 Zionism (cont...) (BACK
TO NEWSLETTER) In
his course, Rabbi Eliach makes a clear connection
between everyday Tfilot, Chagim,
Jewish texts, and the modern State of Israel.
A
main goal of the course is to show clearly the
centrality of the land of Israel in Judaism throughout
the ages. Zionism demonstrates
that the Jewish connection to the land of Israel
is not a modern phenomenon but rather an idea
that has existed as long as there has been a
Jewish
Nation/People. There is a clear attempt to put
the concept of Tzion/Israel as one of the pivotal
and central ideas found in Judaism. The students
are taught that the re-establishment of Israel
in the aftermath of the Holocaust was nothing
short of a modern day miracle, and that they
are quite
lucky to be living at a time when the Magen David
is not some insignia one is forced to wear in
shame but rather an emblem found on a flag and
on the
wing of an Israeli fighter aircraft. Zionism is
structured to clearly address and answer the
claims
made by many individuals and organizations that
are anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, or anti-Semitic.
Finally the course sensitizes the students to
the new role in which the Jewish people find themselves
in the land of Israel: We are no longer just an
ethnic minority group that is powerless and persecuted,
yearning for a better day, but we are rather a
majority in our own land with all the responsibilities
and challenges that are connected to having our
own country.
Photos for this article taken by Rambam junior
Daniel Himber.
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