How to Talk to Your Children About Being a Proud Zionist
A friendly and slightly comical guide for parents on how to raise proud Zionist children by teaching them confidence, resilience, and the ability to counter misinformation with knowledge and humor.
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Let’s face it: Being a Zionist today is not for the faint of heart.
Once upon a time, supporting Israel was about as controversial as saying you like pizza.
But now?
Now, being an outspoken Zionist can feel like you’ve just announced at a dinner party that pineapple belongs on pizza. (For the record, it does, but that’s another debate.)
If you’re raising kids in today’s world, you’ve probably already encountered a tricky moment when little Sarah or David comes home and says, “Mom, my friend told me Israel is bad. What do I say?”
And that’s when you realize: It’s time for The Talk.
No, not that talk. The talk about why being a Zionist is not just okay, but something to be proud of.
Here’s how to do it without making your kid’s eyes glaze over or, worse, turning them into the human embodiment of a Wikipedia page.
1) Start with the basics (and make it relatable).
Kids like things they can relate to. So instead of launching into a history lesson about the Balfour Declaration (which will lose them faster than you can say “1917”), start with something simple:
“Imagine if everyone told you that you’re not allowed to have a home. That no matter where you go, you don’t really belong. That’s what happened to the Jewish people for thousands of years. And then we finally got a home — Israel! That’s Zionism. It means believing that Jews have the right to our own country, just like everyone else.”
See? Easy to understand.
Now, if your kid is a history buff, by all means, go deeper. But if they’re like most kids, keep it short, simple, and tied to their sense of fairness.
2) Address the elephant (or Twitter mob) in the room.
At some point, your kid will ask, “But why do so many people hate Zionism?” And this is where you take a deep breath, sip your coffee (or whiskey, no judgment), and say:
“Some people don’t really know what Zionism is. Others have been told scary-sounding things that aren’t true. And some just don’t like Jews very much. We can’t control what other people believe, but we can stand up for the truth.”
Then, arm them with facts: Zionism isn’t racism. It’s not colonialism. And it’s not about harming others. It’s about Jewish self-determination in our historic homeland. End of story.
3) Teach them to be fearless.
There’s a difference between being outspoken and being that person who picks fights on social media. Teach your kid that being proud of Israel doesn’t mean they have to argue with every classmate who thinks they’re an expert because they watched an influencer’s 30-second Instagram story.
Instead, give them tools:
Ask questions like, “What do you think Zionism means?” (Most people have no clue.)
Share personal stories — maybe about a family trip to Israel, a cool Israeli invention, or even how their great-grandparents survived because of the Jewish state.
If all else fails, remind them of Israel’s incredible contributions to the world. (“You like your cherry tomatoes? You’re welcome.”)
4) Make it cool (because it is).
Let’s be honest: Kids want to be cool. And Zionism, despite what some may say, is cool. Israel is a country of innovation, resilience, and, yes, even world-class hummus. From saving lives with medical tech to being the first country to send aid during disasters, Israel embodies everything awesome.
Teach your child that being a Zionist doesn’t mean being defensive; it means being part of something inspiring. Zionism is about strength, courage, and standing up for what’s right, even when it’s not popular. (And isn’t that what every superhero movie is about?)
5) Remind them that they’re not alone.
One of the hardest things about being an outspoken Zionist today is feeling isolated. Make sure your kids know they’re not alone. There are millions of Jews and non-Jews alike who support Israel. Encourage them to find friends, communities, and even online spaces where they can be proud of who they are without fear.
And if all else fails?
Just tell them that supporting Israel means they get access to the best food, the coolest tech, and a lifetime supply of Jewish pride. That should do the trick.
6) Teach them to recognize misinformation (and fight it with humor).
The internet is a wonderful place — until it’s not. One minute, your kid is watching cat videos, and the next, they’re being told that Israel is an “apartheid state” by a 17-year-old influencer who couldn’t find Tel Aviv on a map if their life depended on it.
Teach your child to be skeptical of everything they see online. Encourage them to fact-check, look for reliable sources, and — when appropriate — use humor to shut down ridiculous claims.
For example, when someone says, “Israel is committing genocide,” your kid can calmly ask, “If that’s true, why is the Palestinian population growing every year?” And if they get hit with, “Israel is a white colonial state,” they can reply, “Tell that to my cousin from Morocco.”
Misinformation thrives on emotion, so teaching kids to stay calm, ask good questions, and use a bit of humor can go a long way.
7) Lead by example.
Kids are like little sponges. They absorb what they see, hear, and — most importantly — what their parents do. If you want your child to be a proud Zionist, you have to be one, too. That doesn’t mean you need to start debating strangers at the grocery store, but it does mean:
Speaking about Israel positively at home.
Celebrating Israeli achievements, holidays, and culture.
Showing them that being Zionist is not just about defending Israel—it’s about loving it.
Take them to an Israeli restaurant, play Israeli music, or — if you can — visit Israel together. The more they experience the beauty, history, and vibrancy of Israel firsthand, the more connected they’ll feel.
At the end of the day, raising a proud Zionist kid is about instilling confidence, knowledge, and resilience. They don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room, but they should never feel like they have to whisper their love for Israel. Teach them to be bold, be proud, and — above all — never back down from the truth.
And if they ever doubt themselves, just remind them: The Jewish people have been through worse. We’re still here. And we’re not going anywhere.
I think I need to use this strategy for my older friends.
Very Interesting points, thanks.
I would also argue that the pro-Israel community needs to produce many more, mainstream, high quality, children's (and youth) books focusing on this topic. I mean DK-style (https://www.dk.com/) factual books laying things out clearly and graphically.
Some of the discussions you recommend above need to be supported with better underlying materials.
See a similar point being made in a letter to the JC from a few years ago (https://www.thejc.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-september-22-2023-ww20z6g2):
"Among the significant number of children’s books published in the UK (particularly those focused on history, the ancient world, mythology, inspiring real-world characters, etc). it is noticeable how almost all Jewish characters or stories have been excised or obscured (other than the ever-present, token, reference to Anne Frank).
The Jewish people were sovereign in the Land of Israel for over 1,300 years (from 1258 BCE to 70 CE), each of the Temples stood for centuries, and our history (both in the Holy Land and elsewhere) is fascinating and complex. But I challenge anyone to find current mainstream children’s books focusing on any of these topics. There are countless books about the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and other peoples, but none I am aware of about Ancient Israel.
There are scores of books about ancient travellers and explorers, but barely a mention of Benjamin of Tudela and numerous other Jewish travellers. There is a strong focus on women pioneers, but no current mainstream books about Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi or Glückel von Hameln (or even Golda Meir, for that matter).
The reason is pretty obvious: if you accept and celebrate the historical truth that Jews have lived in the Land of Israel for millennia (and done much else besides), this undermines the prevailing antisemitic slander that the founding of the State of Israel was a settler colonial enterprise."