judaism and the jewish state course review relig 210: lecture 18
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The Four Oaths and the Meaning of Exile “There are four oaths here: that they not rebel against the kingdoms; that they not force the End; that they not reveal their mystery to the nations of the world; and that they not ascend as a wall from the Exile.” (Midrash, Song of Songs Rab. 2:7)TRANSCRIPT
Judaism and the Jewish StateCourse Review
RELIG 210: Lecture 18
Is Zionism New Idea or Fulfillment of Jewish History? Strong connection to Land of Israel
Religious yearning to return Historical connection Jews living in Palestine
No precedent for large scale return Jews in religious AND political exile Return to Land of Israel linked to messianic redemption Judaism designed for diaspora
The Four Oaths and the Meaning of Exile“There are four oaths here: that they not
rebel against the kingdoms; that they not force the End; that they not reveal their mystery to the nations of the world; and that they not ascend as a wall from the Exile.” (Midrash, Song of Songs Rab. 2:7)
Historical Changes
Failure of Emancipation Rise of antisemitism across Europe 1881 Russian pogroms
Jewish acculturationRise of nineteenth-century nationalist
movements Italy, Germany, Bulgarians, Rumanians,etc Identity through territory and sovereignty
The Development of Zionism
1862 Moses Hess,Rome and Jerusalem1882 Leon Pinsker, “Autoemancipation”Theodore Herzl (1860-1904)
The Jewish State, 1896 First Zionist Congress, 1897 “Zionism aspires to the securing of a
national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, guaranteed by public law.”
The First Zionist Congress, 1897
Zionism and the Jewish Question
Clear reason for antisemitism Jews have no homeland Alien people Economic factors No future for Jews in Diaspora
What is the solution?
Founding of the State
1882 First Wave of Immigration1909 Tel Aviv founded1917 British in Palestine; Balfour
Declaration1947 U.N. Votes to Partition Palestine1948 State of Israel declared/War of
Independence
Post-War Refugees
Three Major Zionist Ideologies
Political Zionism-Theodore Herzl Saving the Jews
Cultural Zionism-Achad Ha-am Preserving Judaism
Religious Zionism-Rabbi Kook The Flowering of Redemption
Key Differences:
What is the significance of the Land of IsraelWhat is the purpose of Zionism?
What is the vision for Jewish life in the Land?
What is the future of Jews in the diaspora?
Tensions in Zionism
Multiple visions of Zionism still existVisions have different views on internal
politics, role of religion, meaning of territory, funding priorities
Knesset debate: Rambam vs. John Locke
Judaism and the Jewish State?
No separation of church and stateOrthodox rabbinate in charge of
personal status lawsWho is a Jew question?Polarization in Israel between secular
and religious
Israeli and Jew
New identity based upon citizenship and secular Hebrew culture
Is Israeli identity Jewish?What links Israelis with Jews in the
diaspora?
Jewish and Democratic
“The State of Israel will be open to Jewish immigration and to the ingathering of the exiles. It will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants. It will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisioned by the prophets of Israel. It will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex. It will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture. It will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.”
New Israeli Culture
MulticulturalPost-ZionismReturn to Jewish Sources
American Judaism and Zionism American Jews initial hesitation toward Zionism/Israel
(1897-1940s) Close ties between American Jews/America and
Israel (1948-1980’s) Philanthropy Jewish Continuity
Fragmentation in American Jewry’s attitude toward Israel Dwindling sense of Jewish peoplehood Tension between universal values and perception of Israel
Concluding Questions?
What is Judaism?What are Jewish values?Who is a Jew?How has this course challenged ideas
about religion in general?
The Dimensions of Judaism
1. Scripture and Interpretation• Fixed and fluid elements• Interpretation within a canon• Rules and guidelines• The modern period
2. Symbolic Vocabulary• God, Torah, Israel, Messiah• Shared themes--radically different
meanings
Dimensions, cont…
3. Communal Forms and Religious Authority
• Classic models of authority• All encompassing rabbinic community• Emancipation and Jewish community
4. Ritual and Worship• Identity construction/Jewish narrative• Meaning vs. set structure
Dimensions, cont…
5. Ethical Values and Formation of the Person• Centrality of moral behavior • Obligated for Tzedakah (righteous deeds)• Lifecycles orient individuals into communal
narrative6. Ideologies of Political Life
• Judaism in dialogue with political authority• Religion integrally linked to politics
21st Century Challenges Religious syncretism (Chrismukkah)
Is the modern period different? Critique of particular
Voluntary and Fluid social boundaries Blessing or curse of assimilation Intermarriage
Ipod Generation: Individual Personal Meaning
Polarization between Orthodox and liberal Jews
Israelis vs. Jews