What Is Ultra-Orthodoxy and the ‘Boundary Line’ Between It and Religious Zionism?

The rabbi’s opening post

What Is Ultra-Orthodoxy and the ‘Boundary Line’ Between It and Religious Zionism?

Posted on 8/8/2004

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What Is Ultra-Orthodoxy and the ‘Boundary Line’ Between It and Religious Zionism?

A question for the esteemed members of the forum, may they live long and well.

Can anyone offer a clear-cut definition that distinguishes between ultra-Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism?

One should also address the various correlations (attitudes toward secular learning and toward new ideas).

One point before we hand the floor over to the panel. What is the difference between ultra-Orthodoxy and secular Zionism? Is it not possible, like any secular citizen, to see something positive in the state, though not necessarily something of religious significance? Recall the well-known story about the rabbi of Ponevezh, who insisted on a flag and on omitting the penitential prayer on that day (heaven forbid), on the grounds that he was no worse than Ben-Gurion.

I have no doubt that what is usually presented by his students as a witty barb at Ben-Gurion’s expense was originally complete identification with Ben-Gurion. His claim is that the founding and continued existence of the state bring him joy on the secular plane, like Ben-Gurion, even without the religious value that Religious Zionists see in them.

As is well known, Yosef Burg already said that the essential thing in Religious-Zionism is the hyphen.

In sum, is it not possible to be Zionist, and also religious, but without the hyphen?

Miky

Title expanded between the first two words and the question mark

Source (the ‘Stop Here, We Think’ forum): http://www.bhol.co.il/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=1057265&forum_id=1364