Don’t conflate Judaism and Zionism – a short film
Reel News has produced this short and thought provoking film that looks with some nuance at a journey away from Zionism and the importance of separating Judaism from Zionism and antisemitism from anti-Zionism. Filming took place before October 7th but remains relevant. It notes, for example, how most Jewish people had never heard the term “occupation” within our own communities and that many are now finding out and joining protests and other action in support of justice and freedom for Palestinians. Interviewees refer to the ongoing and genuine fear among many Jewish people, as well the regrettable fact that some supporters of Palestine do say antisemitic things but the film highlights the importance of Jewish presence in the movement for Palestine, which is even more vital as we witness the massive attack on the people of Gaza and the stepping up of attacks in the West Bank. Interviewees include Antony Lerman and JVL Co Chair Jenny Manson.
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Very interesting. My own aborted attempt at aliyah was in 1973 to volunteer (at the kibbutz where Tony Lerman had been very much earlier, Amiad). It’s embarrassing to confess that it wasn’t through ideology, more to overcome a life crisis where my life wasn’t going anywhere, I needed a big cause. After several months I came to hate the kibbutz (communal life at such intense and claustrophobic close quarters coming to feel increasingly like living as a resident psychiatrist-in-training in a mental hospital).
Some aspects were good, experiencing life as a worker in a steel factory, my turn at preparing the dining room, picking oranges and the rest of the committed work ethic, my stint cleaning the toilets — the beginnings of my realisation, and guilt, at privilege I’d previously been unaware of.
Nobody ever mentioned the word Palestinian. The sense of narrowness became more oppressive and what looked like idealism seemed more a cover for supremacism.
And disillusioned of even such a thin ideology as I’d possessed, I came home to my real, albeit adopted, home of Britain (a Britain that had not yet turned into, sorry to say, what we now see and live).
I was no longer what I’d never really been, a Zionist, but not yet an anti-Zionist. The cure for that sickness, as I said the other day, took decades. Not unlike psychoanalysis, I might fancy, although very much more successful in its outcome.
PS In fairness I should have added it was in the immediate aftermath of the Yom Kippur war and things in Israel were extremely fraught and most people were understandably on edge to say the least. But the sense of ‘big cause’ was amplified when our plane full of volunteers was escorted in by Israeli military jets. By the way, the Embassy in London got me to shlepp in — I wasn’t yet a complete atheist but getting there — a real Sefer Torah for the IDF troops, God forgive me! It didn’t actually get a seat to itself (the way priceless cellos do) but it got some hefty protection in the overhead luggage rack.
Great short film clearly explaining the difference between anti semitism and anti zionism. There were many examples of Jews seeking peace. Shalom and God Bless all of you. I do feel that Jewish Voice for Labour should find another name maybe Jews for Justice and Peace so that the excellent material you produce can reach a wider audience.
There are some very good pieces on the difference between Zionism and Judaism . Rabbi Shapiro , has done some excellent youtube pieces , and also Gabor Maté and Aaron Maté . I was one who was labelled an anti Semite for calling out Zionism when Starmer lied his way into getting voted as Labour leader . What I faced was anti Semitic , even though I was staing the difference between Zionism and Judaism . I even used one of those who helped bring about the definition of anti Semitism , and his caution for it not to be used as a weapon to criticise Israel . The People must think many of us are stupid if they think we are not aware of its misuse .