non-Zionist Jewish congregations in the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Are there any synagogues or Jewish faith communities in the DC area that are not Zionist? Obviously there are Jewish activist and political groups that are not but are there any religious institutions that do not support Israel? We can no longer stomach our synagogue's "stand with Israel" stance and would like to maintain a Jewish communal religious life without the Israel piece. I am not looking for a political debate here, just asking for alternatives if there are any.

[Anonymous]

You're going to have to be more specific. I don't know of any congregations that don't support the state of Israel and the Israeli people. But many don't support the current government of Israel, nor all of their policies - just as many Jewish Israelis don't. And of course there are a wide variety of opinions within any congregation - ours certainly doesn't have an official policy on any of this.

[Anonymous]

The two Jewish Humanist shuls are much more nuanced about the conflict — Machar and Beth Chai.

[Anonymous]

If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution. You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

Ugh. Go away. Not everyone knows everything, and it's awkward to ask political questions. This is what DCUM is for. To ask the awkward questions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution.f You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

You do realize that the two-state solution only works if the “second state” doesn’t have as its public and professed mission “destroy first state” right? I mean, Hamas is not shy about this goal. The Palestinian people in Gaza ELECTED members of Hamas to serve as their official leadership. So how does one suggest that a two-state solution happen when one of the states wants to destroy the other—as its primary goal.???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution. You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

If you support a two state solution, like I do, I think that makes you a Zionist. I think anti-Zionists believe Israel should not exist at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution.f You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

You do realize that the two-state solution only works if the “second state” doesn’t have as its public and professed mission “destroy first state” right? I mean, Hamas is not shy about this goal. The Palestinian people in Gaza ELECTED members of Hamas to serve as their official leadership. So how does one suggest that a two-state solution happen when one of the states wants to destroy the other—as its primary goal.???

I don't know how to put a picture in the post:

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fuxiuo11qflvb1.jpg

[Anonymous]

In addition to the humanist congregations a pp posted, the New Synagogue Project might be a good fit. https://live-newsynagogueproject.pantheonsite.io/

[Anonymous]

You’re never going to find a “non-Zionist” Jewish congregation where there will be no expressions of support for Israel as a nation and no connection to Israeli culture. Not unless you find that weird Hassidic sect that is anti-Zionist. But this is DC and there is a wide variety of political opinion even among Jews. So wherever you are there will be plenty of people who are anti-war, pro 2-state solution.

If you are one of those (few but existing in DC) Jews who actually strongly believes that Israel has no right to self-defense, all US aid should be cut off, and finds any reference to Israel as a nation to just be cover for Israel’s current politics (which you find unacceptable) then you probably have a political ideology that is not really compatible with being part of an organized Jewish religious institution right now. My guess is, however, that you could find a group of like-minded people to get together with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re never going to find a “non-Zionist” Jewish congregation where there will be no expressions of support for Israel as a nation and no connection to Israeli culture. Not unless you find that weird Hassidic sect that is anti-Zionist. But this is DC and there is a wide variety of political opinion even among Jews. So wherever you are there will be plenty of people who are anti-war, pro 2-state solution.

If you are one of those (few but existing in DC) Jews who actually strongly believes that Israel has no right to self-defense, all US aid should be cut off, and finds any reference to Israel as a nation to just be cover for Israel’s current politics (which you find unacceptable) then you probably have a political ideology that is not really compatible with being part of an organized Jewish religious institution right now. My guess is, however, that you could find a group of like-minded people to get together with.

(sorry to clarify - if your political beliefs are such that you cannot tolerate any support for Israel at all in your congregation, then you should probably self-organize a community. but it’s perfectly possible to have minority political beliefs and stay in the congregation. pro-choice Catholics do it all the time. just kind of plug your ears when they start droning about abortion …)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution.f You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

You do realize that the two-state solution only works if the “second state” doesn’t have as its public and professed mission “destroy first state” right? I mean, Hamas is not shy about this goal. The Palestinian people in Gaza ELECTED members of Hamas to serve as their official leadership. So how does one suggest that a two-state solution happen when one of the states wants to destroy the other—as its primary goal.???

This isn’t a political discussion, and your post shows you are ignorant on the actual root cause of the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were Jewish you would know that this question actually doesn't make any sense (as pp's post) and you would already know where to look to answer this question. There would be people in your life or who you associate with that would give you leads. Your question only makes sense if you became Jewish today or Jewish only for the purposes of making this post. You seem to not have a single connection in the community.

I just posted about the Jewish Humanist shuls. I don’t support the current policies in Israel. I also am a strong supporter of a two state solution.f You can absolutely be Jewish and not a Zionist.

You do realize that the two-state solution only works if the “second state” doesn’t have as its public and professed mission “destroy first state” right? I mean, Hamas is not shy about this goal. The Palestinian people in Gaza ELECTED members of Hamas to serve as their official leadership. So how does one suggest that a two-state solution happen when one of the states wants to destroy the other—as its primary goal.???

I don't know how to put a picture in the post:

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fuxiuo11qflvb1.jpg

No doubt this is the reaction part of the problem. The original one, though, started because the British gave the territory to the United Nations, which forcibly removed property from Arabs to give to Jews to create a new country.

[Anonymous]

Anti Zionist means you don’t believe that Israel should exist at all. Not gonna be easy to find a congregation that actually believes and supports that idea.

There are many American Jews (the majority I would wager) who support the right of the nation of Israel to exist but vehemently oppose the actions of the Netanyahu government.

There is plenty of nuance and complexity to be had. Look for reform, reconstructionist, or humanist congregations.