Zionism: An Urgent Call We Cannot Ignore
BY KEDMA ROSENZWEIG
In the early twentieth century, former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis proclaimed, “To be good Americans, we must be better Jews, and to be better Jews, we must become Zionists.” This declaration is especially pertinent for young Jews today.
First, striving to improve our connection to Judaism will help us become better and more productive American citizens, since American and Jewish values align and complement one another. Judaism encourages us to follow the laws and pray for the welfare of the country in which we live. Jews have a long history of enriching American society, often by drawing on Jewish beliefs and teachings in our pursuits. By practicing our religion, we reinforce and strengthen our own moral strength, allowing us to act as an or l’goyim, a light unto the nations.
Today, however, the second half of Brandeis’ proclamation is more relevant, contentious, and merits special attention. Zionism is not a theoretical discussion for young American Jews, but an urgent calling that we cannot afford to ignore. As newspapers, world leaders, and millions of people around the globe denounce, condemn, and revile the state of Israel, Jews in America have an obligation to proudly promote Zionism. We have a responsibility to our ancestors who struggled to establish the Jewish state, to the future survival of the Jewish nation, and to our brothers and sisters that live in Israel today.
To be a better Jew, I must stand up for my family and my nation. In my eyes, rejecting Zionism would be failing my community. Particularly throughout the past year, Israel has become deeply entrenched in my identity and in every aspect of my life. Zionism has been, and always will be, a moral and religious value that I cherish, but my devotion to Israel has become more urgent and personal throughout this conflict. I cannot explain the gut-wrenching fear of following news stories that are set in my family’s neighborhood; I cannot translate the despair I feel when I hear that the building next to my aunt’s was bombed. My dedication to Israel strengthens as I watch my cousin enlist in the Israel Defense Forces.
As newscasters speak in monotone about terrorism, I listen to my aunts tell me that they are rushing to bomb shelters, rockets from Iran lighting up the background of the Facetime call. For me and for young Jews all across America, the importance of Zionism has become so painfully apparent throughout this recent conflict, and advocating for the Jewish state should be seen as a duty and as a privilege.
Moreover, in order for young Jews to more effectively confront the aggression on college campuses, social media, and international debate, we have to firmly believe in Zionism. As students across America take hostile stances against Israel, it is left to young Jews to defend the state of Israel. The importance of defending Zionism is even more pronounced as the anti-Zionist movement has become so intertwined with anti-Semitism.
In the three months following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitism in the United States increased by 360 percent, according to data published by the Anti-Defamation League. College campuses were overwhelmed by protests that glorified terrorism against Jews. The Students for Justice in Palestine national chapter described October 7 as a “historic win for the Palestinian resistance.” One SJP member at Columbia University filmed himself saying, “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” At Chapman University, a student activist posted to social media: “Death to all Israelis who follow Zionism.” At the same school, the Federal Government has opened an investigation into death threats made against Jewish students. Since anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism have become so inextricably linked, embracing Zionism has become an even more important way for young Jews to fight for the Jewish nation.
Thousands of years ago, these words:
“אִֽם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵ֥ךְ יְֽרוּשָׁלָ֗͏ִם תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח יְמִינִֽי”
“If I forget Jerusalem, my right hand will be forgotten,” were recorded in Tehillim, the Psalms. This quote is a powerful testament to the deep connection between Jews and Israel, and it emphasizes the importance of this relationship.
The text continues,
“תִּדְבַּֽק־לְשׁוֹנִ֨י ׀ לְחִכִּי֮ אִם־לֹ֢א אֶ֫זְכְּרֵ֥כִי אִם־לֹ֣א אַ֭עֲלֶה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֑͏ִם עַ֝֗ל רֹ֣אשׁ שִׂמְחָתִֽי”
“Let my tongue stick to my mouth if I forget you, if I do not keep Jerusalem in my mind even at my happiest hour.”
Although our lives are thankfully comfortable in America, it is imperative that we sustain the longstanding passion Jews have always held for Israel. Throughout Jewish history, in our prayers and texts, our longing for Israel is omnipresent. It is our homeland, the direction that we have been looking towards for more than two thousand years. Jews have held on to the dream of Zion for centuries, through times of hardship and prosperity. Through sheer determination, relentless effort, and God’s will, early settlers turned the dream into a reality. Israel is the vision that has guided and inspired generations of Jews before me, and it is an enormous honor that, once again, we have our very own country to protect.
Throughout Jewish history, we have yearned to return to Israel with a fervent desperation. In so many countries, in so many generations, we have been persecuted by government sanctioned anti-Semitism, and we continued to pray to return to our holy land. My great-great grandparents in Poland and my great-great grandparents in Morocco spoke in different languages, practiced differing customs, faced different challenges, but they held on to the same dream.
Our undying love for Israel has survived centuries of separation. After the murder of six million Jews, our deep and ardent belief in Israel empowered us to establish a homeland that would allow us to protect ourselves. The Jewish state is a powerful symbol of self-determination for the Jewish people, and its existence helps to preserve the continuity of the Jewish nation. To be better Jews, we should encourage and embrace Zionism, a value that unifies and elevates the Jewish people.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of Zionism for young Jews today. As war wages around our homeland, and as antipathy towards Israel spikes along with anti-Semitism, our allegiance to Zionism is critical. Devotion to our community is a core tenet of our Jewish identity, and belief in Israel is rooted in our religious precepts. Embracing Zionism is a way of upholding Jewish values, honoring Jewish tradition, ensuring Jewish survival, and defending the Jewish community.
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