Anti-Zionism is antisemitic because it seeks to cancel the Jewish covenant and history. Accusing Israel of being an apartheid state, a colonizer, or an oppressor is just an antisemitic expression.
By Gina Ross, Reprints from The Jerusalem Post, December 22, 2023
This article was first published in the Jerusalem Post special-magazine: Anti-Zionism as the new antisemitism, alongside articles by Amb. Nikki Haley, Col. Richard Kemp, Judaism 3.0 author Gol Kalev, German minister Felix Klein and others. Full Magazine.
The trauma of October 7 is still reverberating in the Israeli and the Diaspora’s collective nervous systems.
It has awoken many Jews to the unbreakable bond between Israel, Judaism, and the Jewish people. It has confirmed the belief that anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Again, Israel under threat immediately affected Jewish safety worldwide.
But this time, the massacre triggered the Holocaust trauma. After decades of Jewish disunity within Israel and with the Diaspora, a new Jewish collective emerged. Every Jew now knows from the inside and outside the intrinsic connection between Jews, Judaism, Israel, and Zionism.
As Hamas’s barbaric violence shocked the Jewish world, the immediate connection between Jews, Judaism, and Israel came from within. Some young Jews, lost in the West’s internal civilizational convulsions, have not gotten the message.
The antisemitism abroad following Hamas’s October 7 massacre
The sheer magnitude of the numbers calling for gassing the Jews stunned the Jews and the West, which had convinced themselves they were fighting antisemitism. This was the inescapable call for Western Jews who saw themselves as Westerners first, then Jews. Jews may deny their connection to Judaism or Israel, but the world will never allow it.
This connection is the precious silver lining to October’s horror. A new strength has emerged from having the collective body and soul united.
The Jewish people in Israel, the physical manifestation of the Holy Land and Covenant, the return to Zion, are the physical expression of Zionism.Advertisement
To help ourselves (and the world) move out of the dark forces that took over, we need our full power and to trust our Jewish DNA that we will survive, no matter what.
We must insist that, by definition, anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Only we can define who and what we are: a historical people, a religion, a culture, and a land. This is why we remained strangers in the hosting countries – the wandering Jew around the globe. We had a land, which we lost and to which we knew we belonged and would return, and we did return.
Jews, the Abrahamic religions, and other nations knew that Zionism was the fulfillment of this eternal covenant. Anti-Zionism is antisemitic because it seeks to cancel the Jewish covenant and history. Because Israel recognized the right of Arabs to be part of that land, it has not colonized anyone. But Islamic dogmas and Western antisemitism made Palestinians refuse to share the land, leading to their misery. Jew-hatred also overlapped with hatred of the West.
ACCUSING ISRAEL of being an apartheid state, a colonizer, or an oppressor is just another creative antisemitic expression. After the Holocaust, it was impolite for people to admit they hate the Jews. The “Palestinian cause” became the new, justifiable code of Jewish hatred, regardless of how much it hurt the Palestinians. They annulled or distorted Jewish history and denied Arab-Palestinian ongoing violence.
We have much to do to repair this situation. We must heal our collective trauma.
We must be fierce and unapologetic when using defensive force. We must deeply ground our newly found unity in our language and actions, re-educating ourselves to stop the polarization, and let go of hatred and demonization between the different sides. To secure our unity, we must understand and value how each group is a part of the collective Jewish, Zionist soul.
While the traumatic massacre and the worldwide unfair reaction to it are seared in our collective consciousness, we must make sure to release our traumatic emotions to free ourselves from trauma’s yoke.
In my daily contact with Israeli students and families, I notice that, while the traumatic shock is still significant, the collective psyche is starting to get a grasp of the situation. The miracle of the spontaneous return to national unity, the return of many hostages, and the IDF’s military advances in Gaza are all starting to reduce the traumatic activation that is essential for the recovery of our collective nervous system.
Yes, there is a tremendous collective sadness floating almost physically over Israel. As one client who recently visited Israel said, “There is silence in Israel. There is not the regular noise in the streets.” The grief is a collective grief, emanating from this recovered sense of peoplehood, intrinsically united. When one part is hurt, we are all hurt.
American Jews still express their shock at the spread of antisemitism among American academic, political, and media elites. Nothing denounces more clearly that anti-Zionism is antisemitism than the rush of hostility that immediately sprang up in the anti-Israel camp on October 7 and 8, before any Israeli response. Their instant joy at Jewish suffering, and the calls for more violence (intifada, genocide) worldwide are living proof of it.
America and its Jews woke up to the fact that many of these elites believe that being anti-Zionist and supporting calls for the death of all Jews is not antisemitic. The Jews realized that many, whom we regarded as allies, supported Hamas’s massacre. They were not our allies – another confirmation that anti-Zionism is antisemitism.
WHAT IS hopeful is that this fight does not belong only to American and European Jews but to all Westerners interested in traditional Western values: compassion, freedom, equality, and tolerance.
Jewish students were helplessly subjected to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement’s malevolence for years. Congress hearings with university heads, a stark example of lack of moral clarity and shameless antisemitism among the educational elites, were the coup de grace that outraged the Jewish community. Consequently, it is now determined to fight antisemitism and for Israel, one more time showing the indestructible tie between Judaism, the Jewish people, and Zionism.
JEWS KNOW they are in for a long ride. Thus we must strengthen our physical, emotional, and moral stamina. Hamas’s jihadi violence and the outrageous support it received opened our eyes. We must have moral clarity about right or wrong, just or unjust. Without any doubt or hesitation, we must declare our rightful claim to our land and forgo any need to belong to progressive politics at the cost of our Jewishness or support of Israel.
This Jewish catastrophe has also opened the world’s eyes, forcing it to confront the dangers facing it. Jews as the canary in the coal mine is followed by an immediate danger for all. The West has been astounded by the moral damage their universities have unleashed upon their students. It finally recognizes that virulent antisemitism makes Jewish students feel physically unsafe.
More devastating is the moral turpitude of the country’s elite faculty and students. They find raping women, killing babies, decapitating, and burning people alive justifiable. Congress is trying to address this repulsive turpitude. It is a complex fight that involves the West, not just the Jews.
Arab countries realize how this massacre and the ensuing war would threaten their own security if Israel did not destroy Hamas. They need a strong Israel and are trying to defuse the tension, sending discreet signals for connection with Israel, despite fearing the Arab street.
The massacre has also brought into focus the role of misguided or ideological media promoting misinformation and fueling violence – a theme to also address.
There are many pieces to the puzzle of bringing antisemitism and anti-Zionism to tolerable levels. We must all address each piece carefully and methodically. We have friends and allies to help. Let’s take a deep breath and dive in to help wherever we can! ■
The writer, a Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist (MFCT), is founder/president of the International Trauma-Healing Institutes (ITI US, ITI Israel); co-founder of Jerusalem’s Herzog Hospital’s Trauma Center; and senior faculty in Somatic Experiencing. Her Ross Model includes stress-release tools for the collective level, and she authored the book series Beyond the Trauma Vortex into the Healing Vortex. She is a member of the Judaism 3.0 think tank. Her views are her own.
This article was published in the Jerusalem Post special-magazine: Anti-Zionism as the new antisemitism, alongside articles by Amb. Nikki Haley, Col. Richard Kemp, Judaism 3.0 author Gol Kalev, German minister Felix Klein and others. Full Magazine.
Summary of the Judaism 3.0 event: Anti-Zionism as the new anti-Semitism
Watch the full event (Youtube)
Judaism 3.0 Think Tank
The Judaism 3.0 Think Tank (formally the AIFL Think Tank) deliberates the ideas introduced in the book Judaism 3.0 – Judaism’s Transformation to Zionism
DISCUSSION
Discussion 1 (ideas): Are we in Judaism 3.0?
The bulk of the book, and much of the discussions focus on exploring Gol Kalev’s thesis: Judaism is going through a historic transformation and Zionism is becoming its anchor.
Jerusalem Post Magazine: Is Zionism becoming the anchor of Judaism?
Brazil Jewish Academy: Applying Herzl’s vision through Judaism 3.0
The Thesis: i24 TV, Daniel Gordis podcast
The Debate: Prof. Gil Troy debates Gol Kalev: Are we in Judaism 3.0?
Discussion 2 (impact): What does it mean?
Recogonizing that we are in Judaism 3.0 has far-reaching implications, both in addressing today’s existential threats to Judaism, and in unleashing once unimaginable opportunities to advance humanity through Zionism
Jerusalem Report cover: A new framework to counter Israel-Bashing
Newsweek article: It’s time for Judaism 3.0
Jerusalem Post series: Applying Judaism 3.0
Jerusalem Leaders Summit: Judaism 3.0 and the threat of Israel-bashing
History: From AIFL Think Tank (2011) to Judaism 3.0 Think Tank (2023)
The AIFL Think Tank was inaugurated in 2011 under the leadership of Gol Kalev to explore the current state of Zionism and of Judaism.
Based in New York, think tank members represent a wide variety of professional and personal backgrounds. Most not involved with Jewish causes, and many non-Jews, members brought valuable outside perspectives and fresh thinking that helped the author fine-tune the ideas of Judaism 3.0.
Once Judaism 3.0 – Judaism’s transformation to Zionism was published, the think tank, housed in the America-Israel Friendship League for 11 years, has “made Aliya” and is now the Judaism 3.0 think tank
Methodology – AIFL Think Tank
Members: Experienced professionals from various fields such as Investment Banking, Private Equity, Law, Media, Fashion, Art, Philanthropy, and Technology, think tank members come from various political and religious backgrounds.
Applying their experience and track record of success in their respective fields to issues related to Israel and the Jewish world, think tank members bring valuable outside perspective to issues relating to Israel, Zionism and the Jewish world.
Opinion Leaders: Through deliberating the ideas of Judaism 3.0, think tank members become better familiar with issues relating to Israel and Zionism. They then can share their experience and knowledge with their respective circles, including those critical of Israel.
Position Papers: The think tank’s position papers authored by Gol Kalev, were deliberated by think tank members, who also served as valuable sounding-board for the author as he was writing his book
Zionism — a Successor to Rabbinical Judaism? (2012)
120 Years Later: A Look at the State of Zionism and the American Jewish Community (2014)
Book: With the book completed and published, the think tank is now expanding to broader audiences of readers and thinkers, who wish to continue the conversation and deliberate the ideas of Judaism 3.0.
EVENTS
Our Judaism 3.0 events combine interactive conversations (typically over Israeli wine), with in-depth discussions about Judaism 3.0. Some event focus on the question if Zionism is indeed becoming the anchor of Judaism, while others on the impact such broad recognition would have.
Whether a panel in a crowded auditorium, such as ones held at the Begin Center, a webinar, such as the one held by the AIFL, attended by 14,000 people, a reception, such as the ones in the gardens of the the Israel Broadcasting Association mansion, or on-stage conversation, such as the one held by the Tel Aviv International Salon along with Amb. Michael Oren, our discussions delve into the intricacies of Judaism 3.0.
ABOUT THE BOOK
About Judaism 3.0: In this landmark book, Gol Kalev demonstrates how Zionism has turned into the organizing principle of Judaism. Analyzing long-term shifts in Israel, Diaspora Judaism as well as global trends that impact the state of Judaism, Kalev shows how Zionism has become the primary conduit through which both Jews and non-Jews relate to Judaism – in the positive and negative alike. More
Purchase Judaism 3.0 on Amazon
Purchase Judaism 3.0 in Israel
“A courageous, compelling, and thoughtful thesis that must be part of any serious discussion of the future of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Michael Oren, historian, former Ambassador of Israel to the United States
“This book should play an important role in the discussions about the future of world Jewry and its relations with Israel.”
Natan Sharansky, former Chairman of The Jewish Agency, former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
Gol Kalev does not just know Theodor Herzl – he lives and breathes Theodor Herzl…This book should trigger the conversation the Jewish community needs about Israel, Zionism, Judaism and Identity. Bravo!
Professor Gil Troy, author -The Zionist Ideas
“Gol Kalev’s book has the merit to transform the very essence of the State of Israel to becoming an objective expression of Jewish identity.”
Dr. Georges Yitzhak Weisz, author – Theodor Herzl: A New Reading
“This book has sparked as much conversation as it has because the premise is so interesting, so counter-intuitive and demand of us that we think many thing anew. That is perhaps the greatest gift a book can give.”
Dr. Daniel Gordis, author – We Stand Divided
ייA remarkable ideas book that is about much more than the state of Judaism….One of the most important books about Judaism, Zionism and global trends of our times.”
Catherine Carlton, former Mayor of Menlo Park, Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur
“Gol Kalev has a deep understanding of Herzl and of processes happening in the Jewish world and non-Jewish world. He puts these two together and describes in his book how both Jews and non-Jews relate to Judaism now through Zionism – exactly as Herzl described in his vision.“
Yaakov Hagoel, Chairman – World Zionist Organization, acting Chairman – Jewish Agency
“Kalev picks up where Herzl left off……A must read for people of all religious and political backgrounds who want to get a deeper understanding of the state of Zionism and Judaism today.”
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem
Clip from most recent Judaism 3.0 Think Tank event. Full video
Press-release of previous Judaism 3.0 Think Tank events:
Applying Herzl’s frameworks to today’s strategic issues
Zionism and the Nationalism-Universalism debate
From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – Zionism’s religious revival
Prof. Gil Troy and Gol Kalev debate Judaism 3.0
Amb Michael Oren and Gol Kalev discuss impact of Judaism 3.0
#1 Amazon Best-Seller in its category for New Releases, the book was chosen by the Jerusalem Report as the cover of its 2022 New Year Magazine even before published. In October 2022 the Jerusalem Post issued a Special Magazine about the book’s message
“Gol Kalev picks up where Herzl left off”
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem
Talking about Judaism 3.0:
Watch Gol Kalev apply the principles of Judaism 3.0 to his strategic analysis of the Gaza war: American Sunrise
Watch Gol Kalev discuss how Judaism 3.0 counters the threat of anti-Zionism (2022 Jerusalem Leaders Summit):
JUDAISM 3.0 ADDRESSES EXISTENTIAL THREATS TO JUDAISM:
Read summaries of the Jerusalem Post series showing how a broad recognition that we are in Judaism 3.0 could help counter the existential threat of Israel-bashing and anti-Zionsim:
Watch media coverage of the fifth Judaism 3.0 Begin Center event:
Watch Gol Kalev discuss Judaism 3.0 in an i24 interview with Emily Frances:
A revolutionary approach to countering Israel-bashing and anti-Zionism unveiled at the Judaism 3.0 book launch:
Watch video-clips, read a recap of the book launch party
Sign-up to get updates on the book’s launch events:
For comments and inquiries: info@Judaism-Zionism.com
JUDAISM 3.0 