Chronicle poll results: Zionism

We asked our readers: "Are you a Zionist?" Here's what they said.

Last week, the Chronicle asked its readers in an online poll the following question: “Are you a Zionist?” Of the 290 people who responded, 78% said yes; 14% said no; and 8% said they weren’t sure. Comments were submitted by 81 people. A few follow.

I believe the state of Israel has the right to exist — as acknowledged among the vast majority of the world, including by a U.N. majority. Israel is and ought to be subject to the same rights, privileges and scrutiny as any other sovereign nation. That Israel should come into question regarding whether the state should exist as a self-determinative nation is wrong and, frankly, a cruelty to its citizenry.

I am a reluctant Zionist. I support Israel’s existence as a Jewish homeland while being deeply troubled by the contradictions this creates. I believe Jewish people deserve safety and self-determination after centuries of persecution, yet recognize that ethnostates are fundamentally problematic and incompatible with true democracy. Israel’s security and Jewish identity shouldn’t come at the cost of equal rights for all citizens, so while I am supportive of the concept, I remain critical of the current implementation.

I’m proudly Zionist! What does it mean? Believing that the Jewish people have a legitimate claim to their own homeland; that the Jewish people have a long and storied history that binds us together — miraculously, by the way — over time and space.

I believe Zionism is the idea that Jews need and require their homeland to exist. The recent times are perfect examples of why we need a place to feel safe

What is the definition today? The answer I grew up with no longer works for me. The issues are far too complex and I feel lost.

We have been praying facing Jerusalem for 3000 years. One cannot be Jewish and not be a Zionist. Believing anything else is performative nonsense.

Not anymore.

I wasn’t a Zionist until Oct 7. Every incident from that day forward has reinforced the need for Israel as a safe space for Jews.

Zionism is an essential component of contemporary Jewish identity. To deny the right of Jewish self-determination in our historical homeland is to opt out of Jewish peoplehood.

I am a progressive Zionist, who supports J Street.

I am a Zionist. That means that I support the existence of a Jewish state in our ancestral homeland, i.e., the state of Israel. I also support the creation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel and the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.

Zionism is an integral part of Judaism. Our peoplehood is deeply connected to the land of Israel. More than half the commandments cannot be fulfilled outside of Israel. The longing for Zion can be traced through our liturgy and holidays. Jews who identify as non-Zionists are simply Jews disconnected from Judaism. There is no Judaism divorced from Zion.

The term has been used in so many ways that it’s no longer useful.

I’m not a Zionist, and also recognize that Israel is a sovereign nation-state. I’m not asking for it to cease to exist. The divisive language this community has used accusing people like me of not being real Jews is beyond the pale. The Jewish people are inextricably bound with geopolitics, but can’t be expected to act as a monolith within them. Don’t throw out nuance to draw a line in the sand between people who identify as Zionists and the rest of us. It’s harmful. PJC