Jewish question?

Question

What seperates the average person of the Jewish faith from a Zionist?

Answer 1

A Jew is someone who was either born to a Jewish mother (regardless of what religion they practice), or someone who converted to Judaism in accordance with Torah law.

A Zionist is someone who believes in Zionism, a political ideology that originally supported the re-establishment of a Jewish state in the historical Land of Israel. Now that that state has been established, Zionism is concerned with the preservation and well-being of that state.

Now, certain elements of Zionism have their roots in the Jewish faith - the desire to return to our land is a constantly recurring theme in Jewish liturgy - this wish is repeated no fewer than thrice daily, in the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers. But of course, the founding fathers of modern Zionism were themselves overwhelmingly secular. It's a very complex subject.

The bottom line is this: A Jew is someone who was either born to a Jewish woman, or who converted to Judaism. A Zionist is someone who supports the continued existence and prosperity of the State of Israel. Not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists are Jews. Some of the most ardent Zionists in America are fundamentalist Christians.

Jewish attitudes on Zionism run the gamut from unquestioning acceptance of everything the state does, to a pathological hatred of the state and desire for its destruction. The latter is extremely rare, mostly confined to fringe groups like neturei karta who are known for showing up for photo ops with holocaust deniers, despots, and terrorists, and embracing people who would like to see them dead except for the fact that the neturei kartaniks serve a valuable function in that they allow the bad guy to say "see? I don't hate all Jews - just Zionists!" In any event, most Jews fall somewhere between these two extremes. Supporting the State of Israel and wanting to see it thrive, but at the same time, being as critical of the government and its policies as any citizen of an open, democratic state.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Zionists believe that God gave the land of Israel to the Jews, and that the Jews' claim to the land takes precedence over earthly law.

For thousand of years one of the basic concepts of Judaism was 'We want our land back! One day we'll get our land back!' For some Jews this had to do with the coming of the messiah. Jews saw him as a great general who would lead them back into Palestine. This was the re-establishment of the nation of Israel that Christians believe will be a harbinger of the Final Days. Other Jews believed that -after- they establish Israel, and -after- they solve the world's problems and bring about world peace, -THEN- the messiah will come.

But today a 'Zionist' is one who believes that Jewish people have a right to the territory of Palestine because God said so.

Not all Jews believe this (I was raised Jewish and I don't believe it!) Imagine someone moving into your house and making your whole family live in one room, without electricity or heat, because they have a book saying God gave them your house--a book which you don't believe!

Answer 3

They are basically one in the same. They usually pride themselves on helping their own rise up the ranks in any field they have a hold on. And most have a fierce loyalty for Israel.

Answer 4

Zionism is a political ideology.
Judaism is a religion.