Martin H. van den Bergh

The war which was started on October 7th by Hamas and others may have subsided. Yet the rhetoric behind it has not. Also, Hamas continues to break the ceasefire agreement by not returning the remains of our deceased hostages. In addition, violent demonstrations against Israel are taking place around the world and antisemitic comments are being voiced denying the right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel. These views reject history and especially Biblical history. For me Zionism is not a modern political concept. It is a critical part of the beliefs of Judaism in which G-d promised the land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to their heirs, the Jewish People. It is also a fact that there has always been a Jewish presence in the Land of Israel, even during the time of Exile.

Thus, ever since  G-d said to Abraham for the first time: “I give this land to your seed!” (Bereshit 12.7), we have always cherished the Land, and wherever we have found themselves we have always turned towards Jerusalem. Three times a day in our prayers we say: “And may our eyes behold Your merciful return to Zion”, which echoes our desire to return to Zion and witness the presence of G-d in Jerusalem. Therefore, Zionism is a part of our beliefs as Jews and modern-day Israel is part of that realisation and modern Zionism is defined as: “The belief that Jewish people should have a right to self determination in their ancestral homeland of Israel.” While Israel strives to uphold its Jewish identity, it also welcomes peoples of different faiths and none and therefore debunks the toxic accusations by the anti-Zionists and antisemites.

Therefore, the defeat of our enemies must not only be a military one. It must also be a reaffirmation of our Divine contract with the Land of Israel and marvel at its achievements since the establishment of the State of Israel. And while having to defend itself Israel continues to turn the land into a land flowing with milk and honey.