#anti zionist judaism

[tikkunolamresistance]

Zionists are always so furious that Judaism has lived on, without Zionism, for centuries. I do not need a feeble, weak ideology centred on pain and destruction to speak for me.

It is the people, community, it is trust and faith in the future that will speak for me. It is HaShem and it is the resilience in my bones that will speak for me. It is and it will be.

[bringmemyrocks]

"The most serious [anti-Zionist] riots [in Palestine] in a decade of turbulent politics occurred in 1929. Britain sent a commission to investigate the causes of the disturbances. The report graphically stated: “The enlargement of the Jewish Agency was not unnoticed by the Arabs. They knew that it meant an increase in the pressure of world Jewry on Palestine and in the material resources behind it. They saw too that it had revived the self-confidence, not to say aggressiveness, of the less restrained inhabitants of the National Home." The report continues to observe that Arabs saw in the recent Jewish immigrant “a movement created by an important international organization supported by funds which, judged by Arab standards, seem inexhaustible.” So, the Jew migrating to Palestine was no longer a human seeking peace, security and opportunity. He was “a movement” and it appeared to Arabs “improbable that such competitors will in years to come be content to share the country with them.” [The Zionists] were afraid, in other words, that there was no “ineradicable” striving in a “Jewish people” to build a national life in Palestine; that if this artificial conditioning of Jewish life should cease and if all Jewish energies were not funneled through the bottle-neck of Jewish nationalism by means of such stultifying compromises as the Jewish Agency—Jews would become just normal human beings. They would no longer have an ambiguous status before the world. The Partitioners would prevent this by saddling a Jewish state, however small, upon the backs and consciences of the Jews of the world.”

-Rabbi Elmer Berger, The Jewish Dilemma, 1945, p 157-159, emphasis mine

Here Rabbi Berger explains how, even before 1948, Zionism made Jews unsafe in Palestine, both from colonial exploitation and from the riots that resulted when the indigenous people realized they were being colonized.

Rabbi Elmer Berger z''l, 1908-1996, was a Reform anti-Zionist American rabbi. He spent his life advocating against Zionism and for Palestinian human rights. He has been almost entirely written out of history, and I hope I can share his work with other anti-Zionists to help right this wrong.

Rabbi Berger worked alongside Palestinians all his life. His story shows that there have always been anti-Zionist Jews in the west, including those outside of ultra-orthodoxy.

[peoplevsbirds]

[bill-the-dog-for-the-check]

I can't understand how people say with a straight face that 'antizionism' isn't antisemitism in 99% of cases. Seriously. I can only think of two circumstances in which it isn't antisemitic.

You're an anarchist calling for the dissolution of all nation-states, including Israel and Palestine. That's not antisemitic. Extreme, and naive and stupid, yeah, but not antisemitic.

You're a frum Jew like Satmar, who believes Israel is religiously premature but not something which should be destroyed immediately. This position wouldn't even really be antizionism, though, more non-Zionism.

If neither of the above applies to you, and you advocate for the destruction of the Jewish state, you're an antisemite, full stop. Seriously. If you disagree with Israel's actions, that's one thing. I certainly don't agree with everything in Israel's past or present.

But it's obscene to argue it's somehow so evil, such a blight on the world, that nothing short of its complete and immediate dissolution is justified. Especially because antizionists never argue in favor of the dissolution of other states with even worse human rights records--how could Israel seriously warrant destruction but not North Korea? Eritrea? Russia? Palestine, for that matter?

The fact is, Israel is the only modern-nation state with a whole-ass transnational movement dedicated to it's complete and wholesale destruction. Even in the case of other nation-states which have their right to exist questioned or denied, like Taiwan, Ukraine, Kosovo, or Somaliland, to call for the destruction of these states is generally viewed as racist and beyond the pale.

Well, maybe not for Somaliland. 'Anti colonialist' leftists who so passionately fight for Palestine miraculously don't care when the political issue in question is outside of the West, or doesn't involve Jews.

But I digress. The point of this post is, when they hold up 'Antizionism is not antisemitism!' as a shield to automatically absolve themselves of any antisemitism accusations before repeating blood libel, it's just not true. Antizionism IS antisemitism. Calling for the destruction of Poland is anti-Polish. The destruction of Mexico, anti-Mexican.

But calling for the destruction of Israel? Cute, trendy and not antisemitic at all, you Zionist pig! :D

[princess-of-thebes-1995]

Stop using the excuse of antisemitism and the history of the holocaust of what Israel is doing. You guys are creating another holocaust yet are bitching and complaining.

White jews who fled Europe to Palestine thanks to Hitler now claims to own the ancient land. Then turned their Judaism into Zionism. White colonizers jealous and trying to steal history, land, culture and so much more. Entitled bitches. May Allah burn you devils in hell. Ameen.

[sweaters-and-vertigo]

correct me if i’m wrong but doesn’t israel pervert and hide behind the jewish faith in order to commit atrocities?

i’m not a religious person so i can’t be sure but it’s just a feeling i get. again, correct me if i’m wrong.

when my mom found out that i support palestine, she said “well my jewish friend is scared” and i got very confused. what does the genocide of the palestinians have to do with all jewish people? i understand that antisemitism is a problem but it feels separate from this genocide. antisemitism and islamophobia are both equally dangerous. anyway, not all jews are israeli. a great number of jews actually condemn what israel is doing.

it seems unlikely to me that hating and killing palestinians is a pillar of the jewish faith. but correct me if i’m wrong.

EDIT: including these articles before any zionists attack me again. maybe i’m not the best judge of whether or not israel is abusing the jewish faith but i do know they’re committing genocide. and i know that genocide is bad. that’s enough for me.

[violottie]

“The humiliation Arab Jews experienced in Zionism is something they never experienced in the Arab countries. Here’s how Israel teaches Arab Jews to erase their identity." from AJ Plus, 14/Apr/2024:

caption continued under reel

Mizrahi Jews are the largest Jewish demographic in Israel, but the country’s social and political elite are dominated by European Ashkenazi Jews. Israeli writer Alon Mizrahi, who is of Moroccan Jewish and Palestinian Jewish descent, spoke to use about white supremacy in Israel and how Arab Jews and other Mizrahi Jews are taught to bury and hate their heritage.

“If you have to hate Arabs the minute you set foot in Israel, then Zionism is a lie because many Jews were also Arabs and spoke Arabic.”

[official-oshun]

If you support blatant antisemitism such as Molotov cocktails being thrown at a synagogue (IN BERLIN GERMANY, NOT ISRAEL) then you should get curb stomped. U people say “punch a Nazi” until it’s actually time to punch a Nazi and stand up for Jewish people. Some of you are not anti-Zionist you are 100% anti-Jew.

Goyim who reblog and internalize this message will get my eternal thank you!

[wormonastringtheory]

people who are completely anti-religion/theology/spirituality need to unpack a lot; destruction of religion can be an sact of cultural genocide. divorcing religion and/or spirituality from culture is nearly impossible and would strip elements of a culture inherently

[tikkunolamresistance]

Rapper Macklemore is releasing a track called “Hind’s Hall”, speaking out on the genocide of Palestinians, and the United States complacency in this ongoing violence. Macklemore has stated that once the track drops on streaming, all proceeds from streams will be going directly to UNRWA— the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

The new tracks namesake Hind’s Hall echoes the honours that Columbia University encampment protestors bestowed the Morningside Heights campus’ Hamilton Hall— in memory of Hind Rajab, the 6 year old Palestinian girl in Gaza who was shot by Israeli soldiers after being trapped inside a vehicle, with her dead family. She had begged to be rescued as tanks closed in on her.

Macklemore using his platform to vehemently speak out against genocide, the Israeli occupation and United States-led violence is what every single artist should be doing right now. The power of art should not be underestimated. Macklemore started out in the Hip-Hop scene within communist circles, namely working alongside Blue Scholars, and has never neglected his Leftism through out his career: the artist has spoken on issues regarding mental health, addiction, racial profiling and police violence, Capitalism, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and toxicity of American culture.

“The Nakba never ended, the colonizer lied” Hind’s Hall, Macklemore, 2024

[bringmemyrocks]

"Mr. [Abraham] Goldberg [of the Zionist Organization of America] said: 'The non-Zionists will build Palestine. We can help a little but not much. They have the money and they know how to do it. It is better so. We will be relieved of chasing pennies and of the complicated tasks of administering the work in Palestine. We can devote ourselves to the great work of Zionism: (sic) the winning of the Jewish world and especially of Jewish youth to Zionist ideology. . . . We are free at last to win the masses of Jewry for Zionism. This is our future work.'... There was nothing among emancipated, integrationalist Jews [in America] to match this concentrated, organized [Zionist] machine. Yet, emancipated Jews had made it possible. By their silence in the face of this renewed onslaught of nationalism, the world has become more confused about Jews than ever at a time when confusion is unspeakably tragic.”

-Rabbi Elmer Berger, The Jewish Dilemma, 1945, p 155-156.

Here Rabbi Berger condemns the silence of "non-Zionist" American Jews who refused to speak out against Zionism despite quiet opposition. Other anti-Zionists will find this very familiar today because even now, too many Jews (especially Jewish leaders) are scared to be vocally anti-Zionist and pro-Palestine.

Rabbi Elmer Berger z''l, 1908-1996, was a Reform anti-Zionist American rabbi. He spent his life advocating against Zionism and for Palestinian human rights. He has been almost entirely written out of history, and I hope I can share his work with other anti-Zionists to help right this wrong.

Rabbi Berger worked alongside Palestinians all his life. His story shows that there have always been anti-Zionist Jews in the west, including those outside of ultra-orthodoxy.

[jarviscockerssecrethusband]

One thing that strikes me as really bitterly ironic about the way Zionists have been framing this genocide is this idea that ALL Jews have the exact same world view no exceptions, every Jew is a Zionist.

Because Jewish people and complacency is not two words I would ever put in the same sentence.

My entire understanding of Judaism is wrapped in an idea that as a Jew I have a duty to stand up for what’s right, even if everyone hates me for it, even if it’s against other Jews. Because it’s the right thing to believe and to stand up for.

But zionists doing this all Jews are the same and they all stand for zionism fuck Palestine is giving like uhhhhhh do we not see the direct contradictions here.

There is literally nothing more Jewish than anti-Zionist Jews standing in defiance of a group who claims to hold their best interests at heart but is actually committing a genocide and actively putting Jews globally in danger by trying to raise antisemitism as much as humanly possible.

[yiddishfiles]

I am not a zionist by any means I am probably an anti zionist but Israeli citizens are held to such a higher level of blame for terrorism and war commited by their government than other countries with shitty governments (and also I think Russian citizens are too, Russian citizens aren't responsible for the actions of the Russian government in ukraine and Israeli citizens aren't responsible for the actions of the Israeli government in Palestine) but like. You'd never blame all USA Americans for the actions of the government in several Asian, South American and Middle Eastern countries... this post doesn't have a conclusion I just think u shouldn't hold the citizen of any country responsible for the actions of their government because saying "they could've voted someone else in instead" is very privileged, lots of people are disenfranchised (lots of poor people, queer people and people of colour for various reasons are underrepresented through voting) and lots of governments are undemocratic.

[mirmirma]

I think I figured out why "anti-zionism isn't antisemitism" bothers me so much for something I agree with.

Israeli Jews need a place to go. I feel like a lot of the anti-zionists sharing their opinions forget this fact. We can't just say, "You have to leave Israel, but you can't go anywhere else either." That's a recipe for a new Jewish genocide if I've ever heard one.

With the rise in hate for Israel, a part of Jewish history, and the rise in antisemitism in general, a lot of Jews don't feel safe in their neighborhoods. I've heard many talk about making Aliyah, aka moving to Israel, to be safer. Frankly, I don't feel safe. I live down the road from a place that was shot up less than a decade ago, and now antisemitism is rising.

There are anti-zionists trying to shut down Jewish run businesses. If they can't make their living when they live now, where do you think those businesses are gonna go? Many menorah lightings have been canceled. If they can't celebrate their religion safely, where do you think the Jews in those areas are gonna go?

To them, there's only one possible answer: Israel.

This is where zionism comes from. This is why people move to Israel.

If you're anti-zionist, the best thing you can do for Palestine is be kind to your Jewish neighbors. Make them feel safe and welcome. Because if they don't, they'll go someplace where they do feel safe and welcome: Israel.

[emotboyswag]

Just because I'm jewish doesn't mean I want zionists to be anywhere fucking near me! Zionists be like "fellas is it antisemitic to condemn literally mass killing of innocent people"

Zionists will never accept they are on the wrong side of history. Like yeah antisemitism exists and is very prevalent in the world but absolutely insane to think someone saying "actually genocide is bad and it should stop" is antisemitism or at all controversial. Giving Jews a bad name over here. Free palestine! (Also remember no bigotry is a singularly right wing thing and there r unfortunately zionists in left wing spaces)

[aelinfireheartgalathynius]

The discourse about Sarah J Maas being called a Zionist is giving witch hunt vibes at this point. Nothing I've seen has been conclusive at all. Just because she's a Jewish woman who went on birthright doesn't mean you should loudly denounce her as supporting genocide.

I am a Jewish woman who is pro-Palestine — so, not a Zionist — but who loves her Jewish diaspora culture. I have anti-zionist and non-zionist Jewish friends who went on Birthright because it's a free trip abroad. I know Jewish people who are staunch Israel supporters and I have Jewish friends going to pro-Palestine protests. Jews are not all one thing, and in fact it's ingrained in our culture that we have NEVER been one thing. There are Jews of all races, of all levels of religious belief, across the political and socioeconomic spectrum, scattered across the world.

If I were a semi-public figure (I say semi because Sarah has been clear that she is not the one posting on her public accounts and she doesn't have much interaction with fans outside of tours) people would probably have loud assumptions about me being a Zionist because I am publicly Jewish, I was a Jewish Studies minor in college, and I used to work at a synagogue. Guess what? I'm not a Zionist. I donate to UNWRA monthly, I do my clicks for Palestine, and I do my best to support with what I have. As a multi-disabled person that's all I can handle right now. If I were a semi-public figure I don't know if I would feel comfortable posting anything publicly either, because people are vicious and terrifying creatures. Sarah has a husband and child. She had gotten threats about fucking ship wars. This is so much more intense than ship wars.

Making these loud assumptions and calling for boycotting SJM, commenting on her social posts even though she isn't the one reading those comments — this is what antisemitism looks like. I know those of you who are angry at Sarah won't want to hear that, or will say that 'everything is antisemitic now' — which is a refrain that should raise red flags since it's the same argument other people use about transphobia, homophobia, racism, etc. You're the good guys, you support Palestine and you're anti-genocide and so on. But using stereotypes about an ethnic group to make assumptions and harass an individual of that ethnic group is not a good look even if you're convinced you're doing it for a good reason. Take that energy and put it toward spreading awareness, contacting politicians, attending protests, maybe even sharing messages from public figures who have posted publicly.

I understand that a lot of non-Jews (and a small number of Jews) are saying that it "has nothing to do" with Sarah being Jewish, it's just that she hasn't "used her platform." I implore you to consider why you are seeing and sharing such anger toward this one (fairly private) Jewish woman and not toward other prominent authors, especially those who are more active online, who have also not spoken out. Do some soul-searching and many of you may find that because Sarah is Jewish, you feel that she owes you a public stance more than other people. Because she is Jewish you feel confident enough to make an assumption about her views and post publicly about these assumptions. That is antisemitism at work. That is why this feels like a witch hunt to me, and why it is upsetting to watch.

As a reminder, I am pro-Palestine. I am not posting this to defend anyone. I am posting this to remind everyone that Jews are not all Zionists. Jews are not all one thing, ever. And deciding you get to hand down judgement on a Jewish person who has not shared their views publicly is antisemitism. It is deciding that you can assume negative things about Jewish people from afar. It is deciding that some antisemitism is actually okay — good, even, if you think it's warranted. I understand that people have other qualms with her writing, but those are not tied to her Jewishness, they're tied to her doing things like using the name Illyria and Illyrians for her ACOTAR series, etc, which is the kind of thing other fantasy authors have done over the years. Doesn't make it good or right but it certainly doesn't have anything to do with Palestine or Zionism.

If you disagree with me, please do not send hatred into my inbox. I am asking you to interact with this post thoughtfully. If your disagreement is going to be an explanation of how Jewish people owe the world every ounce of our energy, health, safety and lives, please step away and take a breath. I do not share your opinion. I have great admiration for those risking life and limb, risking jobs, risking arrest, to support Palestine. However, not everyone should be *required* to do all of those things, especially if you're disproportionately expecting those larger actions from Jews, thinking we "owe" it to the world.

Also, I want to be clear: This is not really about whether Sarah is a Zionist. It's about the fact that we don't know, and you cannot pretend to know. Most of the arguments I'm seeing are making a lot of assumptions, and that is the part that makes me uncomfortable.

If Sarah ends up being a Zionist, I still stand by this post, because it isn't about defending Sarah, it's about my hurt and disappointment in seeing people make assumptions rooted in antisemitism, assuming someone's views based on Jewishness and little else.