Subscribers to Zionism are, for no good reason, made to feel dirty, defective, and controversial. Now more than ever, we must reclaim the term and — more importantly — its meaning, value, and purpose.
Good piece. A Basic Reason why Zionism is defamed.... some people do not like to see strong Jews. This is the actual transactional reason why Anti-Zionists are Anti-Semitic, and Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism. Well, We are now strong. F*** them. Jews are now strong. Get used to it.
Excellent article; however, if I may humbly suggest, you forgot to include the fourth type of Zionism. That is, "Economic Zionism". You practice this type of Zionism by visiting Israel, staying among the population, taking part in its culture, and, of course, spending money on Israeli goods. I try to do this once a year and love it.
Great article. I agree that we should understand the history and feel just fine about it. But in addition, the trick is NOT to allow anyone to make us feel anything negative about our love of Judaism, Jewishness, Israel, or Zionism. The trick is not to expect the rest of the world to love us, applaud us, like us, or even approve of us. I think that is a losing battle. Of course it's normal to want to be liked but, functioning without approval, figuring out what to do next, moving on and doing it with great aplomb is our super power. We have suffered severely and sure we may kvetch, we may remember, we may commemorate. But we do whatever has to be done next. I am proud of this.
This article was brilliant! So absolutely on point. Zionism is a force for good. I have been a Christian Zionist since the sge of 19. A wonderful Country for the Jewish people.
Finally, wow and Amen, Josh. I’ve been waiting for an essay on the dirty word—Zion. Detractors hate the word Zion as they hate Jews or Israel. Theodore Herzl was allegedly secular when he started the latest return so they can’t truly use the religious fanatic right argument. But there is a prophecy right out of the Bible for the modern Zionism. I see it anyway. Zephaniah 3. Context of the whole chapter is for a future time, Zephaniah = The Lord has Hidden. V 18-20: “I will gather those who grieve about the moedim (appointed Feasts of The Lord)—they came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them…even at the time when I gather you together…I will give you renown and praise among the people in all the earth.” PS: vs 8 is the only verse in entire TaNaK which has every letter of the Hebrew language, including the final letters. And in plain English just to witness what He means, V 9 clearly says “I will give to the people a pure language [purified lips; holy language] that all of them may call upon The Name of The Lord.” One miracle of Zionism is because of the Hebrew prayers, every returning Jew from different countries and languages could come back and at least worship together. Eliezer Ben Yehuda was the father of modern Hebrew based on Biblical Hebrew but everyone had kept the language because of scripture and prayers and The Feasts. Amazing…
Thank you. Who is your audience for this essay? Is it just 'The Us' i.e. your fans who likely want only good things for each and every Jew and Israeli? 'good' might imply that it would be good if certain Jewish persons would Wakeup From Woke:) Or your audience for this essay the persons at L.A. bars or others who suddenly confront individual Jewish people with 'fake news'? Personally, I've had a growing aversion to using the word 'palestinian' without preceding it with "the so-called". The so-called palestinians. I'm fine with terms such as Arab-Israeli, and/or Arab-Christians (though they are a dying breed). Of the people usually included in the misleading term 'palestinians' what percentage of them have legitimacy to living in The State of Israel? What percentage of them are Jihadists? What percentage of them simply want to get on with life and cohabitate in peace and collaboration with their Jewish neighbors and their Arab-Israeli neighbors? You mention terms such as Zionism, Political Zionism, and 'those who want to return to their biblical homeland', and that 'the reason is because of pogroms and antisemitism'. True Herzl and his mob of followers were violently antithetical to even a whiff of 'biblicalism'. But in reality i.e. from the long perspective Jews have been attempting to come back to the biblical homeland at least since about 500B.C.E. - well really they/we have been returning since an intended short visit to Egypt that lasted about 210 years. So political zionism is really a "Johnny come lately". And it is an appropriation of our destiny of return to the promised land as it were. All the facts and factors that you included might best be superseded bluntly by the biblical the historic and archeological facts and factors that we are the ancient caretakers of that Land including Samaria and Judea... and quite possibly Gaza... and quite possibly more. Time will tell. Time is telling us all, woke or not, to wake up and clarify the 'real' narrative that is being continually revealed in real time.
"Zionism, in the simplest-possible terms, is a belief in Jewish self-determination after literally thousands of years of unequivocal proof spanning many countries that Jews are endangered when living in non-Jewish societies."
This is not true. The 6th and 7th Zionist Congresses made clear that it is only self-determination in the Land of Israel that is Zionist. Someone who believes in Jewish self-determination elsewhere is not a Zionist.
Yes. 'Self-Determination', outside of one's own country Israel, can be rightly construed as Treason when it becomes 'self defence' through violence using guns and arms outside the Borders of Israel. This is just as true for all other Peoples here in The West who might become attracted to Militarism (I am thinking of The Irish Republicans, and The Islamists, as well as the Nazis who attack Democracy themselves too). There is only one Civil Power, the Democratically Elected Legal Power, here in The UK. And this is true of the other Liberal Democracies of Europe and The Americas too.
The biggest lie here is that the Palestinians didn’t have their own country when the devils came to their “homeland”! Why was Palestine under the British occupation if they didn’t have a country to be under anyone? Evil movement you Zionists made! Go o Greenland!
Highest number of museums per capita of any country in the world. One of the longest life expectancies in the world at 83 years. Highest number of startups in the world outside of Silicon Valley. Number three in university graduates for per capita the world. Highest number of women entrepreneurs per capita so, it not only beats out a bunch of Third World countries, it also beats out a bunch of first world countries as well. And, it always ranks in the top 10 as far as happiest populations.
I’ve got a feeling you aren’t too happy about that..
And THAT is what you get when Jewish refugees return to their homeland.
Yes, you get what are, genocidal,, criminal and evil occupation, using the power of the money raised through borrowing interests from all over. Europe. You evil mass of blobs!
Perhaps Jews should stop associating in "progressive" i.e., Marxist circles rather than worry about how their Zionism causes their ostracism from this crowd. If you are being ostracized for supporting Israel, that should be a clue that these people are your enemies, and you should completely disassociate yourselves from them.
Your article needed to include the link of land titling in Israel and Judea and Samaria (even Gaza) to the Ottoman records. Some of these are not public until the Pals decide to settle the situation on mutual terms, but the land titles are necessary to prove Jewish or Israeli ownership. The Pals don't want this as it is bound to be the basis for proof of Jewish ownership. Most of the land the Jews purchased was Ottoman (state) land and therefore any other ownership by Pals could be challenged as squatting and without compensation.
If you are a Jew, whose ancestors are from Ethiopia or from Arab countries, it sure did provide refuge for it. If your family was from behind the curtain, it sure did provide refuge. And also provided opportunity, education, and freedom to live as an equal citizen. It’s actually been wildly successful in historical terms.
Good piece. A Basic Reason why Zionism is defamed.... some people do not like to see strong Jews. This is the actual transactional reason why Anti-Zionists are Anti-Semitic, and Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism. Well, We are now strong. F*** them. Jews are now strong. Get used to it.
Precisely.
Excellent article; however, if I may humbly suggest, you forgot to include the fourth type of Zionism. That is, "Economic Zionism". You practice this type of Zionism by visiting Israel, staying among the population, taking part in its culture, and, of course, spending money on Israeli goods. I try to do this once a year and love it.
Love it!!
Great article. I agree that we should understand the history and feel just fine about it. But in addition, the trick is NOT to allow anyone to make us feel anything negative about our love of Judaism, Jewishness, Israel, or Zionism. The trick is not to expect the rest of the world to love us, applaud us, like us, or even approve of us. I think that is a losing battle. Of course it's normal to want to be liked but, functioning without approval, figuring out what to do next, moving on and doing it with great aplomb is our super power. We have suffered severely and sure we may kvetch, we may remember, we may commemorate. But we do whatever has to be done next. I am proud of this.
col ha cavod!!
This article was brilliant! So absolutely on point. Zionism is a force for good. I have been a Christian Zionist since the sge of 19. A wonderful Country for the Jewish people.
❤️🇮🇱
Yes, if you think that yielding money power it’s a force of good, you’re surely a Zionist and you’re definitely going to forever reside in hell ;)
Finally, wow and Amen, Josh. I’ve been waiting for an essay on the dirty word—Zion. Detractors hate the word Zion as they hate Jews or Israel. Theodore Herzl was allegedly secular when he started the latest return so they can’t truly use the religious fanatic right argument. But there is a prophecy right out of the Bible for the modern Zionism. I see it anyway. Zephaniah 3. Context of the whole chapter is for a future time, Zephaniah = The Lord has Hidden. V 18-20: “I will gather those who grieve about the moedim (appointed Feasts of The Lord)—they came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them…even at the time when I gather you together…I will give you renown and praise among the people in all the earth.” PS: vs 8 is the only verse in entire TaNaK which has every letter of the Hebrew language, including the final letters. And in plain English just to witness what He means, V 9 clearly says “I will give to the people a pure language [purified lips; holy language] that all of them may call upon The Name of The Lord.” One miracle of Zionism is because of the Hebrew prayers, every returning Jew from different countries and languages could come back and at least worship together. Eliezer Ben Yehuda was the father of modern Hebrew based on Biblical Hebrew but everyone had kept the language because of scripture and prayers and The Feasts. Amazing…
Thank you. Who is your audience for this essay? Is it just 'The Us' i.e. your fans who likely want only good things for each and every Jew and Israeli? 'good' might imply that it would be good if certain Jewish persons would Wakeup From Woke:) Or your audience for this essay the persons at L.A. bars or others who suddenly confront individual Jewish people with 'fake news'? Personally, I've had a growing aversion to using the word 'palestinian' without preceding it with "the so-called". The so-called palestinians. I'm fine with terms such as Arab-Israeli, and/or Arab-Christians (though they are a dying breed). Of the people usually included in the misleading term 'palestinians' what percentage of them have legitimacy to living in The State of Israel? What percentage of them are Jihadists? What percentage of them simply want to get on with life and cohabitate in peace and collaboration with their Jewish neighbors and their Arab-Israeli neighbors? You mention terms such as Zionism, Political Zionism, and 'those who want to return to their biblical homeland', and that 'the reason is because of pogroms and antisemitism'. True Herzl and his mob of followers were violently antithetical to even a whiff of 'biblicalism'. But in reality i.e. from the long perspective Jews have been attempting to come back to the biblical homeland at least since about 500B.C.E. - well really they/we have been returning since an intended short visit to Egypt that lasted about 210 years. So political zionism is really a "Johnny come lately". And it is an appropriation of our destiny of return to the promised land as it were. All the facts and factors that you included might best be superseded bluntly by the biblical the historic and archeological facts and factors that we are the ancient caretakers of that Land including Samaria and Judea... and quite possibly Gaza... and quite possibly more. Time will tell. Time is telling us all, woke or not, to wake up and clarify the 'real' narrative that is being continually revealed in real time.
Excellent synopsis, thanks for putting it together.
"Zionism, in the simplest-possible terms, is a belief in Jewish self-determination after literally thousands of years of unequivocal proof spanning many countries that Jews are endangered when living in non-Jewish societies."
This is not true. The 6th and 7th Zionist Congresses made clear that it is only self-determination in the Land of Israel that is Zionist. Someone who believes in Jewish self-determination elsewhere is not a Zionist.
Yes. 'Self-Determination', outside of one's own country Israel, can be rightly construed as Treason when it becomes 'self defence' through violence using guns and arms outside the Borders of Israel. This is just as true for all other Peoples here in The West who might become attracted to Militarism (I am thinking of The Irish Republicans, and The Islamists, as well as the Nazis who attack Democracy themselves too). There is only one Civil Power, the Democratically Elected Legal Power, here in The UK. And this is true of the other Liberal Democracies of Europe and The Americas too.
Great piece! It's a keeper, I'll try and rehearse some of it line by line ;}
The biggest lie here is that the Palestinians didn’t have their own country when the devils came to their “homeland”! Why was Palestine under the British occupation if they didn’t have a country to be under anyone? Evil movement you Zionists made! Go o Greenland!
Highest number of museums per capita of any country in the world. One of the longest life expectancies in the world at 83 years. Highest number of startups in the world outside of Silicon Valley. Number three in university graduates for per capita the world. Highest number of women entrepreneurs per capita so, it not only beats out a bunch of Third World countries, it also beats out a bunch of first world countries as well. And, it always ranks in the top 10 as far as happiest populations.
I’ve got a feeling you aren’t too happy about that..
And THAT is what you get when Jewish refugees return to their homeland.
Yes, you get what are, genocidal,, criminal and evil occupation, using the power of the money raised through borrowing interests from all over. Europe. You evil mass of blobs!
You are forbidden by your own scriptures to have your own land, because of how evil your ancestors proved to be!
Perhaps Jews should stop associating in "progressive" i.e., Marxist circles rather than worry about how their Zionism causes their ostracism from this crowd. If you are being ostracized for supporting Israel, that should be a clue that these people are your enemies, and you should completely disassociate yourselves from them.
A much needed and excellent analysis of Zionism.
Much needed for the decaying image of Isnotreal
Your article needed to include the link of land titling in Israel and Judea and Samaria (even Gaza) to the Ottoman records. Some of these are not public until the Pals decide to settle the situation on mutual terms, but the land titles are necessary to prove Jewish or Israeli ownership. The Pals don't want this as it is bound to be the basis for proof of Jewish ownership. Most of the land the Jews purchased was Ottoman (state) land and therefore any other ownership by Pals could be challenged as squatting and without compensation.
If you are a Jew, whose ancestors are from Ethiopia or from Arab countries, it sure did provide refuge for it. If your family was from behind the curtain, it sure did provide refuge. And also provided opportunity, education, and freedom to live as an equal citizen. It’s actually been wildly successful in historical terms.
“… From behind the iron curtain…”
MBS had Khashoggi hacked up. 'An obsolete and basically failed project,' you write. You could not be more wrong, mbsq!