Zionism: Ideological, Historical Force In The Life Of The Jewish People

By RENEE WOHL

Recently while browsing at
Border's bookstore, I came across a
book, The Hidden History of
Zionism, which I had never seen on
a Jewish library or bookstore shelf.
After thumbing through the book, I
realized why.
The book concerned itself with
four overriding myths of Zionism
including a most preposterous one
that the Zionists collaborated with
the Nazis to bring about a Zionist
state.

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L 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1991

"The founders of Zionism
despaired of combatting anti-
Semitism and paradoxically,
regarded the anti-Semites
themselves as allies, because of a
shared desire to remove the Jews
from the countries in which they
lived. Step by step they assimilated
the values of Jew-hatred and anti-
Semitism, as the Zionist movement
came to regard the anti-Semites
themselves as their most reliable
sponsors and protectors."
The Hidden History of Zionism

also revealed the "supposed truth"
Territorialist faction which
about massacres at Deir Yasin,
maintained the need for a land in
Kibya, Dueima and Kfar Qasim with
which the Jews would become a
graphic details of brutalities
majority population but opposed the
committed by the Israeli army. No
land of Israel as the only possible
mention was made of Maalot, Kirya t
territorial .solution. The Territorialist
Shemona, Munich or other atrocitie s faction seceded from the Zionist
committed against innocent children
movement in 1903.
or Israelis.
Zionism was and is an ideology
Endorsements from Muhammad
and an historical force in the life of
Hallaj, editor of Palestine
the Jewish people. Zionism was one
Perspectives and Akiva Orr,
of the most revolutionary
Founder of Matzpen and author of
movements in history. It sent people
The UnJewish State: The Politics of
from one country into another. It
Jewish Identity in Israel made it
transferred people from one social
clear that this text did not represent
class to another, usually a lower
a new perspective on Zionism but a
one. It totally transformed a people's
newly packaged piece of Palestinian
language, environment and culture.
propaganda.
Revolutions like Zionism are as rare
According to the author who
as are historical precedents to it.
holds Zionist leaders responsible fo r
Often Theodor Herzl, a
the death of millions during the
Viennese journalist, is credited with
Holocaust, this strategy was a
the invention of Zionism. He did not
decisive thrust for Zionism. This tex t
create Zionism; he only altered its
is provocative propaganda and
methods. Herzl was trying to find a
hardly accurate for anyone
solution to the plight of Jews in •
attempting to understand the hidden
Europe. Covering the Dreyfus affair,
history of Zionism.
he was deeply moved by the anti-
The early Zionists were
Semitic outrages and stunned by
committed to Jewish self-
the crowd's cries of "Death to the
determination and a return to the
Jews." It was at this point that he
land of Israel. Throughout Jewish
realized Jews would never find a
history, there has been an
comfortable place in Europe. They
attachment fo the land.
would always have a marginal
status in society and the only
The Jews have been a distinct
solution was to form a nation of
people and have maintained a
their own.
collective religious identity for
The idea of nationalism and the
centuries. Over the years, Jewish
tradition has not only been a matter
spirit engulfed all of Europe in the
19th century. For many Jews, the
of belief, but of active, living
gospel of Tolstoy and Marx became
institutions. Jewish tradition
intertwined with Zionism. Herzl
extended to institutional and
decided to provide the Jews with
personal life, jurisprudence and
the attributes of nationalism, a
communal organizations. By
sense of nationality and territory.
contrast, the modern Jewish world
Many nations were clamoring for
began to perceive traditions as a
nationhood and independence.
private affair and an individual's link
to the community as voluntary.
The early Zionists, as did other
Up until modern times, Jews
nationalists, began to think of a
had limited interaction with the
Jewish national home as a
outside world. During the 19th
continuation of ancient Jewish
century, Jews were less isolated,
history.
interacted more with the outside
The political idea of the Zionists
world and sought acceptance in this
which initially was a response to the
new arena. Although many Jews
plight of European Jewry became,
still had a peripheral status in the
imbued with a religious and
modern world, they were redefining
messianic mystique. Although Herzl
their Jewish identity. These changes
was an assimilated Viennese Jew,
were the starting point for modern
he was convinced that this mystique
Jewish national thought which
was essential to the movement.
questioned the basis of Jewish life.
Zionism was truly a synthesis of
There were several varieties of
the old and new, it borrowed themes
national thought including the idea
inherent in Jewish tradition and
of Jewish autonomy espoused by
fused them with emerging trends in
the historian Simon Dubnow and
the modern world. To reflect on
the Bund (the Jewish Social
Zionism and Israel today is to
Democrats) who opposed Zionism.
explore the meanings of a Jewish
Zionism differed from the other
state and being Jewish in the
movements as it advocated placing
modern world.
these social institutions in a
Renee Wohl is director of the
physical setting. Territory became a
Agency for Jewish Education's
focus for the Zionists. In the early
resource center.
days of Zionism, there existed a