It's a shame that the movement Kaplan z''l founded has strayed so far from his Zionism. Every time NPR or CNN or MSNBC quotes an antizionist rabbi, I'd give 90% or better odds that rabbi is Reconstructionist.
At the Reconstructionist shul I left after October 7th, the rabbi talked about the dangers of "Jewish Supremacy," sided with Palestinians over Jews every time she was given the chance, and encouraged us to go to "Ceasefire Now" protests with people who expressed open support for Hamas. She was even reluctant to translate 'yisrael' as "Israel" -- instead preferring weird phrases like "God-wrestlers." Apparently her idea of the way to carve out a Jewish voice in diaspora is to subject oneself to dhimmitude as an act of self-negation due to some fictional in-born "privilege."
I am not sure the word "Zionism" needs to be re-defined. Even with the establishment of the modern State of Israel, and because Israel's existence is questioned, there is still need for Jews to embrace the existence (rather than establishment) of the Jewish state, thus, Zionism. This does not mean there cannot be an acknowledgement of issues and concerns concerning Jews in the Diaspora. I would accept that notion as solidarity. The problem, as I see it, is when politics are brought into the dialogue. Liberal Jews (including Jews who practice Judaism liberally) are the problem. As liberals (progressives, Marxists) they mostly divorce themselves from the faith, and, importantly, from Israel. They are less concerned with being Jewish, living the Jewish life, than they are of being citizens of the world. They embrace wokeness and other Marxist devices to separate people from the identities as individual and sovereign beings. To fit into the mold, they often speak badly of Israel and often, about Jews collectively. They remind me of the despicable George Soros. These liberals are partially responsible for enforcing anti-Zionist, anti-Israel and anti- Jew 'movements'. Unfortunately, there is not, at a time when it is sorely needed, likely to be much solidarity in the Jewish community. Jewish survival is threatened when the small population of Jews worldwide is divided by political stances.
Thank you for this article.
It's a shame that the movement Kaplan z''l founded has strayed so far from his Zionism. Every time NPR or CNN or MSNBC quotes an antizionist rabbi, I'd give 90% or better odds that rabbi is Reconstructionist.
At the Reconstructionist shul I left after October 7th, the rabbi talked about the dangers of "Jewish Supremacy," sided with Palestinians over Jews every time she was given the chance, and encouraged us to go to "Ceasefire Now" protests with people who expressed open support for Hamas. She was even reluctant to translate 'yisrael' as "Israel" -- instead preferring weird phrases like "God-wrestlers." Apparently her idea of the way to carve out a Jewish voice in diaspora is to subject oneself to dhimmitude as an act of self-negation due to some fictional in-born "privilege."
Is there a way to purchase the book from a non-Amazon vendor?
You can buy it at bn.com here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/young-zionist-voices-david-hazony/1146544894
In Israel, it will soon be carried at Pomeranz book store in Jerusalem.
I am not sure the word "Zionism" needs to be re-defined. Even with the establishment of the modern State of Israel, and because Israel's existence is questioned, there is still need for Jews to embrace the existence (rather than establishment) of the Jewish state, thus, Zionism. This does not mean there cannot be an acknowledgement of issues and concerns concerning Jews in the Diaspora. I would accept that notion as solidarity. The problem, as I see it, is when politics are brought into the dialogue. Liberal Jews (including Jews who practice Judaism liberally) are the problem. As liberals (progressives, Marxists) they mostly divorce themselves from the faith, and, importantly, from Israel. They are less concerned with being Jewish, living the Jewish life, than they are of being citizens of the world. They embrace wokeness and other Marxist devices to separate people from the identities as individual and sovereign beings. To fit into the mold, they often speak badly of Israel and often, about Jews collectively. They remind me of the despicable George Soros. These liberals are partially responsible for enforcing anti-Zionist, anti-Israel and anti- Jew 'movements'. Unfortunately, there is not, at a time when it is sorely needed, likely to be much solidarity in the Jewish community. Jewish survival is threatened when the small population of Jews worldwide is divided by political stances.