By Coby Friedman
I was raised on the lie that Zionism was the ultimate defense against antisemitism. As a former IDF soldier born in Haifa, I was taught that our survival depended on the state, the army, and the land. It took me a lifetime to understand that the ideology I was raised on was, in its own way, promoting an antisemitic worldview.
When I say “antisemitism,” I am not just talking about hatred of Jews. I am talking about the hatred or dismissal of Judaism itself—the reduction of a rich, ancient faith into a nationalist political project.
Here is the uncomfortable truth: All Zionism, whether Jewish or Christian, has become antisemitic because it erases the true soul of the Jewish people.
1. The Erasure of Judaism by Jewish Zionism
Zionism reduced the vast, 3,000-year-old Jewish civilization—its philosophy, its debate, its spirituality, and its diversity—into a singular, militaristic identity centered on the state of Israel.
It Erased the Diaspora: Zionism historically viewed the Jewish diaspora not as a source of strength and culture, but as a place of weakness and shame. It framed 2,000 years of Jewish life in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as a “mistake” to be corrected.
It Rejected Jewish Universalism: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was replaced by the god of the tank. The prophets who demanded we “do justice, and love kindness” were silenced in favor of a theology that valued tribal strength over universal ethics.
It Suppressed Debate: Dissent within the Jewish community is often silenced as “self-hatred.” A healthy tradition thrives on debate, but Zionism demands absolute loyalty, treating Jews as a monolith. This is a classic antisemitic trope: the idea that all Jews are the same and must act in unison.
2. The Weaponization of Judaism by Christian Zionism
If Jewish Zionism reduces Judaism to a flag, Christian Zionism reduces it to a prophecy. They support Israel not out of love for Jews, but to bring about the Apocalypse.
The “Useful Idiot” Theory: Christian Zionists support Israel’s hard-right policies because they believe it fulfills biblical prophecy. They don’t care about Jewish safety or well-being; they care about their own eschatology.
The Apocalyptic Betrayal: The End Times narrative in their theology involves the rebuilding of the Temple, the battle of Armageddon, and the final judgment where Jews who don’t convert to Christianity will be destroyed. This is not friendship; it is theological antisemitism. It uses the Jewish people as props for a story in which they are ultimately cast aside.
The Cynical Alliance: Prominent Christian Zionist leaders have made explicitly antisemitic statements in the past, yet they are celebrated by pro-Israel groups. This proves the alliance is based on political expediency, not shared values.
3. The Convergence: A Betrayal of the Jewish Soul
Both forms of Zionism converge on the same dangerous point: they both see Jewish identity as something other than what it has been for millennia.
Jewish Zionism reduces Judaism to nationalism.
Christian Zionism reduces Judaism to a prophecy.
In both cases, the living, breathing, diverse reality of the Jewish people and their faith is secondary to a political or theological goal.
A Call to Reclaim Judaism
True antisemitism is the hatred of Jews. But a close cousin is the hatred of Judaism itself.
I am asking my fellow Jews to reject the narrow cage of Zionism and reclaim the full, beautiful, and diverse soul of our own tradition. The real friends of the Jewish people are not those who cheer on its militarism, but those who have the courage to demand it live up to its highest prophetic ideals.
The fight against antisemitism must also be a fight to reclaim Judaism from the nationalists who have hijacked it. It is a call to return to a Judaism of questions, of justice, of debate, and of universal ethics.
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