Rabbi Wendy Pein's Blog

Contrary to common misconceptions, Zionism is not solely about encouraging aliyah, or immigration to Israel. At its core, Zionism is the belief in the right of the Jewish people to establish and maintain a sovereign state in Israel without necessarily implying a requirement for all Jews to move there. This belief stems from a historical and spiritual connection to Zion, a biblical name for Jerusalem, which by extension refers to the land of Israel itself. The World Zionist Organization defines Zionism as "the national liberation movement of the Jewish people."[1] This movement facilitated the founding of the State of Israel, envisioning a Jewish, Zionist, democratic, and secure state as essential for the continuity and future of the Jewish people. Importantly, this definition emphasizes the Jewish historical connection to the land which Jews share from all over the world and are therefore connected to Israelites who lived in the land thousands of years ago.

In 1997, the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) articulated a platform on Reform Judaism and Zionism. It highlighted that despite millennia of dispersion and persecution, the Jewish people never lost hope for a national homeland in Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. This vision gained urgency after the Shoah, underscoring the dangers of powerlessness. It recognizes that the state of Israel exists “not only for the benefit of its citizens but also to defend the physical security and spiritual integrity of the Jewish people.” [2] The platform celebrates the achievements of modern Zionism, such as the revival of the Hebrew language, the absorption of millions of immigrants, and the transformation of barren landscapes into flourishing communities. Finally, the platform acknowledges that our covenant with God at Sinai establishes a unique purpose for the people of Israel to be a “light to the nations” and therefore, the Jewish State, unlike other states, has an obligation to strive toward the Jewish people’s highest moral ideals.

ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America, builds upon these principles of Reform Zionism, “As Reform Zionists, we strive to make the State of Israel a true inheritor of the prophetic tradition of the Jewish people: a nation devoted to pursuing justice and creating a complete world. Our love for Israel is channeled into efforts that advance the vision of what we believe Israel can – and must – yet be.”[3] ARZA works toward a democratic and religious pluralist society in Israel and equal acceptance of the Reform Movement by the Israeli government. ARZA and the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) are working together to make our voices heard in the upcoming World Zionist Congress 2025.

Recently, I attended two events which reflect the vision of Reform Zionism. The first was the Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism Conference, held on May 29-May 30, 2024 at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in NYC. For two days, we listened to speakers, attended workshops, and discussed the key issues facing Israel and the Jewish people today. One major takeaway from the conference is the need to redesign Israel education so that students learn about Israel in all its complexity from an early age. In addition, the Conference reiterated the need for us to stay involved in interfaith and social justice partnerships for as a people we are historically better “at identifying enemies than making friends.” And today, especially, we need allies more than ever.

The second event was attending the Celebrate Israel parade in NYC. A group of us from Temple Israel attended the parade together. The parade is all about showing up and standing with our Jewish mishpacha, our Jewish family, and demonstrating our support for the state of Israel. Cheering for Jews who marched to call attention to the hostages in Israel, cheering for synagogues and institutions from all different religious denominations, cheering for state and government officials, Jews and non-Jews who support Israel,  cheering for Eden Golan, the recent Israeli Eurovision finalist, and cheering to simply show our support for the people and country of Israel -  this was all part of demonstrating a belief in Reform Zionism.

At the Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism conference, a Jewish student from Columbia shared her experience on the college campus this year and compared the resilience of the Jewish people to a tea bag that reveals its strength in boiling water. It reminds us of the robustness of our heritage and the urgency of articulating and advocating for a Zionism that is inclusive, just, and reflective of our historical values.

In future posts, I will delve deeper into how we can actively participate in the vital work of Reform Zionism and how we can contribute to making Israel a model nation that not only secures the Jewish future but also seeks to uphold the universal values of justice and peace for all humanity. Let’s embark on this journey together, strengthening our understanding and commitment to Reform Zionism, and educating others about the true tenets of Zionism.