Exploring the Complex Relationship Between Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

Avi Weiss, the founding rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-the Bayit, as well as the founder of the Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat rabbinical schools, has recently published a new thematic commentary on the Bible titled "Torat Ahavah – Loving Torah." The author's views are shared in this piece. To read more opinions, visit CNN.

Approaching my 80th birthday, I have come to realize that as a Jew, I have been fortunate to lead a relatively peaceful life. Growing up towards the end of World War II, I was spared from the worst of anti-Semitism, as even those who harbored hatred towards Jews hesitated to act on it. It seems that the world's guilt over its role in the Holocaust, where 6 million Jews perished, has somewhat restrained the enemies of our people.

Rabbi Avi Weiss

Rabbi Avi Weiss

Anti-Semitism has been a serious issue, especially in recent years. There were instances of vicious anti-Semites and horrific anti-Semitic incidents that needed to be condemned. Individuals like Louis Farrakhan and David Duke had to be directly confronted. The tragic 1991 murder of Yankel Rosenbaum, a Hasidic Lubavitch scholar who was stabbed to death by a mob fueled by hatred towards Jews, instilled fear within the Jewish community. Despite these challenges, anti-Semitism was not widespread.

However, eight decades after the Holocaust, the Shoah is now in the rearview mirror. For many people around the world, it has become just a footnote in history. The memory of the Holocaust no longer holds back antisemites, who used to hide in the shadows but are now showing their hatred openly.

The holiday of Purim is being celebrated by Jews worldwide this weekend. It commemorates a story from the Bible's Book of Esther, where the Jewish community in ancient Persia faced a threat of extinction from the King's adviser Haman and his supporters.

The story delves into the deep-rooted issue of antisemitism that has persisted for thousands of years. This form of hatred towards Jews can be categorized into people, ideology, and land, shaping the foundation of a nation. These themes of hatred have continued to be prevalent in modern times.

In the dark days of the Holocaust, the Third Reich aimed to commit genocide against the Jewish population, solely based on their Jewish identity. This horrific agenda mirrors the same hatred that drove Haman two thousand years ago.

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As a Jewish Columbia professor, I have concerns about sending my children to the university. During the Cold War, Soviet antisemitism was rampant, targeting Jewish faith and ideology. The USSR's leaders viewed Jewish culture and religious practices as incompatible with their Marxist beliefs, preventing Jews from living a Jewish life. Those who wanted to leave were trapped behind the Iron Curtain like hostages.

Today, antisemitism often manifests as a denial of Jews' right to sovereignty in their own land. However, without sovereignty, there can be no security, leaving Jews vulnerable to persecution. Throughout history, as a stateless people, Jews have faced discrimination and expulsion. Anti-Zionists conveniently overlook this historical reality when they claim to be against Jews having their own state, but not against Jews themselves.

Furthermore, while the world has no issue with Muslim states, some explicitly defined as Islamic or Arab, the idea of a small Jewish state, the only Western-style democracy in the Middle East, is consistently rejected and targeted.

Statehood is ingrained in Jewish consciousness. Israel holds a special significance beyond just being a place of freedom and safety for Jews. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Ashkenazic chief rabbi of pre-state Israel, emphasized that Israel is not separate from Judaism but an integral part of Jewish identity. This is evident in the prayers for the return to Zion that are recited by Jews of all denominations. Regardless of religious beliefs, the majority of Jews feel a deep connection to Israel and identify themselves as Zionists.

People wave flags during a community solidarity gathering for Israel hosted by the Jewish United Fund of Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, outside North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

People gathered outside North Shore Congregation Israel in Glencoe, Illinois on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 for a community solidarity event in support of Israel. The event was hosted by the Jewish United Fund of Chicago. Attendees showed their support by waving flags during the gathering. (Photo credit: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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While some people who are against Zionism argue that they are not against Semitism, their actions often speak otherwise. When individuals who oppose Zionism say "no Zionists allowed," what they are really saying is "no Jews allowed." This is evident in the fact that many anti-Israel protests target Jewish institutions rather than Israeli ones.

The connection between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism was especially clear on October 7. Hamas, much like their predecessor Haman, not only seeks to destroy Israel but also aims to kill as many Jews as possible. This goal is outlined in the Hamas charter, which was established when the organization was founded. On that day, Jews around the world felt personally threatened, realizing that if Hamas had the chance, they would have targeted and killed every single Jew.

Not every anti-Zionist is automatically an anti-Semite. There are exceptions to every rule, but exceptions don't invalidate the rule. It's one thing to strongly disagree with certain Israeli policies, but anti-Zionism goes further by opposing the idea of Jewish self-determination. This can affect 7 million Jews, half of the world's Jewish population living in Zion, as well as many others who wish to move to Israel.

Zionism is based on the Hebrew word "tziun-metzuyan," which means a stamp of excellence. In Israel, all citizens living in a sovereign nation have the opportunity to contribute to making the world a better place.

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Purim tells the story of Jewish people living in a foreign land, facing a serious threat of harm. The underlying message is the importance of Jews being connected to their homeland, Zion, where they can defend themselves with strength and integrity, as emphasized by the Israeli army's "purity of arms."

According to the Book of Esther, the Jews in ancient Persia were ultimately saved by the grace of the king. But the State of Israel, and only the State of Israel, allows Jews to save themselves.

Editor's P/S:

The article delves into the resurgence of anti-Semitism, particularly in the context of the Holocaust and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Rabbi Avi Weiss