Unfortunately, I have only seen scattering comments that refer to some concern on Rebecca Werlin’s part regarding the religious affiliation of Israel. Further, I understand that Rebecca feels that a theological state might not be appropriate in the twenty-first century. Since I did not benefit from directly hearing her comments, I would like to state my defense of a Jewish theological state irrespective of its physical location.

 

Since the recognition of the State of Israel, the United Nations has recognized some one hundred and forty countries. These nation states have evolved for the most part out of colonial empires, their territories drawn arbitrarily, and composed in many cases of warring belligerent groups.

 

I think we must all understand that of the some one hundred-eighty nations, which compose the United Nations, most of them have some formal religious affiliation or preference. Many of them have achieved statehood in recent years. Moreover, in many cases the motivation was the desire by their populace to form a nation-state composed of their co-religionists. Countries such as India, Pakistan, Croatia, Southern Ireland and Serbia evolved after much bloodshed because their inhabitants felt threatened in a larger nation-state where their religious beliefs were persecuted. The genocide in the Sudan derives in large part from hostility between Christians and Moslems. Clearly, the separation of these people on the basis of religion is preferable to their forced coexistence. 

 

Secondly, while I prefer to live in a secular country such as America, I do recognize that (1) America’s position on religion was unique at its inception (2) our independent judiciary is probably the sole reason for maintaining our separation of church and state.

 

Thirdly, Barbara Tuchman in her masterful book The Bible and the Sword provided some interesting insights that led to the Balfour Declaration. That is, the political leaders of England both for practical and religious reasons recognized the legitimacy of a special Jewish Homeland. Specifically, many Christians felt deeply that God had indeed promised Jews a home in the Holy Land.

 

The Holocaust provided terrible evidence that anti-Semitism was so virile a disease that it threatened to wipeout Judaism. That is, not only the perpetrators but also the bystanders accepted the death of millions of Jews, including children. Stated boldly, politicians throughout the world sensitive to their constituencies were prepared less than sixty years ago for Judaism to be annihilated. I remind one of the Jewish passengers on the St. Louis who were denied safe harbor by every country in North and South America, and had to return to Europe to face their ultimate persecution.

 

Fourthly, we must candidly admit that while we do not understand the causes, anti-Semitism has flu like characteristics. It is rationally incomprehensible that anti-Jewish feelings persist throughout the world irrespective of the religious affiliation of the country, the size of their past or current Jewish population, or their state of literacy. Nobody can provide an explanation for its existence in let us say Japan, Poland, the Soviet Union, Uganda, etc. Thus, unlike any other religion, Jews require special protection to survive this unique prejudice. That is, intolerance toward Jews has led to the inhabitants of these countries actively seeking to eradicate Jews both within and outside their borders.

 

Fifth, we must understand that Israel survives in large part because of the desire of the worldwide Jewish community to support a nation committed to this religion. Hertzl, the great modern day Zionist, learned the keystone to Jewish statehood was the passionate fervor of Jews of Eastern Europe whose imaginations and hopes were ignited by the return to Zion. Western Jews where before 1948 and subsequently also found dwelling in a Jewish state preferable. That is, they chose to leave civilized, economically prosperous lands to belong to a nation where they could feel at home. Some of these people have strong traditional Jewish beliefs, others like Jewish customs. My point is we should be tolerant of the legitimacy of people of any religion to wish to live in a country that supports their value system. Moreover, people with strong secular feelings are a distinct minority, not majority of the world population. Immigration to a foreign land is never easy, particularly if the nation is beleaguered. Nevertheless, some five million Jews have sacrificed everything for their desire to part of Israel. Today, some hundred countries have diplomatic relations with Israel because they accept the legitimacy of Zion. Thus, I whole-heartedly accept the existence of one theological Jewish state. While I would distinctly prefer more tolerance within Israel for a broad spectrum of Jewish practices, and while I abhor second- class treatment of its non-Jewish residents, I remain a Zionist. Moreover, I respect the incredible restraint shown by Israelis toward their hostile neighbors who remain pledged to their annihilation.