OMG, I needed to read this! I personally have been in the process of rethinking my relationship to Zionism for over a decade. In that time, I've read the works of many Palestinians and now believe Palestinian resistance, in both its non-violent and armed expressions, is part of a long history of oppressed people resisting and throwing off the yoke of oppression. The liberation of Haiti, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Algeria and so many peoples were very violent, by necessity. I don't see how Palestine is any different.
At the same time, I have loved ones who are opposed to this Palestinian resistance who live in Palestine and are in danger. In no way do I feel their safety takes priority over liberation. And they are still my loved ones and I treasure my love for them.
I also am in constant conversation with Jews of a generation who see Zionism and Israel as a solution to the Nazi holocaust. These are painful and often leave me feeling angry and isolated.
All I know is I'm not going to unfuck this on my own.
Thoughtful piece I will share, as within our community this is an ongoing conversation. I feel strongly about Israel, and as strongly about the racism within Israel and the horrible right wing leadership, much like the racism and right wing MAGA leadership here. The move to save Soviet Jews resulted in the right wing governments in Israel, as they were individuals who only knew authoritarian government. And the Palestinians have not had any positive leadership either, from not accepting the land given by the UN in 1947 through today. It's all so complicated and sad.
Many societies have prejudices and abusive practices. If only societies without these ills deserved freedom, few of us would deserve to be free. By the same token, it breaks my heart when anyone suggests that Israelis have collectively forfeited their right to freedom and safety because of the state’s abuse of Palestinians. Moreover, many queer Palestinian activists vehemently oppose Israeli pinkwashing.
This is excellent. One thing that I think might be added to the conversation is some deeper understanding of the roots of Zionism. Particularly that it contained substantial contradictions from the start. It was both deeply anti-capitalist and also included now-repugnant racist ideas. It was rooted in a sense we today might call ecological (letting the desert bloom again) while also embracing a 19th-century colonialist white-centered viewpoint (savior complex).
We might understand peoples' complex relationships to Zionism through a lens that permits us to choose those elements of the idea that still resonate while discarding other elements. I see myself as both pro-Zionist and anti-Zionist due to these complexities.
Finally, we might acknowledge that non-Jewish forces have worked to shape the conception of Zionism along with specific threads inside Jewish thought. Maybe part of our work is to reclaim Zionism as a term to mean what we want it to mean. In my lifetime we have reclaimed the term "queer" from hostile takeover and I see forces in America that are working to reclaim "patriotism" from the hard-right militaristic elements that have taken it over here. If we agreed that had happened, what might it look like for progressive Jews of all colors to reclaim the term Zionism? Is that even possible?
This seems like you are trying to describe a single entity. There are many ideas that would be described as "zionisms" and that is true of rhe present. You express a desire to "reclaim" zionism. Is it possible that this is the problem? An intent to control the meaning for everyone?
For every inherently racist idea you think characterizes "zionism ....from the start" one could find many examples of just the opposite or of people grappling with diversity. Just as every modern culture does.
It's the obsession with making "zionism" something to be "for" or "against" that I think is a large part of the reason there's so much shouting.
I appreciate this post as I agree it is complex. And we can't change minds or hearts when we boil everything down with black and white thinking and accusations. I try to write about my understanding of Zionism here:
I came into my Zionism in my 40s through my belief that Israel has the right to exist - Jews living in their indigenous homeland. It does not mean that I approve of the government (far from it), war tactics, or policies enacted now or in the past. And it has been disheartening to see the way to meaning of the word Zionism has been skewed by both inside and outside forces.
I used to be a non-Zionist verging on anti-Zionist, but my views evolved. I have seen this happen in both directions. While I have been admittedly upset by some of the anti-Zionist rhetoric from other Jews, I would never accuse them of being any less Jewish than I am. Our community desperately needs each other, and I am terrified to see how fractured we have become.
This is a very useful statement. I was born before the founding of Israel and in my youth and my years until my middle age, I referred to myself as a Zionist. But now, in my older years and into my mid-80s, I now longer see any value to the word Zionist or, for that matter anti or non-Zionist.
Zionist was a movement striving to create a new nation for Jews in their original homeland. And in 1948 and since then, through its many wars, it has succeeded as a nation. The movement of Zionism achieved its goal and the term is no longer apt. I now say that I support the continued existence of the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, while strongly disagree with the policies of the current government of the Jewish state. If you are a believer and follow the Torah, you must accept our relationship with the decendents of the Canaanite tribes. and, if you are not a believer but are a cultural and/or humanistic Jew, you still must support a separate, meaningful state of Palestine. This is because the origin of the current Palestinians was there when we Hebrews/Israelites were there as well.
Yes, saying that you are a supporter of the existence of the state of Israel takes longer than saying you are a Zionist, yet I believe the former is more correct for the times since 1948.
Excellent column. To your point that “anti-Zionist” means many different things: Last fall a coalition of progressive Canadian Jewish organizations conducted a survey of Canadian Jews. They found that 51% identify as Zionist while 94%+ support the existence of the State of Israel.
For me, it's an acknowledgement that Israel does exist and working from there. Whether we "support" its existence or not, Israel is. And although this is obvious, there's so much angst and anger over whether it should exist at all.
Thank you for this important piece- it’s such a complicated story, but without this kind of context-setting, most people who don’t identify as followers of Judaism- like me— really can’t comprehend the situation. I’ve long been perplexed by the claim of Jewish ethnicity, which is surely a thing, but it is a religion and faith system initially, which- by its nature- allows any who wish to be believers into the fold.
I know only a little, but I’ve often wondered why these religion-based nations in constant discomfort do not sit together to have a profound conversation based on their religious texts. Are not the Torah and Quran the best guides for living in Peace with one another? Don’t they share characters like Abraham… aren’t the stories designed to help people live with a faith that secures peaceful behavior?
And I would like to insert the Earth-based religious perspective that:
no part of the Earth really ‘belongs’ to any human, or human group- the lines in the sands that we call nations. We are dust walking, and to dust we shall return. We are feet of and for clay, moving particles inspired by the life-force that is Love.
I think all religions all help people, but I think all religions need to adopt a framework that prioritizes the planet’s need for human peace, or those religions are misleading people to war and certain planetary destruction.
Thanks for a clear, dispassionate appraisal of the relationship between Jewish identity and Zionism. I am a Humanistic Jew who grew up in the 60s with a secular family that was basically agnostic about Israel, our Jewish identity was built around my family’s diasporic Ashkenazic experience and culture. I identify as non-Zionist for the reasons you have cited. My daughter who was brought up in the Secular Humanistic Judaism movement is firmly anti-Zionist because of the situation in Israel/Palestine. I’ve never been to Israel but I did visit my great grandparents graves in Warsaw. I take inspiration from Jewish anarchists and the Jewish Labor Bund who oppose nationalism. Even with all of this backstory of non-involvement with Israel I cannot escape the association with what the Israeli government is doing to the population of Gaza, so all of these distinctions matter and the conversation matters.
Reading your words are both empowering and liberating. I can only hope more and more people have the courage to restack and share your writings, because it does take courage. I am not afraid to carry your voice to as many people as I can.
To anyone reading this work who is as deeply touched and affirmed as I am, I am with you.
Rabbi thanks for this. I am thinking about this very much and teaching a course in the fall onn "zionisms and anti-zionisms in world history. " I believe that as you point out the terms have such strong polyvalence that the context of usage is crucial to give any meaning to these terms.
In this sense I believe that Jewish education has to get much more serious about teaching zionism (and anti-zionism) as having significance far broader than the political history of Israel. And likewise the history of the people, and politics, of Israel need to be better understood.
But at the same time, the broader context needs to be addressed. It's impossible at this moment not to expect that someone who defines themself as an "anti-zionist" not to arouse suspicion precisely because some (and not a small number) have historically and now are using that term to excuse indifference to the pain of Jews who have experienced very real harassment and exclusion ("zionists out" is exaxtly that). Id therefore like to suggest that just as those of is who consider ourselves zionists are actively studying and listening to those who say they oppose us or want us not to be teaching or speaking, then our fellow Jews who consider themselves "antizionist" might have an obligation to speak out on our behalf.
When have any if the major "antizionist Jewish" voices used their platform to speak against antisemitism that is directed at zionist Jews?
You write of many Jews having an engagement with "social justice." That's too is a term that has a wide range of meanings. Id encourage us to assume that all people believe themselves in favor of justice. And therefore not to try to position ourselves as being "for " it as a basis for our understandings.
I'd add that since for mnay the issue of "zionism" boils down to the question of the Palestinians, that the history of that concept and the social and political history of the various Arabs, Turkic and Phoenician peoples and cultures of the Levant, and the history and meaning of Christianity, ought to be part of what we think about when we think about zionism.
It's curious to me that this gets discussed as if the only actors are a very specific set of Jews at a particular time. It's a bit like talking about socialism and only considering the CPSU
It is so hard to hold sides, to see that both are right and both are wrong. Many Palestinians hold the land as so crucial to their identity, that anything other than complete return to all the land is not acceptable. And many Israels believe that anything other than Jewish control over our destiny, meaning government, military, etc, is suicide. the opposing side is seen as immoral, or at least hypocritical, as said by Recon Rabbis that pit our liberal morality against the actions of Israel, and even the creation of Israel as settler-colonial, etc.
Thank you for this thoughtful piece. Maybe if we get better at intra-Jewish dialogue about Zionism, we’ll also get better at deliberations with non-Jewish anti-Zionists.
It chills me when many (by no means all) pro-Palestinian protesters deny or celebrate Hamas’s atrocities. But good people can have blind spots - as you indicated, we Jews certainly have blind spots about Israel and Zionism.
While there are certainly bad actors, it makes no sense to view anti-Zionist gentiles in the worst possible light. Like the young, queer, Black and brown Jews that you give voice to, many of these non-Jews, particularly Palestinians, bring trauma and grief to present-day examples of occupation and violence. When they hear “Zionist” they hear “people who are actively engaged in or complicit with the violent dispossession of Palestinians.” That’s how many people feel about Trump supporters right now - they have trouble sympathizing with those for whom hatred and violence aren’t dealbreakers. That’s probably how many Jews felt about Germans decimated by Allies toward the end of WWII.
Dialogue is a tricky thing to undertake with non-Jewish anti-Zionists, because as they rightly note, it’s often weaponized to delay or deny justice. Here’s an interesting Quaker perspective in case you haven’t seen it: “When Dialogue Stands in the Way of Peace.” In contrast to the stereotype of Palestinian intransigence, the author notes that many Palestinian youth had participated in dialogues and came by their disillusionment honestly.
My only real “asks” for anti-Zionists are don’t drive us into the sea (which I don’t think most want to do anyway), don’t drive us out of the Levant en masse, and don’t turn us into second-class citizens. To that end, I try to emphasize the “push” factors of Zionism - namely that many Israelis are refugees or their descendants. But when I read this Guardian piece I thought, if these two compassionate, well-informed, and emotionally intelligent women (one Israeli, one Palestinian) were at an impasse, what hope there is for the rest of us?
On the bright side, there’s a strong will toward peace among Gazans. I was sold on a binational state until I saw this polling data indicating that nearly half of Gazans support a two-state solution and only 5% support a binational state. A two-state solution doesn’t preclude Palestinian right of return to Israel - with some international help, the state would still be in a position to ensure it was done on democratic terms with equal protection for all ethnic groups.
OMG, I needed to read this! I personally have been in the process of rethinking my relationship to Zionism for over a decade. In that time, I've read the works of many Palestinians and now believe Palestinian resistance, in both its non-violent and armed expressions, is part of a long history of oppressed people resisting and throwing off the yoke of oppression. The liberation of Haiti, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Algeria and so many peoples were very violent, by necessity. I don't see how Palestine is any different.
At the same time, I have loved ones who are opposed to this Palestinian resistance who live in Palestine and are in danger. In no way do I feel their safety takes priority over liberation. And they are still my loved ones and I treasure my love for them.
I also am in constant conversation with Jews of a generation who see Zionism and Israel as a solution to the Nazi holocaust. These are painful and often leave me feeling angry and isolated.
All I know is I'm not going to unfuck this on my own.
Thank you as always for your wisdom.
I always appreciate your words, Rabbi Sandra. “There is power in language, and often, that power is unevenly distributed.”
Thank you.
Thank you. I’ve been working on this one for a while.
Thoughtful piece I will share, as within our community this is an ongoing conversation. I feel strongly about Israel, and as strongly about the racism within Israel and the horrible right wing leadership, much like the racism and right wing MAGA leadership here. The move to save Soviet Jews resulted in the right wing governments in Israel, as they were individuals who only knew authoritarian government. And the Palestinians have not had any positive leadership either, from not accepting the land given by the UN in 1947 through today. It's all so complicated and sad.
If queer Americans think that they would be accepted in Palestine, they should guess again.
Many societies have prejudices and abusive practices. If only societies without these ills deserved freedom, few of us would deserve to be free. By the same token, it breaks my heart when anyone suggests that Israelis have collectively forfeited their right to freedom and safety because of the state’s abuse of Palestinians. Moreover, many queer Palestinian activists vehemently oppose Israeli pinkwashing.
This is excellent. One thing that I think might be added to the conversation is some deeper understanding of the roots of Zionism. Particularly that it contained substantial contradictions from the start. It was both deeply anti-capitalist and also included now-repugnant racist ideas. It was rooted in a sense we today might call ecological (letting the desert bloom again) while also embracing a 19th-century colonialist white-centered viewpoint (savior complex).
We might understand peoples' complex relationships to Zionism through a lens that permits us to choose those elements of the idea that still resonate while discarding other elements. I see myself as both pro-Zionist and anti-Zionist due to these complexities.
Finally, we might acknowledge that non-Jewish forces have worked to shape the conception of Zionism along with specific threads inside Jewish thought. Maybe part of our work is to reclaim Zionism as a term to mean what we want it to mean. In my lifetime we have reclaimed the term "queer" from hostile takeover and I see forces in America that are working to reclaim "patriotism" from the hard-right militaristic elements that have taken it over here. If we agreed that had happened, what might it look like for progressive Jews of all colors to reclaim the term Zionism? Is that even possible?
This seems like you are trying to describe a single entity. There are many ideas that would be described as "zionisms" and that is true of rhe present. You express a desire to "reclaim" zionism. Is it possible that this is the problem? An intent to control the meaning for everyone?
For every inherently racist idea you think characterizes "zionism ....from the start" one could find many examples of just the opposite or of people grappling with diversity. Just as every modern culture does.
It's the obsession with making "zionism" something to be "for" or "against" that I think is a large part of the reason there's so much shouting.
I appreciate this post as I agree it is complex. And we can't change minds or hearts when we boil everything down with black and white thinking and accusations. I try to write about my understanding of Zionism here:
https://freshlybakedhell.substack.com/p/what-does-zionist-really-mean
I came into my Zionism in my 40s through my belief that Israel has the right to exist - Jews living in their indigenous homeland. It does not mean that I approve of the government (far from it), war tactics, or policies enacted now or in the past. And it has been disheartening to see the way to meaning of the word Zionism has been skewed by both inside and outside forces.
I used to be a non-Zionist verging on anti-Zionist, but my views evolved. I have seen this happen in both directions. While I have been admittedly upset by some of the anti-Zionist rhetoric from other Jews, I would never accuse them of being any less Jewish than I am. Our community desperately needs each other, and I am terrified to see how fractured we have become.
This is a very useful statement. I was born before the founding of Israel and in my youth and my years until my middle age, I referred to myself as a Zionist. But now, in my older years and into my mid-80s, I now longer see any value to the word Zionist or, for that matter anti or non-Zionist.
Zionist was a movement striving to create a new nation for Jews in their original homeland. And in 1948 and since then, through its many wars, it has succeeded as a nation. The movement of Zionism achieved its goal and the term is no longer apt. I now say that I support the continued existence of the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, while strongly disagree with the policies of the current government of the Jewish state. If you are a believer and follow the Torah, you must accept our relationship with the decendents of the Canaanite tribes. and, if you are not a believer but are a cultural and/or humanistic Jew, you still must support a separate, meaningful state of Palestine. This is because the origin of the current Palestinians was there when we Hebrews/Israelites were there as well.
Yes, saying that you are a supporter of the existence of the state of Israel takes longer than saying you are a Zionist, yet I believe the former is more correct for the times since 1948.
Thank you. I appreciate your specificity.
Excellent column. To your point that “anti-Zionist” means many different things: Last fall a coalition of progressive Canadian Jewish organizations conducted a survey of Canadian Jews. They found that 51% identify as Zionist while 94%+ support the existence of the State of Israel.
Here is a dvar Torah I wrote when the survey came out. It’s not as carefully thought out as your piece. https://www.sophiastreet.com/2024/12/23/canadas-jews-diverse-views-on-israel/
Thank you very much. Your dear reminded me of much I'd forgotten ans provided a very useful perpective on the family of us Jews.
This is so interesting! I am desperate for people to understand that Zionism can be as simple as supporting the existence of the state of Israel!
For me, it's an acknowledgement that Israel does exist and working from there. Whether we "support" its existence or not, Israel is. And although this is obvious, there's so much angst and anger over whether it should exist at all.
No state has a right to exist.
Yeah the delta is simply the group of people who want to eat the sausage without knowing how it’s made.
Thank you for this important piece- it’s such a complicated story, but without this kind of context-setting, most people who don’t identify as followers of Judaism- like me— really can’t comprehend the situation. I’ve long been perplexed by the claim of Jewish ethnicity, which is surely a thing, but it is a religion and faith system initially, which- by its nature- allows any who wish to be believers into the fold.
I know only a little, but I’ve often wondered why these religion-based nations in constant discomfort do not sit together to have a profound conversation based on their religious texts. Are not the Torah and Quran the best guides for living in Peace with one another? Don’t they share characters like Abraham… aren’t the stories designed to help people live with a faith that secures peaceful behavior?
And I would like to insert the Earth-based religious perspective that:
no part of the Earth really ‘belongs’ to any human, or human group- the lines in the sands that we call nations. We are dust walking, and to dust we shall return. We are feet of and for clay, moving particles inspired by the life-force that is Love.
I think all religions all help people, but I think all religions need to adopt a framework that prioritizes the planet’s need for human peace, or those religions are misleading people to war and certain planetary destruction.
Thanks for a clear, dispassionate appraisal of the relationship between Jewish identity and Zionism. I am a Humanistic Jew who grew up in the 60s with a secular family that was basically agnostic about Israel, our Jewish identity was built around my family’s diasporic Ashkenazic experience and culture. I identify as non-Zionist for the reasons you have cited. My daughter who was brought up in the Secular Humanistic Judaism movement is firmly anti-Zionist because of the situation in Israel/Palestine. I’ve never been to Israel but I did visit my great grandparents graves in Warsaw. I take inspiration from Jewish anarchists and the Jewish Labor Bund who oppose nationalism. Even with all of this backstory of non-involvement with Israel I cannot escape the association with what the Israeli government is doing to the population of Gaza, so all of these distinctions matter and the conversation matters.
Reading your words are both empowering and liberating. I can only hope more and more people have the courage to restack and share your writings, because it does take courage. I am not afraid to carry your voice to as many people as I can.
To anyone reading this work who is as deeply touched and affirmed as I am, I am with you.
Rabbi thanks for this. I am thinking about this very much and teaching a course in the fall onn "zionisms and anti-zionisms in world history. " I believe that as you point out the terms have such strong polyvalence that the context of usage is crucial to give any meaning to these terms.
In this sense I believe that Jewish education has to get much more serious about teaching zionism (and anti-zionism) as having significance far broader than the political history of Israel. And likewise the history of the people, and politics, of Israel need to be better understood.
But at the same time, the broader context needs to be addressed. It's impossible at this moment not to expect that someone who defines themself as an "anti-zionist" not to arouse suspicion precisely because some (and not a small number) have historically and now are using that term to excuse indifference to the pain of Jews who have experienced very real harassment and exclusion ("zionists out" is exaxtly that). Id therefore like to suggest that just as those of is who consider ourselves zionists are actively studying and listening to those who say they oppose us or want us not to be teaching or speaking, then our fellow Jews who consider themselves "antizionist" might have an obligation to speak out on our behalf.
When have any if the major "antizionist Jewish" voices used their platform to speak against antisemitism that is directed at zionist Jews?
You write of many Jews having an engagement with "social justice." That's too is a term that has a wide range of meanings. Id encourage us to assume that all people believe themselves in favor of justice. And therefore not to try to position ourselves as being "for " it as a basis for our understandings.
I'd add that since for mnay the issue of "zionism" boils down to the question of the Palestinians, that the history of that concept and the social and political history of the various Arabs, Turkic and Phoenician peoples and cultures of the Levant, and the history and meaning of Christianity, ought to be part of what we think about when we think about zionism.
It's curious to me that this gets discussed as if the only actors are a very specific set of Jews at a particular time. It's a bit like talking about socialism and only considering the CPSU
It is so hard to hold sides, to see that both are right and both are wrong. Many Palestinians hold the land as so crucial to their identity, that anything other than complete return to all the land is not acceptable. And many Israels believe that anything other than Jewish control over our destiny, meaning government, military, etc, is suicide. the opposing side is seen as immoral, or at least hypocritical, as said by Recon Rabbis that pit our liberal morality against the actions of Israel, and even the creation of Israel as settler-colonial, etc.
Thank you for this thoughtful piece. Maybe if we get better at intra-Jewish dialogue about Zionism, we’ll also get better at deliberations with non-Jewish anti-Zionists.
It chills me when many (by no means all) pro-Palestinian protesters deny or celebrate Hamas’s atrocities. But good people can have blind spots - as you indicated, we Jews certainly have blind spots about Israel and Zionism.
While there are certainly bad actors, it makes no sense to view anti-Zionist gentiles in the worst possible light. Like the young, queer, Black and brown Jews that you give voice to, many of these non-Jews, particularly Palestinians, bring trauma and grief to present-day examples of occupation and violence. When they hear “Zionist” they hear “people who are actively engaged in or complicit with the violent dispossession of Palestinians.” That’s how many people feel about Trump supporters right now - they have trouble sympathizing with those for whom hatred and violence aren’t dealbreakers. That’s probably how many Jews felt about Germans decimated by Allies toward the end of WWII.
Dialogue is a tricky thing to undertake with non-Jewish anti-Zionists, because as they rightly note, it’s often weaponized to delay or deny justice. Here’s an interesting Quaker perspective in case you haven’t seen it: “When Dialogue Stands in the Way of Peace.” In contrast to the stereotype of Palestinian intransigence, the author notes that many Palestinian youth had participated in dialogues and came by their disillusionment honestly.
https://www.friendsjournal.org/palestine-normalization-peace/
My only real “asks” for anti-Zionists are don’t drive us into the sea (which I don’t think most want to do anyway), don’t drive us out of the Levant en masse, and don’t turn us into second-class citizens. To that end, I try to emphasize the “push” factors of Zionism - namely that many Israelis are refugees or their descendants. But when I read this Guardian piece I thought, if these two compassionate, well-informed, and emotionally intelligent women (one Israeli, one Palestinian) were at an impasse, what hope there is for the rest of us?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/13/israel-palestine-7-october-gaza-orna-guralnik?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
On the bright side, there’s a strong will toward peace among Gazans. I was sold on a binational state until I saw this polling data indicating that nearly half of Gazans support a two-state solution and only 5% support a binational state. A two-state solution doesn’t preclude Palestinian right of return to Israel - with some international help, the state would still be in a position to ensure it was done on democratic terms with equal protection for all ethnic groups.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/21/people-gaza-future-hamas-poll?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
- ?
Faith is about concepts a person selectively chooses to guide them through life. Anyone can be anything.