Joel S.
@joelhs.bsky.social
Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies, Sarah Lawrence College. PhD in Religious Studies, University of Chicago. Globalist elite and Thing-in-Itself-hating Jew. Husband of @petticoatshrink.bsky.social. He/Him/הוא/ער
Which is where the tensions around what we mean by "Jewish state" come into play - what do you do with someone like Martin Buber, who called himself a Zionist because he wanted a culturally Jewish state in Palestine, but imagined it on binationalist terms?
February 11, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Which is where the tensions around what we mean by "Jewish state" come into play - what do you do with someone like Martin Buber, who called himself a Zionist because he wanted a culturally Jewish state in Palestine, but imagined it on binationalist terms?
I'm not using "statist" in terms of "supporting the current government," but "defining a Jewish state as one with a durable Jewish voting majority."
February 11, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I'm not using "statist" in terms of "supporting the current government," but "defining a Jewish state as one with a durable Jewish voting majority."
Anyway, if you want to read my take on why we need a more nuanced discussion of what we mean when we use the word "Zionism," which seems to have upset a lot of people on all sides of the political spectrum, here it is: www.jta.org/2026/02/09/i...
Zionism was never a single concept. We should be grateful to JFNA’s survey for the reminder. - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
A Jew can believe in a Jewish, democratic state and still doubt whether contemporary Zionism advances both of those commitments, writes a scholar of European Jewish intellectual history.
www.jta.org
February 11, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Anyway, if you want to read my take on why we need a more nuanced discussion of what we mean when we use the word "Zionism," which seems to have upset a lot of people on all sides of the political spectrum, here it is: www.jta.org/2026/02/09/i...
Me: "Zionism once had many non-statist meanings, but now it basically is used synonymously with statist political Zionism."
Jews to my right: "You're giving cover to antisemites by rejecting Zionism!"
People to my left: "You're covering up for genocide by rehabilitating Zionism!"
Jews to my right: "You're giving cover to antisemites by rejecting Zionism!"
People to my left: "You're covering up for genocide by rehabilitating Zionism!"
February 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Me: "Zionism once had many non-statist meanings, but now it basically is used synonymously with statist political Zionism."
Jews to my right: "You're giving cover to antisemites by rejecting Zionism!"
People to my left: "You're covering up for genocide by rehabilitating Zionism!"
Jews to my right: "You're giving cover to antisemites by rejecting Zionism!"
People to my left: "You're covering up for genocide by rehabilitating Zionism!"