Zionism 2025: Reinterpreting Vision, Mission, and Boundaries. Peoplehood Papers Edition #35.

Zionism 2025: Reinterpreting Vision, Mission, and Boundaries

As Am Yisrael welcomes home the returning hostages, we are reminded of both the profound pain and the enduring hope that continue to shape the Zionist story and its unfolding future.

The current Zionist paradigm was developed in the mid-20th century. In the Herzelian version, and others, it expressed the Jewish people's aspirations for a national entity in the land of Israel (then Palestine), promising to create a safe haven for Jews and to be a beacon among nations. So much so that the declaration of independence made this intention clear in stating that "The State of Israel... will be based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel." Various Zionist ideologies developed and coexisted within this broad vision, embracing different perspectives in a democratic and pluralistic manner.

Almost a century later, dramatic historical changes necessitate a reflection on the core tenets of Zionism. Israel, now a recognized and robust State under international law, faces new challenges that were unimaginable a century ago. Issues such as the nature of its democracy, the future of its relationship with the West Bank and Gaza, and the religious character of the state are causing deep conflicts and divisions within Israel and across the Jewish world. These disagreements are not merely internal Zionist debates, as seen in the past, but have the potential to fundamentally transform Zionism.

At the core of the current challenges facing Israeli society, we find debates on the Zionist ethos, vision, and mission. It is time to revisit these issues in a way that addresses the modern-day challenges and inspires Jews to actively engage with Zionism and Israel. Jewish peoplehood offers us a wide and fertile ground from which to draw as we respond to these challenges.

This collection of articles facilitates a contemporary discussion of Zionism that is not merely a reaction to adversaries, but a productive engagement that provides a vision and mission worth pursuing on its own merits. We asked our contributing writers: What plans and programs should be initiated towards the rejuvenation of Zionism both in spirit and in practice? What changes are necessary in order to re-engage those frustrated and disillusioned with the current state of things? And what should we focus on as we build the next generation of committed Zionists?

Peoplehood Papers 35 was an invitation to propose a 2025 approach to the reinterpretation of the Zionist vision, mission, and boundaries. We wanted to expand the Zionist discourse but also reflect on its boundaries today. The result, as expected and intended, yielded a plethora of responses. Twenty two articles addressed diverse dimensions of Zionism today and going forward, through broad ideological perspectives. Together, we hope they will inspire a fresh conversation on the essence and future of Zionism.

This issue brings together a powerful group of voices from across the Jewish world, including Elan Ezrachi, Amitai Fraiman, Alon Friedman, Jonathan Golden, Judah Ari Gross, Sara Yael Hirschhorn, Samuel J. Hyde, Aharon Ariel Lavi, Analucía Lopezrevoredo, Chama Mechtaly, Pamela Paresky, Noam Pianko, Alex Pomson, Shlomi Ravid, Zohar Raviv, Ofer Shiff and Adi Sherzer, Danielle Ames Spivak, Miriam Heller Stern, Shuki Taylor, Gil Troy, Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, and Michal Zur. Each author offers a deeply engaged and nuanced perspective on the challenges and responsibilities facing Zionism and world Jewry today.

Peoplehood Papers 35: Zionism 2025 – Reinterpreting Vision, Mission, and Boundaries invited authors to propose a 2025 approach to the reinterpretation of Zionism. The result, as intended, yielded a plethora of responses that together inspire a fresh conversation on the essence and future of Zionism.

This issue of the Peoplehood Papers was created by the Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education in collaboration with the Z3 Project and ENTER. The editors of the publication are Shlomi Ravid, Amitai Fraiman and Barak Sella. We are all looking forward to the development of this conversation.

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