Chaverim y'karim - dear friends,

 

Having just returned from a rabbinic conference titled, “Zionism: A New Conversation”, I am filled with gratitude for outstanding minds who taught and colleagues who are working hard to teach, lead, and inspire during this era in which everything changed post-October 7. I had the chance to meet and study with individuals who have filled these email messages including Haviv Rettig-Gur (Times of Israel), Bret Stephens (NYTimes & Sapir Magazine), and Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum (Hartman Institute). 

 

One colleague, Rabbi Jonathan Berkun from Aventura, FL (where our conference was held), gave remarks on our closing morning. He spoke about the idea that none of us “signed up” for a rabbinate in which defending Israel, teaching Zionism, and responding to antisemitism from both political parties would prove to be a significant part of our days. And yet, the role of rabbi is always to be present, to strive for relevancy, and to respond to the needs of the moment that are timely and timeless. 

 

In the coming weeks, I will share more of what we learned and invariably the imprint of the conference will show up in ways I can’t predict but will be in my teaching and preaching. 

 

I think what is “new” about the conversation about Zionism is the mere fact that a) we have to defend it and b) realizing we have to defend it because many Jews - and most assuredly non-Jews - are simply unaware of Jewish history and why, how, where, and when Zionism came to be so integral to our people. 

 

I am a Zionist. That is no shocker - and it should be no less shocking than someone saying I am a Jew. And yet, that word Zionism is being weaponized. There are those who equate Zionism with racism (see UN Resolution 3379 and Soviet era antisemitism) and actively erase or simply misunderstand our people’s ancient attachment to Zion. And others simply do not believe that Jews have a right to power / liberation and much prefer the Jew as stateless and powerless (see Dara Horn’s People Love Dead Jews).

 

To be clear: being a Zionist is simply stating that you believe in the right of the Jewish people to create a modern state in the land from which we were born. It is not a settler colonial effort and it is not about eradicating Palestinians. Ironically, Zionism is the most successful decolonization program that ever existed. After all, Zionism is the story of an exiled indigenous population being restored to its ancestral homeland after the colonial power (Great Britain) was removed in order to make room for the native and diasporic populations. 

 

Had the Arab population (today collectively called Arab-Palestinians) accepted the parallel offer that was given to the Jewish population in 1947, an imam of Palestinian descent could be writing his mosque’s community those exact same words for his people today. Alas, we know of multiple peace offers being rejected over the last eight decades and numerous wars - one of which is ongoing today. And so, it becomes necessary to hold a rabbinic conference on Zionism as we explore realities and potentials. 

 

Israel may not be “your thing” and concern about its politics, culture, history, expression might not wake you up in the morning. On the one hand, that’s okay - Judaism is so rich and deep that there are a lot of components of our people which may or may not speak to you. But the experience and future of half of world Jewry matters and for our fellow 7.5million Jews living in Israel, it is vital that we know about them - and my colleagues in Israel are making sure their congregants know about us. In fact, one of my Israeli colleagues who presented this week was just as concerned for our well-being as she was for her own in Israel … albeit in different ways. 

 

May the people of Israel find strength during these difficult days that stress the systems of democracy in Israel and here in the United States. May we find the fortitude to carry on with pride and curiosity. May those who spread lies and seek violence against Am Yisrael ~ the People of Israel ~ be pushed aside by those who bring light, love, and compassion for all of humanity. 

 

I look forward to seeing those who will be around for Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening (tomorrow) at 6:30pm. On Tuesday, 3/25, we will have our closing Tuesday Lunch & Learn examining rabbinic questions and answers. Stay tuned for upcoming learning opportunities - including how to prepare for Pesach - from the granular (or grainular?) to the spiritual. 

 

L’shalom, 

 

Rabbi Mark Cohn, 20 March 2025

rabbicohn@tsholom.org

 

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Pictured above: The Four Sons of the Haggadah, presented in The David Moss Haggadah which will be a source of our Lunch & Learn series in early April.

 

Remember to vote in the American Zionist Movement's Election as part of the World Zionist Congress.