J Street forms advisory council with former Jewish establishment leaders

J Street, an American Jewish advocacy group that identifies as pro-Israel and pro-peace, is forming a Jewish Community Advisory Council. The initiative aims to secure a position within the mainstream Jewish establishment by recruiting former leaders from prominent organizations.

The council includes past leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the UJA-Federation of New York. Through this move, J Street seeks to demonstrate that its policy positions—which include criticizing the Israeli military's conduct in Gaza and advocating for U.S. pressure on Israel to reach a peace agreement—should not preclude it from being a central voice in the community.

This development occurs amid shifting perspectives within the American Jewish community, particularly among younger generations who show increasing alienation from Israel. While J Street positions itself as a moderate voice capable of bridging gaps within the Democratic Party, the move remains controversial among some traditional leaders who express concern regarding the group's critiques of Israeli security.