What is the Torah's view on Nationalism?
To understand the Torah’s view, we must first define nationalism — and then explore how it conflicts with our mesorah.
1. What Is Nationalism?
Nationalism is the belief that a people’s identity, value, and destiny are rooted primarily in their nationhood — in shared language, land, culture, and history. It often promotes national self-determination as the highest goal and sees the nation-state as the ideal vessel for a people’s expression.
This concept arose primarily in 18th and 19th century Europe, and while it played a role in liberating oppressed peoples, it also led to bloody wars, imperialism, and eventually totalitarian regimes.
Secular Zionism adopted this Western idea — replacing religion with nationalism as the defining feature of Jewish identity. It sought to transform us from a holy nation into a normal nation.
And that’s the crux of the problem.
2. The Torah’s Definition of a Nation
The Torah does not define a nation by military strength, land ownership, or cultural pride.
Hashem says it clearly:
“והייתם לי סגולה מכל העמים... ואתם תהיו לי ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש” "You shall be a treasure to Me from among all the nations... a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" — Shemos 19:5–6
Our nationhood is not based on soil or slogans — but on Torah. The very idea that there can be Jewish nationalism without Hashem is a spiritual contradiction.
The Ramban writes:
“אין האומה ישראל אומה אלא בתורתה” “The Nation of Israel is only a nation through its Torah.” — Ramban, Vayikra 26:11
This is an open rejection of the secular nationalist idea. A Jewish identity without Torah is no longer a true Jewish nation — only a shell.
3. Nationalism vs. Malchus Shamayim
Nationalism often leads to a worship of the state and its values, even when they are antithetical to Torah. That is why Gedolei Yisrael across the spectrum warned against adopting nationalism as a religious or identity-defining value.
Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt”l, in the name of the Chofetz Chaim, explained that:
“Zionism is a rebellion against the malchus of Hashem. Instead of being His servants, they desire to be free men, to decide for themselves what is moral and what is not.” — Kovetz Maamarim, “Eretz Yisrael”
The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l, in his sefer Vayoel Moshe, explained that secular nationalism seeks to replace the Jewish people's dependence on Hashem with pride in human power and sovereignty.
“They want to be a nation like all the nations — and that itself is the greatest chilul Hashem.” — Vayoel Moshe, Maamar Geulah v’Nechamah
The Chazon Ish likewise wrote:
“When faith in the Ribbono Shel Olam is replaced with belief in national might, the soul of the nation begins to rot from within.” — Chazon Ish, Letters, Vol. 1
4. Nationalism Divorced from Torah = Avodah Zara
This is perhaps the harshest truth:
When the nation becomes the central focus — not Hashem, not Torah, not mitzvos — then the worship of the “Jewish nation” becomes a form of avodah zarah (false worship).
Rav Chaim Brisker zt”l once famously said:
“The Mizrachi (Religious Zionist) say the land is the ‘ikkar’ (main thing) and the Torah is the ‘tofel’ (secondary). We say the Torah is the ‘ikkar’ — and the land is the ‘tofel.’”
Rav Shach zt”l repeated this many times, saying that Jewish nationalism is only holy when it is in full service of Torah. Otherwise, it is just a clone of other nations — only more dangerous because it uses the language of kedushah to promote secular ideas.
5. A Nation Without Torah Is Not a Light to the Nations
Many secular Zionists believed that the Jewish state would serve as a moral beacon for the world. But morality without Torah is not Or LaGoyim — it is confusion.
Yeshayahu HaNavi said:
“כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר ה' מירושלים” “From Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of Hashem from Yerushalayim.” — Yeshayahu 2:3
Not “culture,” not “ethics,” not “democracy” — Torah.
Only then can we fulfill our role as a light to the nations.
6. Loving Eretz Yisrael ≠ Worshiping Nationalism
Charedim love Eretz Yisrael. We daven for it. We long for the Geulah. We build Torah communities throughout the land.
But we do not mistake national pride for emunah. We do not hang flags in place of tefillin. We do not sing anthems instead of saying Tehillim.
Our strength as a nation does not come from tanks or medals. It comes from Torah, kedushah, and humility before Hashem.
In Summary
The Torah does not oppose loving one's people. But it rejects nationalism when it becomes an independent ideology, detached from Hashem, Torah, and mitzvos.
We are not a people because we share a passport or a language.
We are a people because we stood together at Har Sinai and said:
"נעשה ונשמע" “We will do, and we will hear.” — Shemos 24:7
Sources and Footnotes
- Shemos 19:5–6 – Hashem defines Klal Yisrael as a holy nation through Torah.
- Ramban, Vayikra 26:11 – “Israel is only a nation through its Torah.”
- Rav Elchonon Wasserman, Kovetz Maamarim – Zionism as rebellion against Hashem’s rule.
- Vayoel Moshe, Maamar Geulah v’Nechamah – Satmar Rebbe on nationalism and chilul Hashem.
- Chazon Ish, Igros Vol. 1 – National pride replacing faith.
- Rav Chaim Brisker, quoted by Rav Soloveitchik – Torah as the central pillar, not land.
- Rav Shach, Michtavim u’Maamarim – Warning against replacing Torah with national ideology.
- Yeshayahu 2:3 – From Zion shall go forth Torah, not mere culture or ethics.
- Shemos 24:7 – Naaseh v’nishma, the eternal covenant of Klal Yisrael.