INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF ANTIZIONISM
By Kenneth Levin, “Varieties of Jewish Antizionism”
Andrew Pessin
March 22, 2026

Abstract: Levin’s essay analyzes contemporary Jewish antizionism as a recurring psychological and historical response to antisemitic pressure rather than a purely principled political stance. He identifies multiple forms, from overtly anti-Israel activism to institutional alignments that downplay threats to Israel while embracing movements hostile to it. Levin situates these patterns within a longer history of Jewish efforts to gain acceptance by internalizing external criticisms, from Enlightenment-era reforms to modern progressive politics. The essay’s central contribution is its argument that antizionism often reflects a maladaptive strategy of appeasement, misdiagnosing antisemitism as a reaction to Israel and thereby weakening both Jewish self-understanding and collective security. READ MORE