Anti-Zionism Response

 

Response to Anti-Zionism

I have to admit that I didn't want to have to address this, as I find the opinions of some in discussion of this topic to be very disappointing.  But I feel like much of what has been said on this topic needs to be challenged, as it is generally representative of a false and harmful ideology.  Recently a prominent anti-Israel pundit had this to say, which prompted much of the following thoughts.

First, just because you can find certain words in the Bible, does not mean that you can rightly apply them to anything you want.  Context always matters and a good principle to follow is to Never read a Bible verse.  To take the "synagogue of Satan" reference in the Book of Revelation, which is in the context of "letters" to the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia contemporary to the apostle John (Revelation 2 & 3), and then claim that this directly references any modern group of people is not in any way sound biblical interpretation.  To further claim that this means that anyone labeled as a "fake Jew" is Satanic, is also without merit.  What is the purpose in literally demonizing any group of people?

    

It is truly ironic that the term anti-Zionist is being used as a shield against being called anti-Jewish or antisemitic.  Referenced many times in the Bible, Zion was known as the City of God, and was a place of refuge for God's people, even when the majority refused to follow Him.  It also was used as a reference for God's people, His spiritual kingdom, the temple mount, and literally the city of Jerusalem ("Zion of the Holy One of Israel").  In some ways, this is even a more apt description of the purpose of the state of Israel than some others.  

God's people have often been a remnant and not the majority, as previously discussed.  But even if the majority are so-called "fake Jews", then so what?  There are plenty of cultural and unfaithful "in name only" Christians too, probably in our own churches.  By implication, does that really prove that there are no real Jews in today's Israel?  There are scientific studies (one, two, three, and more), in respected peer-reviewed journals, that show significant middle-eastern genetic relationships among these multiple groups who claim Jewish ancestry and who have moved to Israel.  Peer-reviewed journals such as Science conclude that evidence firmly establishes that Ashkenazi Jews “stem from a common Middle Eastern origin and heritage.” The 20 co-authors of the study in Human Biology confirm that Ashkenazi Jews “derive [shared Jewish genetic markers] primarily from populations of the Middle East and Europe.”  In addition, people who weaponize this hypothesis to discredit the Jewish claim to the land of Israel should note that Ashkenazi Jews do not make up the majority of Israel’s Jewish population. According to a 2016 Pew Research report, only about 45% of Israeli Jews identify as Ashkenazi, while 48% identify as Sephardic or Mizrahi.  

So it needs to be asked, 

• How did you come to that conclusion that modern Jews have no ancestral connection to God's Chosen people?

• Who taught this and why?  

• What is the source and motivation behind these claims, and should they be promoted?  

• Even if it was true, and that has not been established, what is your conclusion and takeaway?  

For example saying that the "Jews killed Jesus", that Israel is composed of pedophiles, that they are genocidal, or claiming that even today these fake Jews go around killing Christians, echoes claims also widely made by many hate groups including the Nation of Islam (Louis Farrakhan), Islamic mullahs, some white supremacists, Nazis (the original flavor and neo-), some "christian" militia groups, and ranting social media attention-seekers, to just name a few.  Is it wise to also endorse an ideology that they created or still promulgate?  It should at least give pause and prompt self-reflection to ask what the larger agenda is, and then to consider why these claims should be promoted.  

To publicly associate yourself (or any religious or patriotic group you belong to) with these unsupported claims will ruin any influence you hope to have in our society and will destroy any internal unity that was hard won.  Right or wrong, the perception will be that you are pushing an agenda of hate and anti-Semitism, instead of constitutional values and the rights of the people. Read that again, "perception", so you don't misunderstand me, as I trust that most people here don't actually harbor hate.  But even if you were 100% right, strategically this is a bad move.

Note: the geopolitical nature of this regional conflict, especially in light of radical Islamic regimes, is another discussion altogether.  Perhaps one or both sides have made bad choices based on hate or fear.  War is horrible, but sometimes unavoidable when it arrives at your doorstep.  I assume all people of good will want a lasting peace, but at what cost?

See related posts What About Israel? and Who is a Jew?