Few aspects of Israel’s struggle are as disheartening as the widespread lack of understanding, and misunderstanding, of the meaning of Israel that is found amongst Jews, both in Israel and abroad. It is part of the larger and older question of the purpose of Jews–what do they stand for and why should they persist? And part of the evidence that Jews are confused on the latter question, is the their weak understanding of the former. What does Israel stand for and why should it persist?

Of course, no one asks this of France, or Costs Rica, but neither is anyone surprised that it is asked–demanded-of the Jewish state. It is accepted that the Jews are the exception. But is Jewish exceptionalism just due to historical chance? Is it necessary? In effect, the non-necessity of Jews was the position the Zionist founders of the Israel, as it is of many Jews today. They wanted normalcy above all–no more pogroms, no more sneers, and no more everything in-between–the whole spectrum of European hatred. Many of them also wanted to create a socialist utopia while they were at it.

Now socialism is past, as are the old pogroms and sneers (though replaced by newer and potentially worse), so at least in terms of its original goals, Zionism also is past. Although it failed to bring full normalcy, it did as much as simply having a Jewish state could do. Zionism also failed to spiritually prepare Israelis to answer the onslaught of a world which will not allow Israel to be normal, which requires special reasons for it to exist. Assuming normalcy would automatically accompany statehood, it did not conceive of a necessity for such a preparation. And even if it had, it had no weapons for it in its spiritual armory.

Zionism was not widely popular amongst Jews until the Holocaust; and now, half a century later, the old arguments against it continue to creep back. One of these was the argument based on universality: If Judaism represents universal values then it should be able to be, and should be, practiced anywhere, like any other faith. More normalcy. If a Jewish Israel is not essential to Judaism, and if its existence promotes anti-Semitism, as so it seems, then perhaps it is better for Israel not to be specifically Jewish. This is ‘post-Zionist’ position. If Zionism creates instead of eliminating anti-Semitism, and if the main purpose of a Jewish state is to escape anti-Semitism, then Zionism is a mistake.

One of the many things the Zionist founders of Israel did right was to make sure that Israel was militarily strong. In the current struggle, Israel has no fear of conventional military defeat. It does have fear of nuclear and economic attack, and the likelihood of both of these is influenced by its ‘moral’ standing amongst the nations., Israel also needs to fear more directly effects on morale due to its own citizens’ lack of understanding and misunderstanding of its ‘moral’ standing. I put moral in quotes because, as it pertains to political affairs (such as conflicts between nations and peoples) it deserves no better. It is so ill-defined in its political use that it amounts to little more than a propaganda tool. Yet even so, it is a powerful concept; everyone has a sense of it and heeds that sense.

Morality is ultimately based on religion and the non-religious ideology of Zionism has left Israel open to attack by the moral weapon, especially as wielded by Jews against Israel. This is the immediate motivation for the essay to which these remarks serve as a preface, as well as for its posting on Israpundit.

But it also has a much deeper purpose, which is to promulgate a particular conception of Judaism and its relation to Jewishness and Israel. It is one which is barely known amongst Jews although it comprised part of the Zionist vision of Moses Hess, thirty years before Herzl. Its arguments also agree in many, though not all, respects with those put forward by thinkers such as Eliezer Berkovits (1908-1992), and more recently, by David Hartman amongst others.

In outline the message of this essay is as follows: Jewishness was create by Judaism, and the creation bears the mark of the creator. To the degree that someone identifies as a Jew, he bears the mark of Judaism: deep within, he is essentially religious in an essentially Judaic sense. Even the passionately anti-religious are religiously so. Judaism structurally expects and requires a Jewish state.

There is hardly one idea in the above that will not be vigorously denied by perhaps a majority of Jews. Realistically, it cannot be expected that this one essay will convert many. But it just may provoke discussion which will at least educate Jews many to the meaning of their heritage.

There is a corollary to the above: Jews living in a Jewish state, cannot do other than to transform Judaism and themselves–together forming one organic whole–this, yet again, as they have in past returns to the land. By virtue of their Jewishness, they are unable to do otherwise. Thus, even now, the people, the land, and the faith are beginning a long process of redemption. As long Jews retain control of Israel, this will continue. Realization of these ideas will help them retain this essential control.