LimmudFest New Orleans 2018

How is it that a movement once understood as an aspiration toward morality and beauty is now wholesale condemned as the opposite? Early Zionists sought to transform the condition and the character of the Jewish people through a movement of national self-liberation. It was a movement that sought to achieve freedom, justice, and equality for a historically marginalized people, and through moral and humanitarian means. Zionism succeeded in many major ways, while it has failed to realize its vision in some ways as well. In this interactive session, we will explore the language, values, and aspirations of Zionism from its earlier days. With this understanding of Zionist philosophy, we will uncover a more moral and inclusive framework in which to relate to Israel, advocate for it, and even critique it. The ultimate goal of this program is to better comprehend and articulate the progressive nature of Zionism in a way that is both instructive and inspiring.