If someone is Jewish, by default they are a Zionist. But if someone decides to identify as “anti-Zionist,” then they are not Jewish — and we should not be afraid to draw that line.
I disagree with you, Josh. We should not be so worried about As-a-Jew AntiZionists being used by AntiSemite non-Jewish AntiZionists, that we excommunicate Jews who are AntiZionists, for this does the divisive work of the Jew-baiters for the Jew-baiters. Apart from this they are just wrong. Further, It has been said many times on this site that the connection of most Jews (but not all) with the land of Israel is through indigenous genetics. I was AntiZionist once. Then I proved the whole and current plot of today’s Nazis in the State against us, and I became a Zionist. As-a-Jews just need to be shown these facts. They will soon return, as I did.
Ed Miliband, Foreign Minister of the UK, used the as a Jew argument to bash Israel with a speech full of lies in both the House of Commons and at the Labour Party convention. So doing, he revealed himself to be not Jewish, and since he does not go to synagogue either, nor I presume observe Jewish holidays, he is not Jewish, as far as I am concerned. Perhaps by telling Jews who claim they are Jews but not Zionists that they are not Jews, they might come to rethink their position. Nothing wrong with excommunication.
I don’t think it’s that complicated. Judaism is a faith. It brought ethical monotheism and a moral code to the world. You do not have to live in the State of Israel to be Jewish. To me, Israel is a sovereign state with a mixed population of people from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. I believe it has the same right to exist as the US, France, Saudi Arabia, China or any other country with a government, borders, and people. If recognizing that Israel is a country makes me a Zionist that is ok. I live in the US and am a US citizen. I’m not a citizen of any other country.
Judaism is more than a faith and Israel is intimately bound up with being Jewish. If you are Jewish you are a Zionist. But you don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist and you don't have to live in Israel to be a Zionist. Israel is the Jewish state and Zionism recognizes that. As you do. So yes, that makes you a Zionist and should make most right-thinking people Zionists too.
This notion of who is a Jew reminded me of a column I read in The Jewish Press when I was a teenager in Brooklyn, written by Meir Kahane. He was an excellent writer and extreme proponent of Jews living in Eretz Israel, but also branded a terrorist by Israel. In the column Kahane said one of the greatest tragedies to befall the Jewish people was all the folk walking around thinking they are Jewish when they are not Jewish. He was referring to Jewish children born to gentile mothers who converted to Judaism prior to the child's birth under the auspices of a Reform rabbi. He said all of this woman's children would not be Jewish. He was also referring to gentiles converted to Judaism by Reform rabbis, saying they were not Jewish.
So in a different more secular context, Joshua is saying Jews born to two Ashkenazi Jewish parents are not Jewish if they are not Zionists. Sorry Joshua but they are still Jewish, unless they convert out of the faith, and even then the haters will consider them to be Jews. They are confused Jews, but nonetheless Jewish.
Without Israel, Jews in the Diaspora will become vulnerable as in the past and now even more to Communists, Islamists, the Left and the Right. The horseshoe is closing in on the Jews. At least now there is one country where the Diaspora can go to. Let’s drop the Zionist label - we are just Jews.
"Anti-Zionism" is "merely" a metaphor or an expression of personality traits that have basically nothing to do with Israel or Judaism; yet, when applied or projected onto Israel, Judaism, or Zionism, they simply garner more attention and meet with less resistance.
The self-proclaimed "anti-Zionist" is then spared the arduous task of self-examination or confronting their own nature; instead, they effortlessly gain "approval"—often in droves—from those who wish to stage a form of "resistance" that is effortless, cheap, and convenient.
This allows them to avoid facing their own hollow arrogance, inner emptiness, and complacency, while—ironically—betraying the very people for whom genuine resistance (such as in so-called "Pal*stine" or the "Arab world") entails immense danger and exertion.
They are repulsive, reprehensible, and grossly egocentric assholes, and no one should do them the favour of making them appear to be anything better, important or serious.
"These questions came to mind when I read about the University of Michigan Hillel’s recent decision to end formal affiliations with Israel advocacy organizations. A student leader separately expressed concern about Hillel’s willingness to embrace Zionism.1"
It seems they have dissociated with one group J Street (despite the title saying groups). (based on article at 1)
Thank you. This needed to be said.
I disagree with you, Josh. We should not be so worried about As-a-Jew AntiZionists being used by AntiSemite non-Jewish AntiZionists, that we excommunicate Jews who are AntiZionists, for this does the divisive work of the Jew-baiters for the Jew-baiters. Apart from this they are just wrong. Further, It has been said many times on this site that the connection of most Jews (but not all) with the land of Israel is through indigenous genetics. I was AntiZionist once. Then I proved the whole and current plot of today’s Nazis in the State against us, and I became a Zionist. As-a-Jews just need to be shown these facts. They will soon return, as I did.
Meanwhile they are stoking the flames of Jew hate and getting us killed.
Ed Miliband, Foreign Minister of the UK, used the as a Jew argument to bash Israel with a speech full of lies in both the House of Commons and at the Labour Party convention. So doing, he revealed himself to be not Jewish, and since he does not go to synagogue either, nor I presume observe Jewish holidays, he is not Jewish, as far as I am concerned. Perhaps by telling Jews who claim they are Jews but not Zionists that they are not Jews, they might come to rethink their position. Nothing wrong with excommunication.
Absolutely, otherwise it is meaningless
I don’t think it’s that complicated. Judaism is a faith. It brought ethical monotheism and a moral code to the world. You do not have to live in the State of Israel to be Jewish. To me, Israel is a sovereign state with a mixed population of people from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. I believe it has the same right to exist as the US, France, Saudi Arabia, China or any other country with a government, borders, and people. If recognizing that Israel is a country makes me a Zionist that is ok. I live in the US and am a US citizen. I’m not a citizen of any other country.
Judaism is more than a faith and Israel is intimately bound up with being Jewish. If you are Jewish you are a Zionist. But you don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist and you don't have to live in Israel to be a Zionist. Israel is the Jewish state and Zionism recognizes that. As you do. So yes, that makes you a Zionist and should make most right-thinking people Zionists too.
This notion of who is a Jew reminded me of a column I read in The Jewish Press when I was a teenager in Brooklyn, written by Meir Kahane. He was an excellent writer and extreme proponent of Jews living in Eretz Israel, but also branded a terrorist by Israel. In the column Kahane said one of the greatest tragedies to befall the Jewish people was all the folk walking around thinking they are Jewish when they are not Jewish. He was referring to Jewish children born to gentile mothers who converted to Judaism prior to the child's birth under the auspices of a Reform rabbi. He said all of this woman's children would not be Jewish. He was also referring to gentiles converted to Judaism by Reform rabbis, saying they were not Jewish.
So in a different more secular context, Joshua is saying Jews born to two Ashkenazi Jewish parents are not Jewish if they are not Zionists. Sorry Joshua but they are still Jewish, unless they convert out of the faith, and even then the haters will consider them to be Jews. They are confused Jews, but nonetheless Jewish.
Without Israel, Jews in the Diaspora will become vulnerable as in the past and now even more to Communists, Islamists, the Left and the Right. The horseshoe is closing in on the Jews. At least now there is one country where the Diaspora can go to. Let’s drop the Zionist label - we are just Jews.
"Anti-Zionism" is "merely" a metaphor or an expression of personality traits that have basically nothing to do with Israel or Judaism; yet, when applied or projected onto Israel, Judaism, or Zionism, they simply garner more attention and meet with less resistance.
The self-proclaimed "anti-Zionist" is then spared the arduous task of self-examination or confronting their own nature; instead, they effortlessly gain "approval"—often in droves—from those who wish to stage a form of "resistance" that is effortless, cheap, and convenient.
This allows them to avoid facing their own hollow arrogance, inner emptiness, and complacency, while—ironically—betraying the very people for whom genuine resistance (such as in so-called "Pal*stine" or the "Arab world") entails immense danger and exertion.
They are repulsive, reprehensible, and grossly egocentric assholes, and no one should do them the favour of making them appear to be anything better, important or serious.
I am very confused
"These questions came to mind when I read about the University of Michigan Hillel’s recent decision to end formal affiliations with Israel advocacy organizations. A student leader separately expressed concern about Hillel’s willingness to embrace Zionism.1"
It seems they have dissociated with one group J Street (despite the title saying groups). (based on article at 1)
While still hosting local Zionist groups
https://michiganhillel.org/team/wolverine-for-israel/
and feeding into national programs
https://michiganhillel.org/travel-to-israel/
I have now been blocked from the entire Michigan Hillel's website for 4 hours
"You have been locked out due to too many attempts to access a file that doesn't exist."
All the pages I tried on their website are still accessible.
Are you agreeing/disagreeing with the Hillel's move or just using it as a tangential starting point?