printHaving, attached yourself to the Palestine solidarity movement as an ultra-orthodox Jew; I’m not yet lavish in my praise for you. What excites suspicion is that your conduct, vis-à-vis Palestinian possessions, could be tied to the religious edicts surrounding the coming of messiah. Although the question of messiah’s arrival is more than likely immaterial—the question of ethics is not. ~ilana
Charity ought to be about fellow-feeling, not factional preferences. ~ilana
NEW ESSAY, and part 2 in a series of 3, IS “The Judaism-Zionism Bifurcation (Part 2): Tikkun Olam: Fixing The World, But For What, For Whom?” It was, on May 31st, a feature essay on The Unz Review. And it led the page, June 1, at LewRockwell.com, anti-state, anti-war, pro-market.
Part 1 is “The Judaism-Zionism Bifurcation: Chosenness (Part 1).”
Excerpt from, “The Judaism-Zionism Bifurcation (Part 2): Tikkun Olam: Fixing The World, But For What, For Whom?”:
Contra classical natural law theory, my own religious order, Judaism in its popular rendering has always appeared to me quite sectarian. The faith to which I was born frequently seemed a we-only litany, more about Jews and for Jews than about the world, or for the good of the world.
For “a spectacular sense of otherness and unity” (Jon Krakauer, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, p. 262), only the Mormons, tethered to their territory of Utah, equal Jews, with whom Mormons also strongly identify.
Myself, I came alive ideologically when I reached the New World, in the mid-1990s. It was as though a new world of ideas heretofore unknown had unfurled to quench the soul and the intellect. Alas, it did not come from Judaism, to which I was born.
I discovered the very American libertarian non-aggression axiom, which flows, at least in my opinion, from Thomist Catholic philosophy, Just War theory, and the Stoic doctrine of natural law, whose first “interpreter and transmitter” was Cicero,[1] to be followed by Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Roman Church.
As plain as plain is the idea of charity. It’s a religion surety, I had surmised, that benevolence is meant to improve society, not the State; and to do so through personal, not political, acts in the community. Charity ought to be about fellow-feeling, not factional preferences. As instructed in Leviticus 19:18, “You should love your neighbor as you do yourself.”
Consider the concept of Tikkun Olam, the Jewish obligation to repair the world. Perhaps willfully—and to comport with my natural-law bias—I had always interpreted Tikkun Olam as a sublimely modest Jewish obligation.
Developed by the scholars and sages of a dispersed people, Tikkun Olam, I had hoped, was intended as a humble thing—as the duty of the Jewish individual to help, bit-by-bit, to bring about a better world in unassuming, day-to-day righteous acts. In his community and beyond.
In the best sense of that much-abused term “Orthodox” is a reader of ours, “a Torah observant Orthodox Jewish man,” and an attorney at law. JBS, Esq. speaks of Jewish “Chosenness” as follows:
As you are likely aware, Judaism is an ancient religion based upon God’s revelation of Himself to Hebrews at Mt. Sinai. Zionism is a recent [19th Century] political movement associated with Judaism but is not Judaism. Most Jewish people conflate and blur the distinction.The ‘Chosen People’ concept is misunderstood by most Jews. God ‘chose’ the Jewish people to receive, accept, keep and fulfill His Torah and teach it to the world, to be a ‘light unto the nations.’ That is all being ‘chosen’ ought to mean, not a Jewish ego trip.
As to Jewish entitlement to the land of Israel: fulfillment of their Godly duties is required. I think Zionists believe otherwise; that military capture is sufficient. God twice banished Hebrews from the land for their failures and sins. Many Orthodox Jews (myself included) believe that Jewish entitlement to the land of Israel will require the appearance of Mashiach, the Jewish messiah. I don’t know much about that. (May, 2026)
Although there is a certain degree of comic protest about my next question; I ask it not to be a Smart Alec:
Does what our laudable reader say mean that, come Mashiach, real or imagined, ultra-orthodox Jews could be given religious license to rob Palestinian homesteaders? That, you see, is unclear. With respect to the ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist Jewry; although the question of messiah’s arrival is more than likely immaterial—the question of ethics is not.
In particular, the question of situational ethics and ethical relativism.
Having, attached yourself to the Palestine solidarity movement as an ultra-orthodox Jew; I’m not yet lavish in my praise for you. What excites suspicion is that your conduct, vis-à-vis Palestinian possessions, could be tied to the religious edicts surrounding the coming of messiah. History, more significantly, is replete with people who followed a false messiah. There is even a concept for this eventuality in Hebrew lore (mashiach sheker).
These days, my own humble perspective on the daily practice of piety is a mirage in the desert.
Certainly, my modest, morally universal interpretation of Tikkun Olam is not the one adopted by Jews who are “chosen”; namely favored, esteemed and elevated by gentiles and by institutional Jewry.
Starting with the barefaced Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist, …
…THE REST. NEW ESSAY, and part 2 in a series of 3, IS “The Judaism-Zionism Bifurcation (Part 2): Tikkun Olam: Fixing The World, But For What, For Whom?” On The Unz Review. And at LewRockwell.com, anti-state, anti-war, pro-market.
Part 1 is “The Judaism-Zionism Bifurcation: Chosenness (Part 1).“
[1]. Heinrich A. Rommen, The Natural Law, A Study In Legal And Social History And Philosophy, Liberty Fund, Indianapolis, 1998
“Contra classical natural law theory, my own religious order, Judaism in its
popular rendering has always appeared to me quite sectarian. The faith to
which I was born frequently seemed a /we-only/ litany, more /about/ Jews
and /for/ Jews than about the world, or for the good of the world.”
The Lord, the Paul-line faith, is interested in everybody, for the church the body of Christ’s sake. “Who will have ALL men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:4.
“Myself, I came alive ideologically when I reached the New World, in the
mid-1990s. It was as though a new world of ideas heretofore unknown had
unfurled to quench the soul and the intellect. Alas, it did not come from
Judaism, to which I was born.”
The Lord through Paul on Israel:
Romans 10:2-4 “…they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
“…the duty of the Jewish
individual to help, bit-by-bit, to bring about a better world in
unassuming, day-to-day righteous acts. In his community and beyond.”
The Lord through Paul definitely tells the believer to do good works:
Titus 3:8 “…be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
“…bring about a better world…”
At the same time, the believer is to realize and understand this:
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
“As you are likely aware, Judaism is an ancient religion based upon God’s
revelation of Himself to Hebrews at Mt. Sinai.”
God revealed Himself to the “Hebrew” (Gen. 14:13) in Gen. 12. Abraham was made a Hebrew by God. Judaism began in earnest in Exodus 19 when Israel unwisely opted for the Law contract.
“Zionism is a recent [19th
Century] political movement associated with Judaism but is not Judaism.”
That sounds like what people say about “dispensationalism,” that it began in the 19th century with Darby. A man at work asked me the question. “When did this (dispensationalism) begin?” This same “Christian” didn’t know that there are three heavens (2 Cor. 12). The Lord through Paul taught dispensationalism. We have, “time past,” and “but now,” and “ages to come.” That’s dispensationalism. Eph. 2:11, Eph. 2:13, and Eph. 2:7.
“Most Jewish people conflate and blur the distinction.”
Perhaps one should remove the use of the word “Zionism” from the discussion. What does God’s word say about all this? Israel was promised land. Did Judaism come from that promised land? No. BUT Judaism was given to the people who are going to get that land. And all that happened in Gen. 12 and EX. 19. That land and Judaism then, became intimately linked. Can Judaism be practiced outside that land? Yes. But that is an exception. All the Jews/Israel were meant to be in that land practicing Judaism. No, it didn’t happen, but it’s going to. God, on His time, is going to gather all the Jews from all over the world and is going to put them in their land Himself and they are going to practice Judaism, and, they’re going to teach it to the Gentiles. What is Judaism? It’s God’s law(s). It comes from Him. Obviously, it affects the Jews culture and ways.
Is “Zionism” from “the 19th century” to today, wrong? Maybe. If it’s “wrong,” it’s only because God did not Himself put Jews there in that land and make it their nation Himself. If “Zionism” is wrong, that’s why it’s wrong. Secularly, legally, does that land belong to Israel? I assume it does. So then, I don’t see why “Zionism” is wrong, if a Jew wants to live there and they think it belongs to Israel.
“The ‘Chosen People’ concept is misunderstood by most Jews. God ‘chose’
the Jewish people to receive, accept, keep and fulfill His Torah”
No, not exactly. God wanted Israel to believe He was their “I Am.” I Am what? Whatever Israel needed Him to be, He would be that for them. There were three occasions between EX 4 and 19 that God was trying to teach Israel this. They didn’t learn the lessons. It was a mistake Israel made in EX 19 to “accept” the Law. They told God:
Exodus 19:8 “And all the people answered together…All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”
Big, big error. They signed on and made the claim that they’d please God based on their own “good” acceptable performance. That wasn’t going to happen. When they made their choice, as the late pastor Keith Blades put it, God’s demeanor towards Israel changed dramatically:
Exodus 19:12 “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:”
Israel, no one on the planet, could “keep” or “fulfill” His Torah. God did it for them, the Redeemer.
“and teach
it to the world, to be a ‘light unto the nations.'”
Yes, that is true. That will be true. It awaits future fulfillment. Why does it wait? Because God Himself has not yet put the Jews in their land, He Himself has not made them the nation Israel, nor has He yet consecrated them to be that “royal priesthood.”
“That is all being
‘chosen’ ought to mean, not a Jewish ego trip.”
“As to Jewish entitlement to the land of Israel: fulfillment of their Godly
duties is required.”
We are in the dispensation of grace. God suspended what He was doing with Israel at the end of Acts 7. But, when He resumes the prophetic calendar, and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” begins, Israel is going to be entitled to that land, and they’re going to be entitled to it by believing the Lord Jesus Christ was their Messiah, the “I Am,” Jehovah. “Thou art the Christ.” He fulfills the essentials, the five mandates spelled out in Psalms: 1- Redeemer (done). The next four remain to be fulfilled: Deliverer, Avenger, King and Blesser. Israel, once they receive their kingdom, will then “fulfill” their “duties” as priests to the world.
“I think Zionists believe otherwise; that military
capture is sufficient.”
If, starting with the Balfour Declaration that Israel was eventually made a nation, “legally,” and yes, through military conquest, then I’m not sure, that since 1948, Israel is not in fact a nation.
“God twice banished Hebrews from the land for their
failures and sins.”
Yes, that is true. But, that is the point. God, since converting Saul in Acts 9, suspended what He was doing with Israel. God was not involved with Balfour, nor was He involved in 1948. But, He obviously didn’t stop what was going on, either. God is not involved with any nation today, and He hasn’t been since Acts 7. And men can’t force Him to do what He is just not doing. And He is not doing anything just because men say He’s doing it.
Again, though, if somehow, someway, some nations helped “Israel” become a nation, “legally,” and militarily, it seems to me, then, secularly speaking, Israel is a nation. Did God do it? No. But, He didn’t stop it. He’s been engaged in doing something else, building the church the body of Christ to govern the heavens.
“Many Orthodox Jews (myself included) believe that Jewish
entitlement to the land of Israel will require the appearance of
/Mashiach/, the Jewish messiah.”
To obtain that blessed kingdom, yes, they must wait for the Messiah, who has already come. There is a need to believe first, but if not, well then, it just has to be realized and understood that in early Acts, in the post resurrection ministry the kingdom could be seen on the horizon. The apostles, the “little flock” were able to see themselves on their land, unmolested by their enemies. They were correctly expecting it. But God unexpectedly paused the working of the fulfillment of that eventuality. It is really not hard to get this, though most of Christendom doesn’t get it. Again, though, believing is needed (would be very helpful). “Believing is seeing.”
“The Bible has suffered more from Christian exponents than from infidel assailants.” Sir Robert Anderson.
“I don’t know much about that. (May, 2026)”
“Although there is a certain degree of comic protest about my next question;
I ask it not to be a Smart Alec:”
“Does what our laudable reader say mean that, come /Mashiach/, real or
imagined, ultra-orthodox Jews could be given religious license to rob
Palestinian homesteaders?”
I suppose I would say, no. It is, though, in my view and understanding, the Israeli governments responsibility.
“That, you see, is unclear. With respect to the
ultra-Orthodox anti-Zionist Jewry; although the question of messiah’s
arrival is more than likely immaterial”
Well, the Messiah is not involved. So, it’s on the Israeli government (Romans 13). But, when the Messiah returns, the Jew then just better not think He’s arriving for the first time.
1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
If a Jew today doesn’t think the Lord Jesus Christ wasn’t the Messiah, they should consider the following:
“The First Gospel does not contain a single word that is inconsistent with its scope and purpose in the Divine scheme of revelation and ministry as Israel’s Messiah; AND IT WILL BE STUDIED BY BELIEVING ISRAELITES IN DAYS TO COME AS IF THE PRESENT CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION NEVER INTERVENED.” (Emphasis mine.)
“Although so plainly stated in Scripture, it is a forgotten truth that the full and final evangelisation of the world awaits the restoration of Israel. And ‘the receiving’ of Israel is necessarily deferred until after the coming of Christ (rapture) to bring the present dispensation to a close.” Sir Robert Anderson, “Forgotten Truths.”
I heard a funny comment about Jewish Chosenness from my brother, which arose in his conversation with US-based Jews:
Wouldn’t it be funny if God chose the Jews not because of their inherent righteousness, but rather because they were the worst of the worst–kind of like the Bloods & Crips of the Middle East at the time?
NB: The Bloods & Crips are two of the most notorious & violent street gangs in the U.S., originating in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Their rivalry resulted in tens of thousands of deaths & spread globally. It was driven by territorial control, drug trafficking & historical community tensions.
PS: Loved meeting you at the Mises historical revisionism conference!