Torah, Zionism & Jewish Identity

A deep dive into the complex relationship between Torah values and Zionism. This section explains why Charedim may reject secular nationalism while still loving the land and the people, and how Torah defines true Jewish identity.

What’s the Difference Between the Charedi View of Galus and the Zionist View?

Is exile simply a political condition—something to be reversed by statecraft, armies, or human will? Or is it a spiritual reality, a consequence of our sins and the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, to be ended only by Hashem at the proper time?

Why Don’t Charedim View the State of Israel as the “Reishit Tzmichat Geulateinu”?

For many Jews, especially within the Religious Zionist community, the establishment of a Jewish government in Eretz Yisrael after two thousand years of exile was clearly the opening act of Geulah.

What’s the Charedi View on Ripping Down Public Israeli Flags or Stealing Them Off Cars?

A Jewish youth tearing down an Israeli flag from a lamppost or pulling one off someone’s car. For many Israelis, this feels like a personal attack—not just on a symbol, but on identity. And when it happens in Charedi neighborhoods, people naturally ask: Is this what Charedim believe in?

Why Don’t Charedim Celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut Like Other Jews?

In Charedi neighborhoods, the day is largely observed in quiet. No parades. No flags. No festivities. Not even a mention in most yeshivos or shuls. For many looking in from the outside, it raises the question: Why would religious Jews not celebrate such an important national milestone?

What is the comparison between the founding of the State and the history of the Jewish people during the time of Chanukah?

The comparison between the founding of the State of Israel in 1948 and the events of Chanukah is both striking and sobering—especially through the lens of the Charedi Torah worldview.

What Was the Charedi View of the Founding of the State of Israel?

There may be no event in modern Jewish history that evokes more emotion, more confusion, and more nuance than the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.