Definition:Zionism

Zionism is the national revival movement of the Jewish people. It holds that the Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture. Historically, Zionism strove to create a legally recognized national home for the Jews in their historical homeland. This goal was implemented by the creation of the State of Israel. Today, Zionism supports the existence of the state of Israel and helps to inspire a revival of Jewish national life, culture and language.

Definitions of Zionism are controversial. The above definition is intended to be historically correct and tries not to exclude any Zionist group or make Zionism the “property” of a particular political faction. Other definitions may either delegitimize Zionism intentionally, or may do so unintentionally and may introduce distortions of various types. There are many definitions of Zionism that we will explore below.

Types of meanings of Zionism

Ideological Zionism

Zionist ideology holds that the Jews are a people or nation like any other, and should gather together in a single homeland. Zionism was self-consciously the Jewish analogue of Italian and German national liberation movements of the nineteenth century. The term “Zionism” was apparently coined in 1891 (1885 according to some sources) by the Austrian publicist Nathan Birnbaum, to describe the new ideology, but it was used retroactively to describe earlier efforts and ideas to return the Jews to their homeland for whatever reasons, and it is applied to Evangelical Christians who want people of the Jewish religion to return to Israel in order to hasten the second coming.

Zionism as a descriptive term

Zionism is also used to describe the belief that Jews should return to their ancient homeland, and might be applied not only to the religious ideas of Evangelical Christians, but to the preaching of the ancient prophets

As a political movement

The Zionist movement was founded by Theodore Herzl in 1897, incorporating the ideas of early thinkers as well as the organization built by Hovevei Tziyon (“lovers of Zion”).

What isn't Zionism?

Not everything that the Zionist movement accomplished, or that Zionists do or say, is a necessary part of Zionism.

Not just about a state

Zionism was not, historically, officially a movement to create a “Jewish State.” The first Zionist congress in Basle, Switzerland, in 1897 resolved:

Zionism seeks to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law (or International Law).

Zionists therefore sought charters from governments to establish a national home under their protection. The objectives of the Basle Program were thought to have been realized with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the Mandate for Palestine granted to the British in 1922. However, the British eventually reneged on their mandate obligation to support a Jewish homeland. In 1942 the Biltmore Conference resolved to adopt the goal of creating a Jewish state in Palestine, in opposition to British policy. This was not the original official goal of Zionism, but a departure from it forced by circumstances.

Not just about religion

There are many religious Zionists, and early proponents of return to Zion in the 19th century were rabbis. However, the founders of the Zionist movement were not religious and the Zionist movement is not about religion or return to a “promised land.”

Not about borders

Zionism was never about borders. Some Zionist programs envisioned a Jewish homeland outside of Palestine, some Zionists envisioned a bi-national state (the Mapam party) , while others (“Revisionists”) insisted that the Jewish state must be established on both sides of the Jordan river, in the full territory of the British Mandate

Not about taking from others or excluding others

Though the history of Zionism quickly became entangled with Arab nationalist aspirations, Zionism was not about taking land from others or excluding others. The Zionist movement aimed to buy land in Palestine, not to conquer it by force.

Not about militarism

Though the history of Israel and Jewish settlement in Palestine often seems like one long war with interruptions, most Zionists were not militarists. They believed that their cause would triumph by moral force alone. An early Zionist argued:

We shall never possess cannons, even if the goyim shall bear arms against one another for ever. Therefore, we cannot but settle in our land fairly and justly, to live and let live.

— Meir Dizengoff (writing as “Dromi”), The Workers Question, Hatzvi, September 21, 22, 1909