Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Are "Anti-Zionist Jews" Still Jews?

It’s about time this discussion happens. 

A plurality of “Anti-Zionist Jews” is likely Reform, if denominationally affiliated. Reform philosophy eschews G-d and ritual, substituting social justice, making its adherents akin to Progressive Ethical Humanists who occasionally do some Jewish stuff. The affiliated “Anti-Zionist Jews” don’t stop there, though. They also reject Israel as another central pillar of Judaism. Indeed, they support its destruction and, therefore, the annihilation of the Jewish people. 

What you believe matters. The consistency of your beliefs matters. What affiliations you have based on your beliefs matter.  On Chanukah, “Anti-Zionist Jews” like this celebrated 1) a military victory over a nation that aimed to exterminate Judaism and 2) the miracle of the eternal light or נר תמיד. Their celebration was exceptionally hypocritical, if nauseatingly illogical, because these “Anti-Zionist Jews” 1) currently advocate for the extermination of Jewry and the destruction of Israel, and 2) do not believe in G-d or, therefore, miracles.

At some point, enough change in something constitutes a change in its quality. In context of this post, this begs the question, is the rejection by “Anti-Zionist Jews” like this, of much of the center of Judaism (Israel, G-d, and the vehicle to draw closer— ritual), enough change that it amounts to a change in quality? In other words, by dint of their beliefs, are “Anti-Zionist Jews” like this still Jews? 

In my opinion, the answer is no. Indeed, they are apostates; they are not Jews at all. 

There. I said it.

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