Understanding Zionism: The Return to the Jewish Homeland

Session 1: Seeds of Zionism

Presented in partnership with The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning

The story of Zionism is remarkable and without parallel. It is a story of a people exiled from their homeland, a people that despite having suffered from prejudice and oppression for 2,000 years, maintained a strong identity, never losing faith with the dream of an eventual return home.

This course examines how these ancient dreams took on new religious, cultural, national, and political dimensions that actualized into the Zionist Enterprise—culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The story continues with questions around the meaning of Zionism today, its relationship with the Jewish people in the Diaspora, and some of the contemporary challenges it faces—most notably, the intense criticism of Zionism and the State of Israel, particularly in the aftermath of October 7, 2023—inviting a deeper reflection on the values, resilience, and relevance of Zionism in the modern era.

With the current pervasive misrepresentation of Zionism seen today, this course presents a nuanced multi-faceted perspective based on primary sources, firsthand accounts, and official documents.

Join Daniel Silverman to deepen your understanding of how and why the State of Israel came into being, and its significance for you personally and for the Jewish people as a whole.

Cost: $179. For more information or to register, click HERE and click on the “Understanding Zionism” field.

Scholarships are available. For information about scholarships, please contact Romy Golan at 416-781-3514 ext. 239 or rgolan@beth-tzedec.org.

UPCOMING SESSIONS
Session 2: Building a Jewish Homeland
Session 3: The Birth of the State of Israel
Session 4: Defining Zionism Today
Session 5: Zionism and the Diaspora
Session 6: Looking Ahead: The Challenges and Promises of Zionism

Presented in partnership with The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning