Should Israel be viewed as a state for Jews or a Jewish State
What do you think are the key issues at stake in the discussion within the Jewish world over whether the modern State of Israel should be understood as a state for Jews or a Jewish state? Is it posbbile for it both to be a ‘Jewish and Democratic state’.
The two main viewpoints are split between those of the secular Zionists that believe the Jews have a right to self determination, and therefore need a safe haven to be protected from damaging anti semitic attacks that can cause many attrocities, such as the holocaust.
The religious zionists agree with the secular zionists, but go further and believe that religious beliefs should be encorporated in the state. They do not believe Israel should simply be a state for jews, but should have a mandate to promote Judaism to their jews.
opinions on the issue: Professor Ariel Rosen Zvi, an observant jews, believes that religion should not be imposed by force as the whole beauty of religion is that it is one that people choose out of their own intellect. He does however believe that both sides should compromise to find a common solution.
Aviezer Ravitsky is a liberal minded professor and believes that the sexcular jew requires the country to be free and that the religious jew must go along with that, but the secular jew must cooperate in keeping the nation jewish. He believes the government should sway more to the side of Jewish law.
Rabbi Zvi Weinman “if we dont believe in religion, what are we doing in this land? Hashem promised it to our ancestors on condition that we observe the Torah. If we do not, then we are here as conquerors. We were united over the ages not by common ethnic descent nor by a common history but by a common faith”
Contriversial topics:
Contriversy lies in specific topics such as busses on the Jewish day of rest (Shabbat), Many religious people do not want to pay for ireleigous people to break the special commandment of the Sabbath, through taxes. it’s not necesarily the money
The two main viewpoints are split between those of the secular Zionists that believe the Jews have a right to self determination, and therefore need a safe haven to be protected from damaging anti semitic attacks that can cause many attrocities, such as the holocaust.
The religious zionists agree with the secular zionists, but go further and believe that religious beliefs should be encorporated in the state. They do not believe Israel should simply be a state for jews, but should have a mandate to promote Judaism to their jews.
opinions on the issue: Professor Ariel Rosen Zvi, an observant jews, believes that religion should not be imposed by force as the whole beauty of religion is that it is one that people choose out of their own intellect. He does however believe that both sides should compromise to find a common solution.
Aviezer Ravitsky is a liberal minded professor and believes that the sexcular jew requires the country to be free and that the religious jew must go along with that, but the secular jew must cooperate in keeping the nation jewish. He believes the government should sway more to the side of Jewish law.
Rabbi Zvi Weinman “if we dont believe in religion, what are we doing in this land? Hashem promised it to our ancestors on condition that we observe the Torah. If we do not, then we are here as conquerors. We were united over the ages not by common ethnic descent nor by a common history but by a common faith”
Contriversial topics:
Contriversy lies in specific topics such as busses on the Jewish day of rest (Shabbat), Many religious people do not want to pay for ireleigous people to break the special commandment of the Sabbath, through taxes. it’s not necesarily the money