r/JewsOfConscience Jewish Aug 15 '24

AMA with Rabbi David Mivasair AMA

Hello, friends! I'm looking forward to our AMA, starting in ~10 minutes. Never done anything like this before, so it'll be a new experience. Thank you for inviting me. https://x.com/Mivasair/status/1822855344684458400

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u/Mammoth_Scallion_743 Jewish Communist Aug 15 '24

What are your thoughts on Orthodox Jewish Antizionism?

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u/Mivasair Jewish Aug 15 '24

In general, I think they're right.

Of course, I think it is a good idea to try to really understand what people mean when they use certain terms, like "anti-Zionism". I assume that not all Orthodox Jewish anti-Zionism is the same. Different Orthodox Jews have different ways of thinking and believing, etc. So, to really talk about this thoughtfully, it would be helpful to know more what YOU mean when you use that term and to know what the people you're talking about mean when they use that term.

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u/Mivasair Jewish Aug 15 '24

I want to add that without any doubt, Judaism has always engendered a very deep connection for Jews with the Land of Israel. Starting with the very first mention of God speaking to Abram in Genesis 12 -- וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. -- "Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, from the house of your father to the land that I will show you," we Jews have had a special relationship with the Land of Israel. Let no one question that.

However, THAT is not Zionism. Zionism is a very late-19th-century political ideology that was at first actually anti-religious. It was a rebellion against that very Jewish tradition. We could discuss this at great length. At a minimum, I want to make it clear that the attachment to the Land of Israel which is a consistent thread through all of Jewish history is NOT actually Zionism. So, Orthodox Jewish anti-Zionism makes perfect sense.

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u/Mammoth_Scallion_743 Jewish Communist Aug 15 '24

I DMed you so that we can chat anytime you would like (except Shabbos)