Page 6 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Mizrachi Educators

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

Is Religious Zionism

IDOL WORSHIP?

ow, what a title! Though European nationalist movements us as a people living in Eretz Yisrael, the
most of us would never that motivated the founders, who ultimate punishment is exile from it,
W imagine such an association, saw themselves as parallel to these and geula (redemption) is our return to
Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, the great other visionaries. It is therefore it. Settling and developing Eretz Yisrael
sage and one of the Chafetz Chaim’s understandable why Rav Elchanan is a mitzvah so important that Chazal
top students, made the equation. In his equated their commitment to Zionism equated its significance to that of the
Ikvita DiMashicha (p. 36) Rav Elchanan and their goal of building a Jewish State totality of all the other mitzvot.
condemned Secular Zionism as Avoda to Avoda Zara.
Zara (idol worship) and Religious Religious Zionism, when understood
Zionism as a mix of Avodat Hashem and In a similar vein, it is possible for and lived correctly, is Avodat Hashem in
Avoda Zara. a religious Zionist to see his or her the fullest sense of the word.
commitment to Zionism as separate
The Danger of Avoda Zara from their religious identity. Such a We should be thankful to live in a
scenario expresses itself in ‘cutting and generation where we can live in and
What is the basis of his equation and pasting’ Secular Zionism into a religious
how can we ensure that we live Religious worldview. The result is a hodge-podge develop the Land of Israel and we should
Zionism as unadulterated Avodat identity, with a religion like that of be proud to be people who appreciate
Hashem? I believe that Rav Elchanan’s this as part of our religious identity.
portrayal hinges on understanding the religious Jews and a Zionism like that At the same time, there are those who
concept of Avoda Zara. The Torah never of secular Zionists. This is what Rav value Israel as an independent secular
Elchanan condemned as a mix of Avodat
uses the term to describe idol worship; notion. It is critical that we remember
in fact, it uses the term to describe Hashem and Avoda Zara. that it is meant to be viewed as part of
people who aimed to serve G-d. Nadav Religious Zionism as Full Avodat Hashem our religious identity. This recognition
and Avihu, who offered fire on the day should express itself in our being as
of the Mishkan’s inauguration (and were In actuality, Religious Zionism is meant committed to Eretz Yisrael as we are to
killed by heavenly fire in response), are to be a broad religious worldview the rest of the mitzvot and as committed
described (in three places in the Torah) that sees Zionism as emanating from to the rest of the mitzvot as we are to
as bringing an eish zara (foreign fire). what G-d expects from us, and our Eretz Yisrael.
The Torah explains that although Nadav commitment to the State of Israel as
and Avihu aimed to serve G-d, the fire part of our commitment to His Will. Just May we show our appreciation to G-d
they offered was foreign because G-d as He commands us to keep Shabbat, for returning Eretz Yisrael to us and us
had not commanded it to be offered. eat kosher, and observe laws of family to it and our recognition of His role in
Avodat Hashem is not just about aiming purity, He similarly expects us to settle doing so, by fully committing ourselves
to serve G-d, but about serving Him in and develop Eretz Yisrael. to all that He expects from us.
in the way He asks to be served. When
we ‘serve’ how we feel we ought to, our In fact, the Eretz Yisrael component
service is zara and, to a large extent, of Avodat Hashem is one of its central Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational
self-focused. tenets. The first commandment to the
first Jew was for him to move to Eretz Director of World Mizrachi and
In general, secular Zionist commitment Israel. The rest of the Torah is about Religious Zionists of America–Mizrachi.
to the Zionist cause is disconnected the Jewish people’s exile from Eretz He is also Dean of the Yeshivat HaKotel
from Avodat Hashem. The movement Yisrael and the struggle to return to it. Overseas Program
originated in the milieu of other The Torah’s blessings are promised to ravtaragin@mizrachi.org

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