...truth
compels us to state unequivocally that most certainly Zionism is not
at all identical with Judaism that in fact it is diametrically
opposed to it. Zionism is a political philosophy which considers the
divine nation of the Torah a nation like all others, albeit with
certain religious traditions which you are free to accept or reject
as an individual, and which may or may not become part of the law of
the Jewish land, subject to a majority vote of a democratic
parliament. Zionism has transformed the holy land, the holy tongue,
the holy nation into secular entities, according atheists and
anti-religionist Jews at best equal status with firm believers.
Zionism has created a sovereign state which is governed like all
other states by its own man-made laws and not by the G-d given laws
of the Torah. All these are dry facts which cannot be disputed. The
term “Zionism” is derived from the name Zion (ציון)
which is one of the most sacred words in our authentic Jewish
dictionary:
ציון
משכן כבודך
Zion
is the dwelling place of G-d's glory. רחם
על ציון כי היא בית חיינו Zion
is the house of our life – Zion is the citadel of G-d, promised us
by the Creator, for which we long in our daily prayers and which has
never ceased to belong to us. Zion is the Sanctuary of the Torah, the
holy city which surrounds it, the holy land of which it is is and
forever – the abode of the Shechina on earth, from which the word
of G-d shall come forth and over which a new light will shine –
the Zion of David and Shlomoh, the Zion of our Prophets and Sages and
singers and mourners and lovers – all this is very opposite of
Zionism. No! A thousand times no! We love Zion and
therefore we are non-Zionists. (R' Shimon Schwab, 1908-1993)
R' Shimon Schwab, Selected Writings (CIS: Lakewood, NJ, 1998), pp. 147-8.