jim@ISM780B.UUCP (11/30/85)
>Many Jews of European background practice a warped form of Judaism and >have warped ideas because of their form of Judaism and because of the >experience of European Jews among Europeans. Only Sefardic Judaism >can be considered normative. While most Sefardic hakamim (sages) despise >European Zionism, none are against the existence of Israel and almost >all consider Israel 'athilta' dege'ulta' (the beginning of redemption). >While badly phrased, Abeles statement is not essentially wrong. One group establishing itself as normative is the basis of all racism and bigotry. As a non-practicing Jew who is familiar with the traditional prayers which refer to the return to Zion, I consider denying the importance of that return inconsistent with religious Judaism; however I no of know reference to a requirement to establish a religious state in Zion, which is what I understand Zionism to be, not simply return to the land. Since I am not religious, I am not in favor of religious states, so I suppose I am anti-Zionist (I am also not in favor of making the U.S. a religious state and I am not in favor of the Moslem religious states as such; i.e., I strongly support separation of state and church). In any case, I oppose many of the policies of Israel for humanitarian reasons (I also support many of their policies for the same reason). However, in no sense am I anti-Semitic, since that refers to discriminating against or persecuting Jews. It is a sick perversion of the language to make these equations, and just feeds into the hands of true anti-Semites. The Jews of Germany weren't asked their opinions before they were led to the chambers. -- Jim Balter (ima!jim)