Why did Jews become devoted Democrats, and why do many now feel alienated from the political movement they once helped shape?

For more than a century, Jewish Americans have been among the most dedicated supporters of liberal causes in the United States. They played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement, the labor movement, the fight for reproductive rights, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. For many Jewish voters, support for Democratic ideals was not merely political—it was deeply connected to their values, history, and identity.

Yet, as Batya Ungar-Sargon argues in The Jews and the Left, that longstanding alliance is facing unprecedented strain. According to Ungar-Sargon, a growing segment of the modern Left has become increasingly hostile toward Israel and, in some cases, tolerant of rhetoric that many Jews view as antisemitic. Political debates that once united Jewish Americans and progressive activists now often expose deep divisions over Zionism, Jewish identity, and the future of Israel.

To understand how this transformation occurred, Ungar-Sargon guides readers through the rich and complex history of Jewish participation in American political life. From George Washington's famous letter to the Jewish community and the contributions of overlooked Jewish founders, to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the Leo Frank case, the Civil Rights era, and the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, she traces the events that shaped the relationship between Jews and the American Left.

While many Americans associate antisemitism primarily with the political right, Ungar-Sargon contends that the story is more complicated. She examines what she describes as a distinctly left-wing form of antisemitism, exploring how ideological movements, identity politics, and changing political priorities have altered one of the most influential partnerships in American history.

The Jews and the Left is a provocative historical examination of the alliance between Jewish Americans and progressive politics, offering readers a deeper understanding of its origins, achievements, tensions, and growing fractures in the twenty-first century.Why did Jews become devoted Democrats, and why do many now feel alienated from the political movement they once helped shape?

For more than a century, Jewish Americans have been among the most dedicated supporters of liberal causes in the United States. They played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement, the labor movement, the fight for reproductive rights, and the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. For many Jewish voters, support for Democratic ideals was not merely political—it was deeply connected to their values, history, and identity.

Yet, as Batya Ungar-Sargon argues in The Jews and the Left, that longstanding alliance is facing unprecedented strain. According to Ungar-Sargon, a growing segment of the modern Left has become increasingly hostile toward Israel and, in some cases, tolerant of rhetoric that many Jews view as antisemitic. Political debates that once united Jewish Americans and progressive activists now often expose deep divisions over Zionism, Jewish identity, and the future of Israel.

To understand how this transformation occurred, Ungar-Sargon guides readers through the rich and complex history of Jewish participation in American political life. From George Washington's famous letter to the Jewish community and the contributions of overlooked Jewish founders, to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the Leo Frank case, the Civil Rights era, and the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, she traces the events that shaped the relationship between Jews and the American Left.

While many Americans associate antisemitism primarily with the political right, Ungar-Sargon contends that the story is more complicated. She examines what she describes as a distinctly left-wing form of antisemitism, exploring how ideological movements, identity politics, and changing political priorities h