Why should I listen to a "theological" critique of Zionism? Despite the fact that "Jewish theology" is as modern an invention as Zionism is, I'm not a theist and I see no place for Orthodox Judaism in a liberatory Jewish identity. I'm not making common cause with people who run authoritarian cults that control the lives of women and children and uphold ahistorical and irrational world views. These people are anti-Jewish enlightenment and anti-Jewish emancipation as another commentator pointed out.
This guy is not an intellectual or an ally, he's a grifter. He's literally speaking on Turkish state television in this clip, he's relishing in the attention and money he gets from anti-Israel geopolitical actors, he's not advancing any kind of truth or justice. He's not an urgently needed ally, because he doesn't offer anything new, the point being made in this video has been made countless times before him, and is insufficient imo, since it fails to account for the history of systemic antisemitism in America.
I probably haven't studied it enough but I'd guess that systemic antisemitism in America probably came from the fact that many who settled in America were from Europe, and the misperception that Jews were responsible for Christ's death, I guess? Which if studied enough in depth is false of course. And European antisemitism was going on for centuries, AFAIK. How do we get rid of it? Did the Holocaust and everyone's reaction to it, cure everyone of anti-Semitism? Probably not.
It seems like you are wanting to argue against someone who says there is no need for the state of Israel. So doesn't that basically make you a staunch Zionist? If so do you not favor fairer treatment for the Palestinians, perhaps a 'reimagined' right of return like the Zochrot organization advocates (instead of a a literal return.) Do you not favor equal rights for everyone there whether Jewish or not? Or at least a Palestinian state that isn't basically a sovereignty-free joke courtesy of the Americans and the Israelis? Just wondering.
IMO the best chance of survival for a large ME presence of Jews is to do almost a 180. They need to read 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' instead of blowing their neighbors up. The best way to knock the legs out from under Hamas and Hez is to set up such an accommodatory peace and such an accommodatory two-state or one-state (one which truly tries to make up for the forceful home and land theft starting in '48) that Israel's adversaries are no longer able to gain supporters. IMO.
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u/korach1921 Reconstructionist 9d ago
Why should I listen to a "theological" critique of Zionism? Despite the fact that "Jewish theology" is as modern an invention as Zionism is, I'm not a theist and I see no place for Orthodox Judaism in a liberatory Jewish identity. I'm not making common cause with people who run authoritarian cults that control the lives of women and children and uphold ahistorical and irrational world views. These people are anti-Jewish enlightenment and anti-Jewish emancipation as another commentator pointed out.
This guy is not an intellectual or an ally, he's a grifter. He's literally speaking on Turkish state television in this clip, he's relishing in the attention and money he gets from anti-Israel geopolitical actors, he's not advancing any kind of truth or justice. He's not an urgently needed ally, because he doesn't offer anything new, the point being made in this video has been made countless times before him, and is insufficient imo, since it fails to account for the history of systemic antisemitism in America.