
A mother holds up his child as he puts a note into the Western Wall (Photo credit: Eliana Rudee)
For the earth shall be filled With awe for the glory of Hashem As water covers the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 (The Israel Bible™)
Hear the verse in Hebrew
KEE ti-ma-LAY ha-A-retz la-DA-at et k’-VOD a-do-NAI ka-MA-yim y’-kha-SU al YAM
What is Zionism?
Here
Chavakuk describes a great future for the entire world upon the return of the Jewish people to
Eretz Yisrael. One of Israel’s leading statesmen, Yigal Allon (1918-1980), eloquently defined Modern Zionism for world leaders in an address to the United Nations in 1975: “
Zionism is the modern expression of the ancient Jewish heritage. Zionism is the national liberation movement of a people exiled from its historic homeland and
dispersed among the nations of the world. Zionism is the redemption of an ancient nation from a tragic lot and the
redemption of a land neglected for centuries. Zionism is the
revival of an ancient language and culture, in which the vision of a universal peace has been a central theme. Zionism is the embodiment of a unique
pioneering spirit, of the dignity of labor, and of
enduring human values. Zionism is creating a society, however, imperfect it may still be, which tries to implement the
highest ideal of democracy — political, social and cultural – for all the inhabitants of Israel, irrespective of religious belief, race or sex. Zionism is, in sum, the constant and unrelenting effort to realize the national and universal vision of the prophets of Israel.”