How should we respond to a non-Zionist Gen Z-er? Responding to a young person’s rejection of Zionism, Rabbi Cosgrove engages with the question in all its complexity.
Well said & well thought out! As you said ,Rabbi Cosgrove Judaism is a land based faith! It is in our prayers & the love of Zion, Israel & Jerusalem are mentioned all in the Tanach! Over & over again! Kol HaKavod all the honor & blessings to you Rabbi! 🕎
Judaism is a land-based faith? Then what of the fact that Jews haven't controlled ha eretz for *most* of our existence? I believe we are Tora-based. But even if we are land-based, that wouldn't obligate us to support the current, amoral Israeli government any more than the ones who governed before them. We can't just make excuses to gain and hold land. We have the greater obligation of tukkun olam. What Israel is showing the world in our name is chilul haShem. I stand with Mya.
Rabbi Cosgrove is truly one of the Gedolim of our generation We are indeed privileged to learn from him Thanks park Avenue Shul for allowing us to hear him
I'd like to hear this, but I'm having phone issues.Need. New better one.. And a computer . This is too stressful y batter went down to 66in just a few minutes.. and this tiny devise is strenuous to use for these things . Especially, for SERVICES .
Why not explain to Maya that Hashem gave us Torah and Mitzvos which are the purposes of our existence. Everything else is vanity. Hashem created us and knows what we need for our ultimate fulfillment. She might not accept that, might not like it, but better she should at least have beard the truth, maybe some of it will sink in. Nebuch that a holy Jewish Neshama should be so far from what really matters in life. Hashem Yirachem.
תודה על ההרצאה המעניינת. נותן לי קצת להרגיש הלכי רוח ביהדות ארה"ב, במיוחד הצד ה" פרוגרסיבי". לצערי קראתי לפני זמן קצר עת זכרונות בן גוריון (Ben Gurion memories) תאר לעצמך שאותם הלכי רוח היו נפוצים גם לפני מאה שנה בפולין, גרמניה, וכן, ארה"ב . No joke! אני מניח שעברים במצריים גם היו חלוקים בדעתם, רק שהחלק של ה"מתנגדים" ליציאה ממצריים לא נכנסו לתנ"ך. ונשכחו או נדדו לגאנה.. תודה ובהצלחה שמואל רובנס, גרמניה.
Rabbi, I understand that you didn't engage with Maya as you may have been shocked to hear her question, and perhaps didn't want to have such a serious conversation in a casual, & happy social situation. As a senior, I've felt speechless at the large gulf between me and others when our opinions diverged sharply about Zionism, when I'd felt that we'd otherwise been so close! As a senior I've lived through the times when Israel had been admired as a modern miracle. But Gen Z-ers live in a climate bombarded by a narrative of "Palestinian" suffering, without knowing the history of of the manipulation of Arab leaders by the Soviet world to exploit their antisemitism by creating a new "Palestinian" identity from disparate Arab groups. The '64 Soviet narrative ignored the issue of a tiny Israel surrounded by enemies, created doubts about real, sustained historical Jewish suffering, inverted the David & Goliath story to suggest Arabs had no power, & disseminated the Protocols of Zion within the Arab world, stirring up more antisemitism & drummed up support for the "poor Palestinians" within the Western world. The end game, of course, was to destroy Israel, America & every democratic nation on the planet. Yes, Zionism is a land-based faith. Yes, we need Israel. And yes, I wish the Mayas of this world would be able to look past the labels & see the cynical political movements behind the creation of the "Palestinian" people, realize that the Islamic conquests continue today, know that there are more than 50 Muslim majority countries in the world, with people of similar values eager to destroy Israel, America, and the values of democracy, liberalism, & freedom of expression she holds so dear.
Well said palestinian suffering propagandas are massive just like in Indonesia. Indonesians are poor and suffering but our foreign minister think more support n charity for Palestine then for our own people. Even last few years I got shocked in Hindu land Bali one expat Cafe stated their profits for Palestine and Cafe location is at poorest regent of Bali. I keep complaining (cos balinese were afraid to confront their activities eventho they were disappointed greatly). Lately I saw their mission changed into charity help the deaf people disable people. It is good but I keep an eye for them. Let's hope it is real change!
As an Israeli American listening to the Rabi response, its clear why Maya felt this way to begin with. US jews and Rabbis criticize Israel, not understanding how their super critical never ending request for Israel to change distances the young generation. American jews shouldn't feel free to Constantly criticize Israel. The pressure that Israel is under from every direction is staggering. Israel will eventually collapse. Then US jews will realize that without Israel their wonderful jewish life in America is over. So the simple answer to Maya is: you feel that Israel isnt crucial for jews because there is an Israel to escape to. But once there will be no Israel, like during the progroms or Holocaust, then you wont feel free to say u r jewish. U will probably convert.
Rabbi Cosgrove, you made a lot of excellent points. But what you unfortunately forgot, is that Zionism truly is a central part of Judaism. The Torah and Talmud are all about the land of Israel. All the Mitzvot are meant to be kept in Israel. For the past 2000 years, we have prayed 3 times a day for a return to Zion - and we continue to do so. The fact that Jews have been living outside of Israel for the past 2,000 years is a tragedy. We were expelled from our land and forced to live in the Diaspora. This life is not the idea of Judaism, but second best. But for the past 75 years, we have had the opportunity to live in our homeland once again. Aliyah used to be something that was very difficult and expensive to do. But today it is far easier. Virtually every Jew now has the opportunity to live as a Jew in the Jewish land, and to properly fulfill the mitzvot that cannot always be done in the diaspora. One may not agree with everything that the Israeli government does. But that does not change the centrality of Israel to Judaism.
I keep thinking about this over the last couple month's, how sharp and principled Maya's critique was and how pale and thin your response to it is. it seems the older generations are completely delusional to how this is cannibalizing our community and driving virtually every young person of conscience away from formal temple communities. sad
I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume this rabbi, who just spent 20 minutes espousing the importance of American Jews supporting Israel, would be among the first to decry as "anti-Semitic tropes" anyone who happened to point out that so many American Jews, especially those in power, seem to have dual loyalty.
