Q&A: The Relationship Between Nationalism and Racism
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Relationship Between Nationalism and Racism
Question
Hello Rabbi!
I wanted to ask whether any kind of nationalist affinity contains a racist element, or whether there is no connection between the two, and racism is not just a theoretical preference but a practical one?
Answer
The question is too general. Nationalism, as distinct from nationality, is a term with a negative connotation. But even if it involves chauvinism, that is on a national basis, not a racial one. Not that it makes much difference.
There were columns here in the past that dealt with the definition of racism. Search the site.