Thank you, this article (and the link to the Rebbe's letter!) really helped me understand the position of Religious non-Zionists. Still I think there's room for more nuance in the discussion of RZ (speaking as one myself). Yes, there are fewer nowadays who say paying taxes is a mitzvah. But still, most Dati Leumi say serving in the IDF is a mitzvah (and not just the mitzvah of protecting Jewish lives as one would in a defense group in galut for example). I think tying it to the precise hashkafa of Rav Kook is a mistake, similar to defining IZ through Herzl's philosophy when there's been much evolution since then. And the bracha for Israel with the phrase ראשית צמיחת גאולתנו, while not uncontroversial, has become common among Modern Orthodox and I've even heard it in more yeshivish shuls in America. So I think Religious Zionism is still a significant strain of thought, with a variety of views represented, some closer to non-Zionism and some like Rav Sherki perhaps going beyond Rav Kook and saying we are now in the days of Mashiach.
Looking forward to the article on Sefardi history!
Oh, absolutely. I was more concerned with explaining how religious non-Zionism/anti-Zionism is not at all what most people perceive it to be that I kept the discussion on RZ to a minimum but based on feedback I realize there’s definitely a demand/need to get into it more.
The goal was to cover it extensively in an upcoming podcast but I’ll write something in the meantime as well…
Whatever your views on Zionism are, it is clear that the status quo isn't working. The naivety of the security liberal zionists believed we could have Jewish country without being "too Jewish". They stupidly believed that coexisting with an Arab 5th column would be totally fine. We're paying the price for that stupidity. If you're an IDF soldier, you're all chumps because there is never going to be a plan to win and end this war. Keep following orders and going on suicide missions believing you're doing a mitzvah if you must, just stop guilt tripping those who don't want to. I hope the lie that secular half measure zionism can work will die before more of our soldiers are dead of permanently scarred.
Your article was very enlightening. As a non-Jew, I’m trying to better understand the Neturei Karta’s stance, specifically regarding those members who are often tokenized by pro-Palestinian activists in the U.S. (e.g., wearing Palestinian flags).
Do they still hold a form of Zionism in the sense that they believe Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people based on the Torah?
Or do they reject the idea of Jews being a sovereign nation like others, even on their ancestral land?
Given the distinctions you outlined—between political, ideological, and religious Zionism—where does Neturei Karta fit? Are they anti-Zionist in all three frameworks, or do they accept any Torah-based claim to the land while opposing the modern State of Israel?
Could you also explain what's up with some of their stances? They simply do not make sense, such as supporting Iran, Hezbollah, etc. Do they actively want to see a dismantling of the current Israeli state even if that means supporting the killing of Jews? I just don't really understand their stance.
Great article! Thanks for writing it.
Thank you, this article (and the link to the Rebbe's letter!) really helped me understand the position of Religious non-Zionists. Still I think there's room for more nuance in the discussion of RZ (speaking as one myself). Yes, there are fewer nowadays who say paying taxes is a mitzvah. But still, most Dati Leumi say serving in the IDF is a mitzvah (and not just the mitzvah of protecting Jewish lives as one would in a defense group in galut for example). I think tying it to the precise hashkafa of Rav Kook is a mistake, similar to defining IZ through Herzl's philosophy when there's been much evolution since then. And the bracha for Israel with the phrase ראשית צמיחת גאולתנו, while not uncontroversial, has become common among Modern Orthodox and I've even heard it in more yeshivish shuls in America. So I think Religious Zionism is still a significant strain of thought, with a variety of views represented, some closer to non-Zionism and some like Rav Sherki perhaps going beyond Rav Kook and saying we are now in the days of Mashiach.
Looking forward to the article on Sefardi history!
Oh, absolutely. I was more concerned with explaining how religious non-Zionism/anti-Zionism is not at all what most people perceive it to be that I kept the discussion on RZ to a minimum but based on feedback I realize there’s definitely a demand/need to get into it more.
The goal was to cover it extensively in an upcoming podcast but I’ll write something in the meantime as well…
Whatever your views on Zionism are, it is clear that the status quo isn't working. The naivety of the security liberal zionists believed we could have Jewish country without being "too Jewish". They stupidly believed that coexisting with an Arab 5th column would be totally fine. We're paying the price for that stupidity. If you're an IDF soldier, you're all chumps because there is never going to be a plan to win and end this war. Keep following orders and going on suicide missions believing you're doing a mitzvah if you must, just stop guilt tripping those who don't want to. I hope the lie that secular half measure zionism can work will die before more of our soldiers are dead of permanently scarred.
Your article was very enlightening. As a non-Jew, I’m trying to better understand the Neturei Karta’s stance, specifically regarding those members who are often tokenized by pro-Palestinian activists in the U.S. (e.g., wearing Palestinian flags).
Do they still hold a form of Zionism in the sense that they believe Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people based on the Torah?
Or do they reject the idea of Jews being a sovereign nation like others, even on their ancestral land?
Given the distinctions you outlined—between political, ideological, and religious Zionism—where does Neturei Karta fit? Are they anti-Zionist in all three frameworks, or do they accept any Torah-based claim to the land while opposing the modern State of Israel?
Could you also explain what's up with some of their stances? They simply do not make sense, such as supporting Iran, Hezbollah, etc. Do they actively want to see a dismantling of the current Israeli state even if that means supporting the killing of Jews? I just don't really understand their stance.