New Jewish Narrative is a left-of-center political advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. The group advocates for a “progressive Israel” that would grant equality for people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds within the country consistent with the Charter of the United Nations while also citing language from the Israeli Declaration of Independence. ^{1 2}

New Jewish Narrative was formed through the merger of two separate left-of-center Jewish activist groups: Americans for Peace Now (APN) and Ameinu. ¹

Background

New Jewish Narrative was created through the merger of two seperate Jewish activist groups, Americans for Peace Now (APN) and Ameinu. ^{1 3}

Activities

New Jewish Narrative is a left-of-center political activist group based in Washington, D.C. that advocates in favor of a “progressive Israel” that would guarantee total equality for people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds within the country consistent with the Charter of the United Nations, citing language from the Israeli Declaration of Independence. ^{1 2}

In February 2024, New Jewish Narrative announced support for Biden administration‘s Executive Order 14115, as well as the SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act to codify the order, that would introduce sanctions against Jews living in the disputed territory of the West Bank who were accused of committing violence in the region. In a press release on its website, the group claimed that holding “bad actors” responsible would help in fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. ⁴

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks against the State of Israel, in 2024, New Jewish Narrative created a petition on its website to oppose any Israeli settlements within the Gaza Strip. The group claimed that such settlements were  “an initiative driven by a fanatical, messianic minority that betrays the values of justice and peace central to our Jewish heritage.” ⁵

Partners

New Jewish Narratives has partnered with several activist organizations including the Peace Now movement (Shalom Achshav), Habonim Dror, J-Link, and pro-Palestine group Project Rozana. ⁶

Leadership

Hadar Susskind is the president and CEO of New Jewish Narrative as of 2024. Susskind previously worked as the senior vice president of government relations for the Council on Foundations, was the director of both Bend the Arc Jewish Action and Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC, was the vice president of the Tides Foundation, was vice president for policy and strategy at J Street, and also worked as both vice president and Washington director for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). He also held several positions with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and the Israel Policy Forum. As of 2024, Susskind sits on the board of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. He previously sat on the board of the Coalition on Human Needs, on the public policy committee of Independent Sector, on the leadership council of Nonprofit VOTE, and on the board of Ameinu. ⁷

As of 2024, Nomi Colton-Max and Tom Feldman were the co-chairs of New Jewish Narrative. ⁸

1. “Welcome to New Jewish Narrative.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 14, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/statements/welcome-to-new-jewish-narrative.
2. “Declaration of Israel’s Independence, 1948.” Yale Law School – Lillian Goldman Law Library. Accessed December 14, 2024. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/israel.asp.
3. “Our Story.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/our-story.
4. “New Jewish Narrative Welcomes Introduction of SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/statements/new-jewish-narrative-welcomes-introduction-of-west-bank-stability-act.
5. “An Open Letter From American Jews in Opposition to the Establishment of Israeli Settlements in Gaza.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://newjewishnarrative.salsalabs.org/NJNOpenLetter1252024/index.html.
6. “Partners.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/partners.
7. “Our Staff.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 14, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/staff.
8. “Board of Directors.” New Jewish Narrative. Accessed December 15, 2024. https://www.newjewishnarrative.org/board.