jews and Black non-Jews points to a tragic divorce with shared interests long diverged. But how did we get here? While race and class remain the primary points of group departure, I argue that Israel and Zionism’s role in the American Jewish consciousness created under-examined flashpoints of tension. Their complication of Jewish identity, interests, and allegiances mounted Black-Jewish friction and served to solidify the ever-expanding divide.