There’s no question J Street is far outside the mainstream of the Jewish community. But does that mean its views are mistaken?
On the eve of his recent visit to Cleveland, J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami told reporters there that it’s a “common misconception” that his group is “outside of the mainstream.”
It’s no misconception. It’s a fact. In 2014, J Street’s application to join the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations was decisively rejected in a vote by its member-organizations. Note that most of those organizations are on the political left or center, not the right.
Around the same time, J Street also inquired about joining another mainstream umbrella group, the American Zionist Movement—but J Street backed off when it was clear that a majority of the AZM’s members would reject it, too.