Gaza Crisis Sparks Deep Debate Among North Jersey Jews as Images of Suffering Intensify
The 7th of August 2025 — North Jersey, NJ:
As the situation in Gaza gets worse for people in need, many Jewish towns in North Jersey are having to make hard moral choices. The war, which has been going on for almost two years, has caused American Jews to argue about difficult issues, especially since the news is full of upsetting pictures of children going hungry and hospitals being destroyed.
North Jersey has strong ties to Israel because it has one of the largest Jewish communities in the U.S. But now, even people who believe Israel has the right to defend itself are wondering how much of the pain in Gaza is really necessary.
“This Can’t Be Ignored Anymore”
Many, especially younger, more liberal Jews, think the situation has gone too far. The stories of starvation, sickness, and civilian casualties in Gaza worry them.
A nearby synagogue member stated, “I understand Israel’s fear after October 7,” referring to Hamas’ attack that launched the war and killed many. “How can we look away and say this is okay when hospitals are being bombed and families are going hungry?”
Gaza has food shortages, no clean water, and broken medical services, as the UN and human rights groups have warned numerous times. A lot of people who work with aid say that the area is almost starving.
Games of Blame Split Opinions
There isn’t a clear agreement among Jews about who is to blame. Some say Israel is doing what it needs to do to keep its people safe. Some people say it’s not worth the risk to Palestinian citizens.
A person from North Jersey named Arthur Kook who has ties to Israel thinks that Hamas is to blame for the pain. “Some aid is coming in,” he says, “but Hamas takes it from the people.”
But some people, like Rabbi Anat Katzir from Oradell, think it’s not that easy. “There isn’t a key difference between the crises. The hostages that Hamas took and the pain that the people of Gaza are going through are both tragedies,” she said. “I agree, we need to work to stop both.”
Changes in U.S. Jewish Views Are Shown by Polls
New polls show that the mood of American Jews is changing:
According to a study done by the Jewish People Policy Institute in July 2025, 45% of American Jews think Israel has been too aggressive in Gaza.
33% of people don’t think Israel is “winning” the war.
Another May 2025 poll indicated that 61% of American Jews dislike Benjamin Netanyahu and think the war is political rather than military.
Even still, 69% of Jews think they have a deep personal connection to Israel. This circumstance damages many because of that.
More Global Peace Pressure
International pressure is growing. France, the UK, and Canada—Israel’s closest allies—have publicly discussed recognizing the Palestinians as a state. Images of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis have raised awareness.
There is more and more criticism of even the Israeli government. It says, “There is no starvation in Gaza,” but journalists and aid groups on the ground say something very different.
A Problem That Can’t Be Solved Easily
In October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,200 people and took about 250 prisoners. This was the start of the war. Since then, Israel’s military assault has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health professionals. It’s unclear how many are fighters or bystanders.
No one can dismiss these facts in North Jersey. Many disagree on what created the difficulties, but most agree that Gaza’s suffering must end.
Prioritize People Over Politics
Many Jews in New Jersey and the U.S. emphasize human values over politics or religion. Whatever you blame—Hamas, Israel, or both—innocent people are dying.
One Bergen County resident said, “This isn’t who we are. Our teachers instill life values. All lives must be considered.”
