I decided to post an essay I wrote in 2020, following an exchange that I witnessed in a synagogue that I found disturbing. Because of the higher stakes in the debate on Zionism, its definition, and how we should view it, I decided now is a good time to revisit that episode. Sadly, it’s only gotten worse.

We all know what Zionism isn’t: it’s not racism. Most Jews would clearly bristle at the suggestion that Zionism equals racism. But the absence of a negative is not always a positive. As a strong Zionist myself, I just assumed that nearly all Jews would include themselves in the warm embrace of Zionism (as opposed to the “collectivism” that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is promoting). I was wrong.

Recently I attended services at a reform congregation. The rabbi decided that she would try an original way to attract their attention and lead them into the topic of her sermon. 

“I want you to stand if you belong to any of the following categories. You can belong to several or none. This isn’t a test,” she announced.

She then started reeling off several broad categories, such as human, man, woman, child, teen, black, white, Jewish. Many stood for several categories and we were all eager to see where this was heading. 

“How many of you are feminists?”

The entire congregation leaped to their feet.

“Ok, how many of you are Zionists?”

I stood up expecting that everyone else would join me.

But when I looked around, I was shocked and dismayed that only a handful of people stood up.

A non-Jewish girl attending at the pre Bat Mitzvah service whispered to me, “What’s a Zionist?”

I explained that it simply means somebody who supports the state of Israel. The woman sitting next to me, who hadn’t stood up, disagreed with my definition. “No, that’s not exactly correct. It’s more complicated than that.”

When I asked her what her definition was, she was unable to articulate a response and finally said it had something to do with passion.

That clearly didn’t make me feel any better.

Nevertheless, the rabbi launched into her sermon about how one can be both a feminist and a Zionist. The two, she said, were not at all in opposition as the well-known Palestinian-Amemrican activist Linda Sarsour had declared earlier that week at a huge feminist rally in Washington, DC. Sarsour’s assertion drew much indignation from the liberal Jewish community that had previously considered her a comrade in arms.

I, however, wasn’t particularly interested in how we should address people like Sarsour, who are clearly anti-Zionist. I was more concerned as to how we should be talking to our own people who are ambivalent about Israel. If Jews can’t stand for Zionism in their own congregation among their co-religionists, how can they be expected to stand up for Israel when confronted by rabid antisemites on college campuses and other gatherings when they malign Israel as is occurring more and more often.

Later, I asked the Rabbi if she was surprised that so few in her congregation (there were about 35 in attendance that evening) stood up as Zionists. She said she wasn’t and echoed the beliefs of the woman sitting next to me who said it was “complicated.” She said that the definition considered by many in her congregation was, “A supporter of Israel, NO MATTER WHAT.”

I was pretty sure that those last three words were not only unnecessary, but were inserted only to give Jews an out. I would interpret the “No matter What” to mean no matter what the world’s attitude toward Israel was, but I had a strong sense that they had added the three words to allow them to more comfortably say, “only if Israel follows my own political beliefs.”

I decided to do an informal poll of my friends, relatives and acquaintances in my email contact list. I sent very short emails to 45 people. I asked two questions: 1) Do you consider yourself a Zionist? Yes or No. 2) What is your definition of Zionist?

Fifteen people wrote back. Fourteen said “Yes” (including one Catholic), and one said “No.”

The one who answered “No,”, gave this response: “I do not consider myself a Zionist because of my definition of Zionism. Zionism was the nationalist movement to create a Jewish State. One cannot be a Zionist today because the political task was completed. It is as silly to call yourself a Zionist as it would be to call yourself a Minute Man.”

I suppose he would call upon The Zionist Organization of America to change its name and for Hadassah to change its mission statement. (I also weighed that by his thought process, one need no longer call oneself a Feminist because that political task has been completed as well, but I won’t go into the weeds on that one for the purposes of this article.)

Most of the others gave a description somewhat similar to my own, but longer. Here are a few:

Anyone that supports the State of Israel spiritually, financially, politically,  and physically with one part, a combination of any of the parts, or all the parts… 

Israel is a country to be run by Jews. A place for us to be safe when no one else will have us. Others can live there, but it’s labeled a Jewish country.

The original definition of Zionism was: a political movement formed to bring about the establishment of a Jewish state. However, at the present time , Zionism means different things for different people.

Someone who fervently believes in and supports a Jewish homeland in Israel. Someone who feels strongly that Jews have a political, religious, and historical right to live in the state of Israel.

Off the top of my head… a Zionist is someone who believes in the values of the Jewish people, including the belief that Israel has a right to exist as an independent state and rule in the  ways of the Jewish people. A Zionist does not let others dictate or decide what is best for the Jewish people; a Zionist believes in the strength of the Jewish people and their existence in Israel. 

Most people included the word Jew or Jewish and/or Israel in their definition.

With so many opponents of Israel using the word Zionist and Zionism in derogatory ways, it is more vital than ever that we stand up for Zionism, that we stand up for Israel and that we consider being called a Zionist to be a compliment and not a slur. That we stop adding “even though I personally don’t agree with the current government.” The current government has been democratically elected and not by non Israelis, so adding these words just dilutes your full support of the Jewish nation. 

Yes, Zionism preceded the modern state of Israel, but it is a word that should remain meaningful as Israel continues to grow and develop as a democratic, Jewish and strong nation. If we can’t stand up for Zionism, then we can’t stand up for ourselves.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)