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The Significance of

“Mundane” Zionism

The Jews sanctified the Land of Israel twice, the first Nevertheless, Maimonides, the great Jewish teacher, the
time in the days of Joshua and the second in the days pillar of the halachah, comes along and rules that “the
of Ezra. When one compares the two eras from a sec- first sanctification… was in effect in its own time but
ular-historical standpoint, from a political-economic not for all time,” whereas the “second sanctification is
perspective, the second entry into the land, Ezra’s sanc- in effect forever, both in its own time and for all time”
tification, is no more than a pale reflection, a weak (Hilchot Terumot 1:5). You hear? Joshua’s sanctification
echo, of a great and glorious epoch, such that the com- via capture and military victory, undertaken in an
parison itself arouses gloom. unbridled, gushing, enterprising spirit of conquest,
when proud prophets, warriors, elders, students of our
In the days of Joshua, the nation was young, filled with
an aggressive, militant spirit, and pounced on the Land teacher Moses, and heroic legions seized the Land of
Israel, was no more than a temporary phenomenon:
of Israel like a youthful desert lion, defeating thirty-one Nebuchadnezzar abrogated it. But Ezra’s sanctifica-
kings, claiming one victory after another… They were
proud and youthful, pugnacious and courageous, filled tion, which came about through daily, small-scale,
unheroic, painstaking work, through disappointments
with all the romanticism of a nation stepping out onto
the historical stage and enjoying the respect, awe, and and despair, intercession with and requests from the
authorities, insults and humiliation – that remains for-
admiration of its neighbors. “Dread of you has fallen ever: neither Titus nor Hadrian, neither Islam nor the
upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are quaking
before you” (Yehoshua 2:9). Crusades, neither Turkey nor even the [British] Colonial
Office can undo it…
In the days of Ezra, the ten tribes were entirely absent, Joshua’s sanctification was not the result of hardship
having been exiled to Halah and Habor… A segment of
the tribes of Judah and Benjamin wanted no part in but of historical success during glorious moments of
Jewish history – none of which is forever. Ezra’s sanc-
the return to Zion, the Second Temple, or the redemp- tification, by contrast, came about through occupation,
tion. They were happy sitting by their fleshpots in settling the land, through the word of G-d, through
Babylon, Persia, and Media. Cyrus, Darius, Ahasuerus, adversity, martyrdom, spiritual pain and despair, mock-
and the other kings altered their edicts seven times
a day, each new declaration repealing the previous ery and derision. Ezra’s sanctification emerged from
crisis, tribulation, and subjugation. Redemption born
one: one moment immigration was allowed, the next, of suffering, the messiah born following birth pangs,
they issued a White Paper halting entry... And the are eternal – sanctification for all time!
internal situation? Economic hardship and spiritual
impoverishment, intermarriage and ignorance, lack of (Recognition of the Present and Vision for the Future, June
language and tradition. And above all, “we have become 1945)
a mockery” (Nechemiah 3:36): we have become objects
of shame and derision.

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