The Thinking Muslim Judaism Is Not Zionism | Rabbi Elhanan Beck
11 snips
Oct 31, 2025 Rabbi Elhanan Beck, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi from Palestine, offers a unique critique of Zionism and advocates for Palestinian rights. He discusses the distinction between Judaism and Zionism, arguing that the former is a religious faith while the latter is a secular nationalism. Rabbi Beck highlights how Muslim-majority countries historically protected Jews and criticizes the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Ultimately, he envisions a post-Zionist Palestine where Jews and Palestinians coexist peacefully.
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Seven Generations Of Coexistence
- Rabbi Elhanan Beck recalls seven generations of his family living peacefully with Palestinian neighbours before 1948.
- He describes shared weddings, babysitting and cultural exchange to show historical coexistence.
Muslim Countries Hosted Jewish Life
- Rabbi Beck argues antisemitism is not endemic in Muslim-majority countries and cites Jewish communities in Morocco, Iran, and others living freely.
- He uses this to challenge Zionist claims that Jews needed a state to escape Muslim persecution.
Warm Encounters With Palestinian Leaders
- Beck recounts meeting Palestinian leaders who embraced Jewish rabbis and promised Jewish residents would be welcome in a future Palestine.
- He shares a story of requesting a Palestinian passport and being told it would be an honor to issue one to a Jewish rabbi.
