“Judaism Is Subservience to God, Zionism Is Nationalism” — Orthodox Jewish Anti-Zionism

cThis interview presents a forceful Orthodox Jewish critique of Zionism and the modern State of Israel—coming not from an opponent of Judaism, but from within a Jewish religious tradition that rejects the political transformation of Judaism into nationalism.

The speaker draws a fundamental distinction between Judaism and Zionism: Judaism, in his view, is submission to God and adherence to the Torah, while Zionism is a political nationalist ideology that he considers fundamentally incompatible with Jewish religious law. He argues that Zionism has used Jewish identity and religious symbolism to legitimize a political project that displaced Palestinians and claimed authority in the name of Judaism.

The video also raises a broader religious and historical question beyond the speaker's immediate comments. The traditional Jewish concept of exile, together with biblical passages such as Revelation 3:9, has been interpreted by some critics of Zionism as raising questions about claims to religious and national authority made in the name of Judaism. Revelation 3:9's reference to those “who say they are Jews, and are not” has consequently become an important passage in some anti-Zionist interpretations.

The discussion also challenges the common assumption that opposition to Israel or Zionism is inherently opposition to Jews. The speaker emphasizes Jewish communities that have historically rejected Zionism and maintains that Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived alongside one another in Palestine and throughout the Middle East long before the establishment of the modern State of Israel.

For viewers unfamiliar with these distinctions, Judaism, Zionism, and Israeli identity are not synonymous. Judaism is a religion and Jewish identity encompasses diverse traditions; Zionism is a modern political movement; and Israeli refers to citizenship or national identity in the modern State of Israel. Jews themselves have historically held—and continue to hold—very different positions concerning Zionism.

The broader historical questions raised here involve religious identity, political power, Palestine, the origins of Zionism, the Balfour Declaration, the establishment of Israel, Palestinian displacement, and the use of religious symbolism in political movements.

Listen to the speaker. Examine the scriptures. Examine the historical record. Compare the competing narratives. Then make your own assessment