"Even an ancient vision has its moment of birth," wrote the Israeli poet Nathan Alterman (1910-1970). Alterman lovingly described Israel: "The surroundings of the Kinneret have been a kind of symbol of earthly beauty to us...."
Alterman's vision of Israel, Eretz Yisrael, and her natural beauty, seems to have been given birth through a deep commitment to an ancient promise made by the Creator to the patriarch Abraham, forefather of all Jews. This covenant was repeated to his son Isaac and then grandson Jacob, again by the Creator. Moses emphasized this promise at Sinai when he declared to the twelve tribes that G-d would restore to them the land of their ancestors.
In this way, the area to be possessed became known to the world at large as the "promised land." The biblical book of Bereshit (Genesis) records the extent of the land, Zion.
What exactly is Zionism? Zionism is simply the right of the Jewish nation to live peacefully in its ancestral home -- the land promised them in millennia past. Canaan is their inheritance, and has served as their sanctuary for nearly 4,000 years in a world that largely despises them. Zion (now Israel), is the place they can gather to practice their faith without persecution. The right of religion is an integral part of the covenant dedicating that land to them.
The modern movement for returning to the land was initiated by Theodor Herzl in 1897. He declared that the purpose of Zionism was to "establish a national home for the Jewish people, secured by Public Law." On this basis, Zionism is believed by some to be a narrow ideology with emphasis on Jewish nationalism and statehood. Although those two concepts can find some validity, Zionism is not an ideology but an enactment of promises made to the Jewish nation many thousands of years ago, and kept alive into the present era.
The great British statesman Winston Churchill said in 1922 that Jews had returned to Palestine, as it was called then -- based on its revised name, given by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was trying to sever Judea from the Jews -- "as of right and not by sufferance, and that this was based on their ancient historical connection."
The question that needs to be asked is why so many Jews would vehemently oppose their nation's legitimate occupation of the land that was promised them? It is to be expected that non-Jews have their own views on the subject, but those are, in principle, quite irrelevant to Jewish rights to the land. Nonetheless, contrary opinions from Jews in the diaspora and within Israel's society itself, as well as non-Jews can, unfortunately, make peaceful, secure, and undisturbed occupation for the majority quite complex, to say the least.
Many Haredim (ultra-orthodox Jews) believe that the establishment of Israel as a secular state in the modern day is premature, as establishment should only occur in the coming messianic age. Yet, the desire of most religious students is presumably to live and study in their ancient homeland, notably in its capital, Jerusalem, and to receive numerous state benefits granted to low-income families, such as subsidized daycare for children.
Despite their dedicated study of the scriptures and associated writings, and many being teachers of Torah, the argument of Haredi leaders against most of their community members doing serving in Israel's military in the defense of the land and its people is not sustainable, biblically or otherwise.
There are historical precedents that even religious leaders, such as rabbis, have joined their brethren in battle, for the Israelite army "was always accompanied to the field by a priest." The Book of Numbers records that to defend against the Midianites:
"Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phineas the son of Eleazar the Cohen [priest], with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand."
Religious leaders historically had, and still have, a duty towards the spiritual well-being of the troops and to encourage them.
The biblical Song of Deborah praises those tribes who participated in the battle under the leadership of Barak, the son of Abinoam, and scorns those who did not: "Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds?" the song asks; "Why did Dan stay home?"; and, "they did not come to help the Lord— to help the Lord against the mighty warriors." Only those warriors concerned for the survival of their tribes and the nation, were left to fight the enemy.
Moses challenged the two tribes who did not wish to cross the Jordon River with the others, and fight for the land promised them: "Moses said to the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war while you stay here?" Moses considered it sinful for them not to join the rest in conquering the land. Their participation in battle was essential to enable the assembled tribes to conquer the land from sworn enemies.
In 1948, when yeshiva students of the respected scholar, Israel's Sephardi Chief Rabbi Benzion Uziel, asked whether or not they should seek exemption from joining the War of Independence, he told them:
"How can you ask for such a thing? Were it not for my old age and illness, I would pick up a rifle and hand grenade and defend my Jerusalem, the place I was born; my neighbor's homes; the streets and alleyways of the Old City and the Yohanan Ben Zakkai synagogue. How can you raise such an outrageous request while everyone else is fighting? This is a war of life and death. It's a mitzvah [divine obligation] to fight. Remove these baseless ideas from your minds and go join the fight."
Thousands of Haredi Jews, in fact, already do serve in Israel's military and are considered among its finest, especially in combat.
"All Israel are responsible for one another" ("kol yisrael arevin zeh bazeh"), according to the Babylonian Talmud. The late UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks emphasized its meaning, saying: "Responsibility in Judaism belongs to all of us and we cannot delegate it away." Sacks further explained:
"Covenant societies exist not because they have been there a long time, nor because of some act of conquest, nor for the sake of some economic or military advantage. They exist to honour a pledge, a moral bond, an ethical undertaking. That is why telling the story is essential to a covenant society. It reminds all citizens of why they are there.... They are honouring the obligations imposed upon them by the founders.
"It is utterly astonishing that the mere act of telling the story, regularly, as a religious duty, sustained Jewish identity across the centuries, even in the absence of all the normal accompaniments of nationhood – land, geographical proximity, independence, self-determination – and never allowed the people to forget its ideals, its aspirations, its collective project of building a society that would be the opposite of Egypt, a place of freedom and justice and human dignity, in which no human being is sovereign; in which God alone is King."
According to the journalist Caroline Glick, who is now international affairs adviser to the Israeli government:
"It is the resurrection of strategic independence — of Zionism — that will secure Israel's future for the next hundred years."
As even the Qur'an states that this land was reserved for the "children of Israel", "the people of the Book":
"And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, 'Dwell securely in the land of promise.'" ( Qur'an 17:104)
"O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah has assigned to you..." (Qur'an 5:21)
Nils A. Haug is an author and columnist. A Lawyer by profession, he is member of the International Bar Association, the National Association of Scholars, the Academy of Philosophy and Letters. Dr. Haug holds a Ph.D. in Apologetical Theology and is author of 'Politics, Law, and Disorder in the Garden of Eden – the Quest for Identity'; and 'Enemies of the Innocent – Life, Truth, and Meaning in a Dark Age.' His work has been published by First Things Journal, The American Mind, Quadrant, Minding the Campus, Gatestone Institute, National Association of Scholars, Jewish Journal, James Wilson Institute (Anchoring Truths), Document Danmark, and many others.
