Divisions 2 - Israel

Zionism, Pilgrimage and the State of Israel 

Israel is the land promised to the Jews by God - it is a central part of their covenant relationship with God.  The Jews promised to be faithful to God, and God agreed to give them a land and keep them safe.  However, the Jews were not faithful, and they lost the land in the diaspora (the dispersion of Jews around the world around 2000 years ago).  Further, God did not look after the Jews in the Holocaust.  This is why these apparently different ideas have been grouped together.

For more information, look at:

• Judaism 101's page The Land of Israel
• The Revision Site's Sacred Places

The following question has been asked [1997 Q5]:

(a)    Explain why the State of Israel is important to many Jews.   [8]

You should talk about: 

• covenant - God promised the Jews a land to live in, and being able to live there could be a sign of being in God's favour
• festivals - three pilgrim festivals (Pesach, Shavout and Sukkot) brought all Jews to Jerusalem in the past.  These days, many Jews buy things for festivals straight from Israel - e.g. the lulav and etrog for Sukkot 
• death - many Jews go to Israel when they are dying, or are buried there, as they will be the first to arise when the Messiah comes
• antisemitism - following WWII Jews have felt the need to be able to protect themselves from the threat of violence.  Israel has its own army.
• history - Jews have been in Israel for 3500 years.  Many significant events have happened in that time.  jews are linked to their past through Israel.
• Western Wall - the Temple had been built in Israel as the house of God.  Now only a wall remains, which is regularly visited by pilgrims

Zionism was a political movement to re-establish Israel as a Jewish state.  It started around a hundred years ago.  You may be asked [1999 Q4]:

(a)    Explain what is meant by Zionism and why Jews might have different opinions about it.    [8]

Try to fill in the blanks on this table, then have a look at the filled-in table