Sowing anti-Semitism

It cuts both ways I am afraid. Zionism and Zionist organizations have gone out of their way to merge Judaism and Zionism. Organizations like the ADL and JDL are always keen to equate an attack on Israel as an attack on Judaism. A sfar as I understand it Israel was supposed to be a secualr Jewish State but over the last 30 years it has been increasinly aligned with mainstream Judaism. If some-one liek David Saks goes around saying that all South African Jews support Israel then what do you expect. Zionism has been an unmitigated disaster for Judaism and an historical mistake

@ Isabella.
That is so true. The hypocricy has to stop.

I absolutely agree with the comments above. Criticism of Israel being mixed with criticism of Judaism is in part the fault of Jewish leaders purporting to talk on behalf of ALL jewish people. Its simply not true that all jewish South African people supported the attacks on Gaza, but that is what the leaders said.

In addition, people should be very careful that they do not class anti-Israeli behaviour as anti-semitic, because it is not the same thing. Demanding that South Africans are not allowed to serve on the Israeli army, for example, or demanding a boycott of Israel is not anti-semitic- its anti-Israeli.

It is a problem when a state is so intertwined with religion. But then, I've never heard people refer to criticism of Iran as being anti-muslim or anti-Shiia.

Isabella, you are so far of the mark I almost wasn't going to comment.

First point: Who ever said that Israel was supposed to be a secular state? And furthermore, why do you find it so appalling that Israel should be "aligned to mainstream Judaism" when the majority of the country is Jewish?

In South Africa we are aligned to mainstream Christianity - hence the ban on Sunday liquor sales, the closing of businesses on Xmas and Easter etc.

It may not mean that all those born to Christian parents think of themselves as practicing Christian - but that is precisely what happens in a democracy - the dominant religion of the country determines the de facto.

And even those of the above who don't consider themselves Christian will invariably get married by a priest in a church and be buried by a priest according to Christian ritual. Suffice to say, there are many shades of grey here.

Second point - you completely put the cart before the horse when it comes to Judaism and Zionism. You state that "Zionism and Zionist organizations have gone out of their way to merge Judaism and Zionism"

Quite the contrary! Zionism is an integral part of Judaism - not the other way around. Open any Old Testament and on practically any chapter you'll see references of the inextricable link between the Jewish land and its people.

If you do even the most cursory reading into the subject, you'll be struck by how far Modern Zionists Organisations went to dissociate themselves from their more orthodox Jewish brethren.

While adopting their nationalism and self-determination from mainstream Judaism, they felt that the "religious dogma" that their parents believed in was simply beneath them as modern, rationalist people. (Much as most SA Christians do today).

Thirdly, you have the audacity to conclude that Zionism has been an unmitigated disaster for Judaism and an historical mistake.

This is exactly the good Jew/bad Jew trap that Jonathan Freeman refers to: "We like you Jewish people, but why can't you just leave out all this talk about Israel and we'd get along just fine".

Yeah, sure! That's like saying that Black people in SA were better off pre-94 because they didn't have to worry about running their own country, dealing with inter-party squabbling, arms deals, or the BEE debate.

David thank you for your rather vitrolic response. Judaism and Zionism have become linked. Mainstream Jewish bodies such as the SAJBD emphasize how Jews in SA support Israel and Israeli actions. So this blurs the boundaires when it comes to criticizing Israel. If one attacks Israel then one attacks Judaism. By supporting Israel Judaism has lost its moral highground as the Israeli state comes to be seen increasingly as a despotic and harsh oppressor. There is no real link between Judaism and Zionism as far as I can work out on a religious basis. The Jewish longing to return to Jerusalem was always a spiritual one during all teh years of rabbibical Judaism. That is why there are orthodx Jews who to this dya reject Zionism. Perhaps you should do a bity more reading before climbing on your soapbox

Thanks Isabella for that illuminating exposition. For your information, the "Neturei Karta" group of whom you speak are a tiny minority in Israel, and their objections revolve around Israel's secularization; and their literal belief in a Messiah that will lead the Jews back to the Promised Land.

If you read the original piece again, you will see that its core premise is that it is, indeed, possible to criticize Israel's actions without being anti-Semitic about it - eg calls to boycott Israeli products etc.

Would you not say that it is possible to criticize an African country's policies without being anti-African?

Of course there are Jews in Israel and in South Africa that oppose Israel's military actions in Gaza. That is one of the benefits of living in a modern democracy. Debate is welcome - no Fatwa's are passed on anyone who breaks ranks.

By the way, do you not think that the SA Muslim Judicial Council would unquestionably rally to the support of any Muslim country - Palestine, Iraq or Iran - that comes under attack from Western forces?

By the way, that deafening chorus of South African Jews seeking to distance themselves from the official SABJE standpoint was coming from a mere 300 signatories to their statement - together with a statement by 11 "Top Jews" - amplified by local media who saw a good story in this angle. Talk about a disproportionate response!

I am not going to try convince you otherwise. Your opinion (and snide asides) don't bother me much at all. If you, or anyone else, choose to demonize Israel for defending her citizens against a sworn enemy who constantly states their underlying intention of expunging a sovereign state from the map, so be it. I'm sure Israelis would rather be demonized than decimated.

By the way, what do you mean by "rabbinic judaism". I am not familiar with this term, but it sounds like a tautologous redundancy - like a "Christian Church".

Rabbinic Judaism refers to the Judaism practiced for 2000 years since the diaspora when the Romans destroyed the Temple in AD 70.
I fail to follow your logic. I was saying that there is a deliberate attempt by Jewish bodies to conflate Israel with Judaism.Anyone who criticizes Israel is labelled as an Anti-Semite. That is simply not true. I agree that African leaders also cry rascism whenever anyone criticizes them. I am not sure why you bring tyhat up as I never did.