Zionism and the Holocaust

In recent months, I have immersed myself quite a bit in the Orthodox Jewish opposition to Zionism. Through the study of biblical prophecy, the dramatic end of the current Jewish state had long been clear to me. But what strikes me so deeply is that Orthodox Judaism, traditionally, is also aware of this. I am truly astonished by the profound connections that are made on various websites of this persuasion.

Today I read an article by a rabbi about the role of Zionism in the Holocaust. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief! This rabbi claims that Zionism is perjury. It has, he asserts, brought upon the Jewish people the greatest catastrophes in the last two thousand years.

The Talmud explains (Tractate Kesubos 111a) that we are under a threefold oath. We were not to go up to the Holy Land as a group that uses force. We were not to rebel against the governments of the countries in which we live. And the coming of the Messiah would not be delayed because of our sins.

When the movement of secular Zionism took serious shape at the end of the 19th century, various leaders—especially from the Hasidic community—warned of the judgment of God that would come upon it. One of the greatest among them, the Rebbe of Satmar, Joel Teitelbaum, said after World War II: we lost more than six million of our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, in a terrible way. They had to endure the punishment for the Zionist nonsense. The Holocaust, he cried, was a direct result of Zionism, a punishment from G-d.

Delen: