Re: "...the solution was moving to a place where the nazis weren't. Not necessarily zionism. Not necessarily moving to israel..."
At its essence, Zionism is the Jewish Movement for National Liberation.
As such, it's purpose was not to move somewhere where there were no Nazis...Zionism preceded the development of Nazism by approximately 70 years.
It's purpose was to restore the Jew in his own Land, and in so doing resurrect the Jew as an independent and sovereign people determining their own destiny, fighting their own wars, laboring as farmers, fishermen, military generals, bus drivers, and yes...even pickpockets and prostitutes arrested by Jewish policemen and incarcerated in Jewish jails; to end once and for all the "Jew of the ghetto" and end "the Jew of the Yeshivah who believes that 'good Jews don't fight'".
As a result of the oppression, persecution, and second class status of the Jew in European history, Zionism formed its core philosophies around those of Socialism, which was a rejection of traditional monarchy/church social inequity, was at the time of Zionism's origins a truly "progressive" ideology, and was viewed by European Jewish youth as a new force which promised 'a better way of life' for Jews than could be expected by remaining in Christian Europe obsessed with Imperialist adventures and Colonial exploitations of Asian and African peoples.
To a great extent it has succeeded beyond its wildest expectations: The ancient Jewish Homeland is reborn a lush garden of beauty where was once an abandoned and barren land. Jewish Generals of the IDF command Jewish Brigades comprised of Jews who ended their long 2,000 year Exile from every corner of the globe by making aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. Jewish agriculturalists have turned the desolate swamps into hothouses, fields full of every vegetable and grain, with advanced scientfic irrigation. Jewish busdrivers pick up Jewish workers and laborers and drive them into Jewish metropolitan cities, as well as to the eternal capitol city Jerusalem. Jewish fighter jets emblazoned with the blue Magen David defend the Jewish Nation.
Zionist shortcomings? Too many to even start listing them.
Jews are now safer and better off than they were in Europe and the USSR? Without question, yes.
And all of these accomplishments in only 60 years, during which five major wars have been fought against a numerically advantaged enemy!
It is what it is...just like every other country...full of contradictions, disappointments, corruption, problems, as well as much that is beautiful and worthwhile.
Oh yes, forgot to mention...The Jews took their 5000 year old language Hebrew, removed it from the liturgical bookshelf, and revived it as a strong, living, and vital language....Modern Hebrew.
We all know what needs to be done next, but I thought that a post like this might serve to revive our spirits and optimism...The Jewish People are a living Miracle...the envy and the wonder of the entire world!...We live and refuse to perish...Every Empire and nation has fallen...while Israel lives. We should all count our many blessings and praise G-d for what He has done with us!
Topic: Pathetic speech my dumb Satmur ghetto Rabbi gave (Read 16823 times)