Page 14 - Issue 11
P. 14
Aliyah is the essential act of Zionism and issues in South Africa that require our
that being a member of this country would attention and effort. They also say that it is
only be meaningful if the immigrant were unnecessary for the movement to have one
‘active’. There are many ways in which Aliyah highest aim. I say that there are huge issues
can become meaningful, and this is where our in Israel that require our attention and
Social Action pillar comes in and creates a effort, even more so. In no way should we,
term known as Chalutzic Aliyah, which is the nor have we ever seen South African
way in which Habonim Dror envisions Aliyah. Nationalism as a value in and of itself. This is
why I do not think that we should ever
Our ideology is not like that of Israel’s; primarily promote living in South Africa,
Some of Israel’s core values could be whilst even doing revolutionary and valuable
considered Democracy, a Jewish State and a social action, as a possible highest goal. I
state that contains all of the land (this being understand why people promote and do this,
Israel and specifically the West Bank and but I feel that it is not all that Habonim
East Jerusalem); our 3 ideals are not subject Dror is about. It follows that we should see
to a “3 Holy Cows” dilemma where we can Social-Action in Israel as more ideologically
only fulfil 2 out of 3 of the goals. It is valuable than Social-Action in South Africa;
possible, and I would argue necessary, to act we should never, by any means, promote a
on all 3 of the pillars simultaneously. This is variety of Goals equally, if they are
why there is one highest aim of the understood to be unequal.
movement, and not a few; our pillars are in no
way mutually exclusive of each other. With this said, I think that we need to
define our Zionism more clearly, or scrap it
People argue that Zionism is no longer completely. I hope that we do not honestly
relevant; I would question their see Zionism as running peulot solely on the
understanding of what Zionism is, before Occupation, sending members blindly on
debating its’ relevancy. I see Zionism as Israel tours and criticising the rest of our
being relevant, as long as Jewish people who communities biased advocacy for Israel in
value their Judaism exist outside of Israel. the Jewish and South African media. If we
acknowledge some of our current
Some of the important questions are: engagements with Israel as somewhat futile,
confusing and detached, we will begin to
• How much do we want to be part of notice that we need to take careful notice of
the Jewish World? our focus. Before engaging with the many
• How valuable are our Jewish intense problems with Israel, we need to
identities? decide on whether or not we see Zionism as
• How far are we willing to take our one of our beliefs. We should engage with
beliefs? Israel issues only after that Ideological-
• How active do we want to be in the evaluation has clearly been made.
country that we choose to live in?
I want to be part of a movement that has an
If ‘not a lot’ is an answer to any of these honest ideology, which is relevant,
questions, then it would not make sense for meaningful and practical; I also want to be
us to be Zionists. part of a movement that envisions its’
members moving towards something that is
If we are honest with ourselves, we will see somewhat specific. With that said, I only
that the notion of living in a Jewish State think that we should call ourselves Zionists
has more inherent meaning to us, in if we are really considering Aliyah; otherwise
comparison to living in our Rainbow State; the pillar should not be there.
this is presuming that we take our Jewish
Identities seriously. I know that many people Chazak Ve’Ematz
in the movement say that there are huge Jon Jacobson
