Confronting Modern Zionism With Theological Integrity

Modern zionism has a lot of challenges. The dream of a Jewish homeland has been a cornerstone of Jewish identity for millennia, offering hope in the face of relentless persecution. Yet, as modern Zionism continues to shape the Israeli state, serious questions arise about whether its actions align with the religious principles that once underpinned the Jewish connection to the land. For those who care deeply about both Jewish safety and tradition, the current trajectory of Zionism warrants urgent reevaluation.

In the Talmud, Orthodox Jewish sages developed a framework known as “The Three Oaths,” which offer critical theological guidance on the Jewish relationship with the Holy Land. These oaths stipulate that Jews must not rebel against the nations they reside in, must not “force the hand of God” by seizing the land through violence, and that nations across the world must not excessively oppress the Jewish people. Together, these principles reflect a spirit of religious humility, patience, and faith in divine timing.

The horrors of the 20th century, especially the gulags of Europe and the Holocaust, were seen as a clear violation of the oath that other nations should not oppress Jews excessively. In response, the formation of Israel in the 1940s was justified by many as a necessary act of survival, even though it meant laying claim to the land by force. Yet, nearly 80 years later, the world looks very different. While antisemitism persists, Jews are no longer subject to the kind of widespread, systemic oppression that defined the 20th century. The rationale for a forced Jewish return to the Holy Land, once justified by extreme circumstances, no longer holds the same weight.

At the same time, the Israeli government has strayed far from the religious principles that once underpinned its legitimacy. Leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu rarely invoke the Torah or Talmud, and the state’s policies are guided more by secular nationalism and realpolitik than by Jewish law or tradition. The result is a government that many, including relatively objective organizations, have labeled genocidal in its treatment of Palestinians. This secular and militaristic approach not only betrays the religious foundation of Zionism but also risks alienating Jews worldwide.

The abandonment of religious humility has turned Israel into a secular monstrosity. Its actions often exacerbate tensions in the region and create hostility toward Jews globally, undermining the safety that the state was intended to provide. For Jews who value both faith and security, this should prompt a serious reconsideration of Israel’s current path.

The time has come for Jewish Zionists to critically reevaluate their position. The Three Oaths caution against “forcing the hand of God” and emphasize the importance of humility and divine timing. If Israel’s government no longer upholds these principles and if Jews are no longer excessively oppressed worldwide, then the religious justification for the state’s existence in its current form must be questioned. Zionism, as it exists today, has lost touch with its theological roots, and its moral authority as a Jewish project hangs in the balance.