I often say that J Street does not represent the rank and file of those it claims to lead, liberal Jews. Last month at J Street’s conference, a UCLA senior stood at a panel to ask about the space for non-Zionism inside Jewish life. He said that his own skepticism about Zionism is not welcomed inside organized Judaism, even in synagogues, “which are supposed to be a place of religious expression and not political expression.”
Later I talked to him. The video is above. He gave me his last name, Liu, and said that he finds that Zionism has replaced the belief in God, the Ten Commandments, and Halakhah (the moral laws), as the core of organized Jewish religion. And: “that’s idolatry.” Jewish organizations are promoting “Jewish nationalism… promoting ethnocentrism and ethnic-based relations [over religious norms].”
I asked him where he stands on the Zionist/anti-Zionist issue.
“I’m not a Zionist in that I think the founding of Israel was a mistake.” Liu would have sought greater justice and compensation for Jews in Europe from European countries that fostered the Holocaust, not Arab countries.
After that, he explained his resistance to the idea of one state in Israel and Palestine. At the end I ask him about pressure on him to go to Israel, or move there. He said:
“I’ve already been to Israel, so my skepticism of Zionism stemmed from that first trip to Israel, where I heard blatant racism on the part of the people, friends, and exchange students I was with.”
Nonetheless, as an American Jew he feels “attachment to the conflict.” And so he means to address it in his professional life.
Cha-ching.
I agree with his statement: ‘Zionism has replaced the belief in God’.
That is absolutely true for American Jews – at least when it comes to the ‘Establishment’.
That’s the impression I get from Zionists – that ‘defending’ Israel is more important than morality, ethics, etc.
None of the Zionist commentators here have ever expressed basic human decency. They lie so effortlessly and are also just as dishonest (hophmi). Morality does not factor into their beliefs. It is simply ‘defend Israel’ (even if it means defending mass murder, ethnic cleansing, discrimination, racism, etc.).
What is it that we hear from the trolls?
‘Why aren’t you blah blah Syria [or other countries having problems]?’
Pathetic.
Thanks Phil. Hope it is a harbinger for many more of these bright young folk to speak out against rabid Zionism, while still embracing Judaism. There was much that he had to say as an American Jewish man that is important to the conversation and for our moral blindness toward Zionism.
Looks like not just the young Israelis but at least one in his dotage, has been having second thoughts about his God, the real estate broker for the Jews: http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?fromval=1&cid=41&frid=41&eid=116873
Note Beiden, Mr. Fake hair & teeth, the Roman Catholic Irishman himself (and a source of endless disgust with many of his own people), has no such doubts as Peres does.