ABSTRACT
Western Jewish communities outside of Israel were confronted by common internal and external challenges. In South Africa, by the way of contrast, Zionism was the official communal ideology and that of the communal leadership and major institutions from very early in this century. In France, the official and recognized bodies of the Jewish community remained either reserved or hostile to Zionism right up until 1945, reflecting clearly the views of their native-born French Jewish leadership. The process was reinforced by the rapid socioeconomic mobility of large numbers of Jews, recognition of which some desired to express via community leadership. The unity of the Jewish communities and, therefore, their political influence was weakened by conflict between those swayed by ideologies of the Left and those who concentrated on Jewish concerns. The impact of the socialist cause upon the Jewish community was generally to weaken the Jewish community by diverting its members away from Jewish values and aspirations.
