In a new article for The New Statesman, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis explores the deep connection between Zionism and Judaism, aiming to clarify misconceptions about Zionism and

highlight its essential role within Jewish identity.

In the article titled "What is Zionism? Why the State of Israel is Central to Jewish Identity," Rabbi Mirvis emphasizes that Zionism is deeply rooted in Jewishness, countering the common misunderstanding that the two can be separated. He explains that Zionism is not merely a political ideology but an intrinsic part of Jewish history and identity.

Rabbi Mirvis notes the strong emotional connection many Jews feel towards Israel, with 73% of British Jews and 80% of American Jews affirming that Israel is an important part of their Judaism, according to studies by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research and Pew Research Center.

The Chief Rabbi also addresses how the term "Zionism" has been misused as a pejorative and wrongly associated with colonialism and apartheid. He stresses that Zionism does not imply unconditional support for any specific Israeli government's policies and is not mutually exclusive with advocating for Palestinian rights.

Tracing the history of the Jewish people, Rabbi Mirvis explains that the connection to the land of Israel is foundational to Jewish identity. Even after the Romans exiled the Jews and renamed Judea to Syria-Palaestina in an attempt to sever Jewish ties to the land, the Jewish connection to Israel endured through centuries of diaspora. This connection was preserved in Jewish worship and daily life, with the hope of returning to the homeland remaining a central tenet of Jewish belief.

Rabbi Mirvis argues that the establishment of the State of Israel became essential for Jewish survival after the Holocaust, providing a haven for Jews when other countries closed their borders to refugees. He also highlights Zionism’s role in the cultural and intellectual revival of Jewish life, with Israel becoming a focal point for Jewish national expression through the revival of the Hebrew language, arts, and academia.

The Chief Rabbi emphasizes that Zionism is not dependent on religious observance and should not be seen as purely political. Rather, it reflects the enduring bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. In his view, Zionism is "a manifestation of the unbroken attachment of the Jewish people to and presence in the Land of Israel."

This is Rabbi Mirvis' second article in The New Statesman. In 2016, he wrote "I Grew Up in South Africa, So Believe Me When I Say: Israel is Not an Apartheid State." Photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Wikimedia commons.