Q&A: Religious Zionist Without a Hyphen
Religious Zionist Without a Hyphen
Question
As a religious Zionist (without a hyphen), what is the moral justification for conquering the land, for going out to war, for conquest in general that we impose on the Arabs in Judea and Samaria, etc.?
If I weren’t religious, I probably wouldn’t fight over the land, and I wouldn’t oppose the idea of establishing a secular Jewish state in Uganda.
Answer
It’s a strange question, although I admit that back in the Aleph group of Bnei Akiva I also thought about it after the activity.
Why do we need justifications? This is the land our forefathers lived in, and we were expelled from it by force, and now we want to return to it. Whoever threatens us should be fought. All the more so if we offer him rights and peace and he doesn’t accept.
It seems to me that I also wouldn’t have opposed Uganda. But do you really think that in Uganda you wouldn’t have had to fight? Why, because they’re Black and would accept the Ashkenazim who came without protesting? Like every people and every state, one has to fight if there is a threat. No justification is required for that.
Discussion on Answer
As a beginning follower, doesn’t the Rabbi see conquest, settlement, etc. as some sort of goal for a kingdom of priests and the like?
Obviously, a Religious-Zionist will see religious value in establishing a state. But a religious Zionist (without a hyphen) can also see value in conquering and settling the land. But even a secular person has justification to fight here. And all this has nothing to do with “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” What connection is there between the secular state established here and that? Well, I didn’t say that the religious side here really is “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” In my opinion, much less so.
When I wrote that I wouldn’t have opposed Uganda, that was only in principle from the standpoint of national aspirations. The commandment, if there is one, is in the Land of Israel. But if it would have saved lives, then Uganda would definitely have been on the table.
And I still haven’t said anything about the hyphen. What does it have to do with anything? What I said applies even to a secular person. What does the hyphen have to do with this?