You Call Yourself a Zionist ?
I have a question for the Jews of the Diaspora. Many of you call yourself a Zionist. If that is true, why are you still living in the countries of Exile? Where you place foreign gentile values over Jewish ones while being robbed of your identity, your reason for being and where you’re supposed to go. Slowly, the values of Judaism are replaced by those of your host country, leading to a spiritual, cultural desert, a state of valueless anarchy. There is hardly any substantial aliya to Israel from your countries of choice. Even those who leave because of growing anti-Jewish feelings prefer another country within the Diaspora to Israel.
The Zionist dream is just that, a dream to reassure the faint-hearted that they are as loyal to Jewish life as their ancestors were, not realising that the Zionist dream falls victim to their bankrupt Zionism exchanging the material vomit of New York, London, Paris, Sydney and a thousand other cities just like them.
You are unaware you are currently in a war of ideas, values, and civilisation. You appear to have forgotten that, as a true Zionist, you must leave the impurity and curse of the Exile and return home. This is the stuff of which Zionism is made. As a Zionist, you should be running toward a three-thousand-year goal motivated by love, not fear. Your Zionist vision will be achieved by you settling the land inch by inch, mile by mile. Revolutionary Zionism conquering all the Land of Israel. The choice is yours, while the obligation is not open for speculation.
You call yourself a Zionist?
We are in total agreement.
The article raises valid concerns about the connection between Diaspora Jews and Israel, but it presents an overly narrow and rigid definition of Zionism. It’s important to acknowledge that Zionism, at its core, is about the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. However, the ways in which people express their Zionism can vary greatly, and these expressions should not be dismissed as “bankrupt” or invalid.
Many Diaspora Jews deeply support Israel through advocacy, philanthropy, cultural exchange, and education, even if they do not make Aliyah. This does not mean they are abandoning their identity or values. On the contrary, by living in diverse societies, they often serve as ambassadors for Jewish values and the State of Israel, strengthening bonds between Israel and the global community. Their work in Exile can help dispel misconceptions, combat antisemitism, and foster understanding of Israel’s central role in Jewish life.
Moreover, the article seems to dismiss the legitimate challenges of Aliyah. Moving to Israel is a profound and often difficult decision, involving financial, cultural, and linguistic adjustments. For many, it is not a lack of love for Israel but rather personal circumstances—caring for aging parents, financial limitations, or professional obligations—that prevent them from relocating. These challenges should not be equated with a lack of Zionist commitment.
The assertion that Diaspora Jews are placing “foreign gentile values over Jewish ones” is also problematic. Jewish values—such as kindness, justice, and communal responsibility—transcend geography. Jews in the Diaspora can and do live meaningful Jewish lives, creating vibrant communities and contributing to the broader Jewish mission.
Lastly, the tone of the article undermines its own message. True Zionism should inspire unity, not division. A “revolutionary Zionism,” as mentioned, must include respect for the diversity of the Jewish people and recognize that our collective strength comes from our ability to connect, wherever we are.
To call oneself a Zionist is not an obligation tied solely to Aliyah but a commitment to the people, the land, and the shared destiny of Israel. The article raises the stakes of the “choice” too narrowly, while in reality, Zionism flourishes when we embrace its complexity and its ability to unify Jews across the world.
Your comments seem reasonable but fail to address the Biblical commandment to make Aiya; instead, you choose to go off on a Western liberal word fest. I am surprised you did not resort to tikkun olam, which has permeated Jewish teaching in the Diaspora, encouraging Jews to participate in the social justice movement, believing it to be biblically mandated. There is only one problem: the Tanach says no such thing. It does, however, place a Jew in the Land of Israel at its very centre.
Yosef, you make a compelling argument rooted in the centrality of the Land of Israel to Jewish life and the Torah’s commandments. I agree with your emphasis on the Biblical directive to make Aliyah. The Torah is clear: the Land of Israel is not just a historical homeland; it is a spiritual center where the Jewish people are meant to fulfill their purpose and connect with Hashem in the most profound way.
You are correct that much of Diaspora Jewish life, influenced by Western ideologies, has strayed from this core value. While concepts like tikkun olam are beautiful in their own right, they have often been overemphasized or misinterpreted in ways that detach them from their Torah foundations. True tikkun olam—repairing the world—begins with the Jewish people being in the Land of Israel, living according to the Torah, and establishing a society that serves as a light unto the nations.
Aliyah is not just a personal mitzvah; it is a national mission. When Jews live in the Diaspora, no matter how much they support Israel from afar, they are missing out on the opportunity to contribute directly to the flourishing of the Land and the Jewish people’s sovereignty over it. The mitzvah to dwell in the Land of Israel is not contingent on convenience or comfort—it is a statement of faith and commitment to our eternal covenant with Hashem.
While I understand the practical challenges many face in making Aliyah, we cannot let these obstacles overshadow the imperative of fulfilling this commandment. By prioritizing other values over the Biblical directive to live in Israel, we risk losing sight of our purpose and diluting the transformative power of Zionism.
You are right: the Tanach places the Land of Israel at the very center of Jewish existence. It is time for more of us to recognize this and take the necessary steps to align our lives with this ultimate truth. Aliyah is not just an option—it is our destiny.