Judaism Is Not Zionism: A Necessary Distinction

Rabbi Speaks Against Zionism 

Judaism and Zionism are often treated as interchangeable in modern political discourse. They are not. Conflating the two is historically inaccurate, theologically incorrect, and intellectually lazy—and it does real harm to Jews and non-Jews alike.

Judaism is a religion. Zionism is a political ideology.
They are not the same thing, and never have been.

What Judaism Is—and Is Not

Judaism is a 3,000-year-old religious tradition grounded in Torah, law, ethics, ritual, and community. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, interpretations, and practices, but at its core it is a faith—not a nationalist project.

For most of Jewish history, Jews lived as religious communities in diaspora. Classical Judaism emphasized covenant, law, and moral responsibility—not territorial sovereignty enforced by a modern state.

What Zionism Actually Is

Zionism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a secular nationalist movement, primarily in Europe. Its goal was the creation of a Jewish nation-state. Many of its early leaders were explicitly secular and often hostile to traditional Judaism, viewing religion as an obstacle to modern nation-building.

Theodor Herzl, often called the father of political Zionism, was not religiously observant. Other early Zionist leaders openly rejected rabbinic authority and Jewish law. Zionism was modeled after European nationalist movements of its era—not derived from Jewish theology.

That historical reality matters.

Jewish Opposition to Zionism Is Not New

Opposition to Zionism from within Judaism itself has existed since the movement’s birth. Many Orthodox rabbis argued that establishing a Jewish state by political or military means violated Jewish law, which traditionally holds that redemption is a divine—not human—process.

Rabbi Chaim Brisker, one of the most influential rabbinic authorities of the early 20th century, famously warned of Zionism’s dangers. He is widely quoted as saying that Zionism represented a grave theological deviation—placing nationalism above Torah.

To this day, thousands of observant Jews worldwide openly oppose Zionism, including communities such as Neturei Karta and other Haredi groups. Their opposition is rooted not in hatred of Jews, but in fidelity to Jewish law and tradition.

Anti-Zionism Is Not Antisemitism

Being opposed to Zionism is not the same as being opposed to Jews or Judaism.

Antisemitism is hatred or discrimination against Jews as Jews.
Zionism is a political ideology.
The State of Israel is a modern nation-state.

Political ideologies and governments are subject to criticism. Religions and ethnic groups are not legitimate targets for collective blame.

Criticizing Zionism—or Israeli state policy—is no more antisemitic than criticizing Catholicism’s Vatican politics is anti-Catholic, or criticizing Saudi Arabia is anti-Muslim.

In fact, equating all Jews with Zionism erases Jewish diversity and falsely assigns collective responsibility to an entire people for the actions of a state.

Why the Distinction Matters

When Judaism is collapsed into Zionism, two dangerous things happen at once:

1. Jews who oppose Zionism are delegitimized or erased

2. Criticism of a state is reframed as hatred of a people

Both outcomes distort reality and inflame hostility.

Judaism is not Zionism.
Zionism is not Judaism.
Israel is a state—not a religion.

Recognizing these distinctions is not an attack on Jews. It is a defense of historical truth, religious integrity, and honest political debate.