FInal Peula with Sister chava! A cool discussion...

Something that has come to be a common question we have been dealing with on Workshop is the question of weather or not it is possible to be Zionist outside of Israel. When I was first presented with this question, months ago, i thought of course it is! However now, I am not so sure. The question has now become, what does it mean to be Zionist? The answer is relative. For me, I have always thought of myself as zionist, and proud of it, however I never really asked myself the question of what that means. By relative i mean, that everyone goes through different motions in their lives, have different tendencies and different backgrounds, making for different understandings, different passions, and different priorities in life. The question is, is someone living their life in North America who goes to rallies, raises money, and who feels strongly about the existence of a Jewish state a Zionist? The answer seems clear, of course! But here is another perspective. From 1900-1940ish, people like A.D Gordon, and people in Hachal Hatzair, (Training farm in Kloswa) thought about the Jewish problem, realized the best solution is to go to Palestine, and create, and one day gain independence, leading to an Israel which would have a true representation of the Jewish people. A society based on equality, rich with culture, and justice. The attitude was that they had to take responsibility because in order to provide an answer to thousands of years of persecution, no home, and no connection, it was on them to hagshamatize. They were true Chalutzniks, and maybe it was them who we owe credit to for kicking things off. I am not sure if what they accomplished could have been done without leaving their homes, unless if they were to invest in some type of money program...Today, Israel faces countless Issues within itself. There is little equality, economically and socially. There is no collective, and the security meter is constantly at a high level. Like in the 1900's, Israel/ the Jewish people are faced with a issues. But my question is, how can these issues be taken responsibly for? Like I said, its all relative. Perhaps rallies are a necessary things in order to spread awareness and show ones opinion. But Israel is what Zionism refers too, and as one girl Noga, from the sister chava stated, she gets upset hearing those outside of Israel calling themselves Zionist, when every day she deals with uneducated youth who don't see others as equal to them make countless racist remarks, when she is serving in the army, and when she is doing all she can to fix the society that is meant to have ideals of equality, collective, community, which were dreamed of and worked for by Herzl, the Zionism lived out by the Chalutzim, but is rarely present today, while others in the Diaspora aren't dealing with those issues head on. Its a question which I think is important to think about, while keeping in mind that Jews in the Diaspora are living completely different lives than those in Israel, so it is inevitable that there will be relative answers.
Something Ive really enjoyed about Workshop is that I feel like values about collective responsibility, equality and culture, have really come full circle. Going back to the first blog post about how to create real, whole hearted relationships, every little piece has made me realize what it means to be a human being. Heres where it gets tricky. One thing I have been thinking about is, in order to create this life of a collective, where we can equally honor the lives of each other equally, we must be conciouss of privatized corporations and our roll in them, and how we consume what the Western Wold has to offer, and how our roll effects the little guy, and the person on top, in a structure where there is no collective ownership as their used to be when Israel was found. Having said that, I think this cool text brings something cool to think about...
-Between immigration and Aliya-Eli Ben Gal:
We need to dwell in the difference between immigration and Aliyah. There is a much common phrase among "Sabras" that troubles me greatly, not so much for its anti-Zionist content, but more for the excitement in which it is said by many, who declare it as if they were expressing a true Zionist emotion. The phrase is "we are getting stronger with each arriving oleh!) Nothing can be more dangerous that this motto, which under a pseudo-radical Zionist cover hides the negation of Zionism. In fact it means that the state of Israel is the goal and the Jewish people are a human resource reservoir. We need soldiers, settlers, tax-payers, and the Jewish people are too fulfill the role, become the means to this end. Such a perception turns Zionism upside down and distorts it.
When a young Israeli call for Jewish Aliyah to Israel, they should be asked: What comes first to you-being an Israeli or being Jewish?" those who answer that they are first and foremost Israeli's and only then, Jews, lose their right to preach Diaspora Jews to act first of all as Jews and only then as Americans, French or citizens of any other county.
Zionism is not a technical act of moving a population from point A to point B. Israel is not one of those recently established countries who seek immigrants that would fill their territories. When one turns to an American, an an Australian, or a Brazilian consulate to get permanent residency they are asked "how old are you? what is your physical condition? What diplomas do you hold? What are your assets? " in other words, why should we accept you? are you young? are you healthy? If so-welcome, if not stay where you are! these countries view themselves as their own goal and those who wish to immigrate are measured by the contribution they might give, as means to an end.
According to the Zionist idea though, the Jewish people is the subject, and the state is supposed to serve this purpose as means.
Let us be blunt and precise: If Israel will suffer economic hardships severe enough to eliminate its ability to absorb Olim- it might as well cease to exist! there will be no need of it. A Jewish state that is not open for Aliyah has no justification as the Jewish state. Israel was meant to absorb Aliyah, and it must plan ahead in order to serve the needs of the Jewish people as a nation, wherever Jewish people are.
My friend Mukki Tzur told me once humbly that being a "sabra" he finds it hard to preach for Aliyah, as if Aliyah is a matter of the Diaspora,. Not at all! Zionism is the mission of the entire Jewish people, in Israel and in the Diaspora. Perhaps it is even more of a mision here in the centre than there at the margins. The crisis that Zionism faces is the outcome of the specific crisis that is going through the Jewish public in its sovereign state. A vision of building an alternative society is a challenge for every Jew, weather in San Francisco of Mishmar Ha'emek, and the challenge demands a struggle, meaning "Aliyah." The mission of ascendence is a challenge for "sabras" as well, for it is not a geographic change, but a personal revolution. Today, the question of Zionism and the question of Judaism are the same question. It is an answer to the first command given to Abraham, "get thee out of thy country." The command is directed at the sabra as much as it is relevant to the Diaspora Jew. True-it might be harder for an Israeli born, as he cannot avoid Aliyah as ascendence by simply changing geographic location. The struggle against Americanization in Tel Aviv is more exhausting and less theatrical than organizing a Hebrew club in Moscow, but it matters just as much.
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So, Ben Gal is saying a few cool and interesting things, and also bringing up some difficult questions. His main point is strong, and touches on what I talked about earlier. More people coming to live their American lives are ruining Zionism. It seems pretty harsh...But what he means is, the Jewish people are here to create something special and unique based on our cultures, traditions and values. How are we creating that when everywhere we go in Israel there are advertisements in english, Nike shoes, fancy cars, trashy music in English. Even in Israel, he is saying, that it is important to ask ourself the question of what it means to be Zionist. If we are just living American lives in Israel, without trying to improve the society, is it Zionist? If we are working for a major corporation in Israel, like Bank Hapoalim located across the street from Schunat Haargazim, is it Zionist, or just bringing aspects of the Western World here? As harsh as what he is saying can be, his overall message can be seen as aweseome. We have an opportunity to create something special, just, and moral. So what is holding us back?
-A question to think about: Is Israel the subject, or is it the Jewish people, and the state that is supposed to make up as a means to that.

Watermelon Killa: A Kvutzat Zerem production.

Credits:
Joey Starr: Judo Chop Master.
Erez: Joeys coach.
Tom: Banana Doctor.
Izzy: Evil Queen.
Maxi: Innocent girl.