Vayechi: Zionism

Jacob is the last of the patriarchs. The patriarchal families are the anchors to the Promised Land, Canaan. Abraham obeyed the Divine instruction to move there. He liberated  the land from the five Babylonian/Persian kings who had invaded and subjugated the land, establishing  the right of conquest. He was crowned by the local priest ( Melchizedek).  He bought the burial plot from Ephron the Hittite, obtaining the rights of a purchaser. Abraham and Sarah were buried in the Promised Land, establishing that place as a pilgrimage destination for his descendants. 

Isaac never left the land, regardless of conditions including famine and the enmity of his neighbors. He was a birthright citizen. 

Jacob risked his life to obtain the blessing that granted him Isaac's legacy claim. Jacob  spent a fortune and risked his life when he confronted Esau to establish his claim to the land. Jacob's sons conquered Shechem with a combination of guile and military might. Jacob  buried his wives in the Land, Rachel in her own shrine and Leah in the family cemetery in Hebron.  

Jacob and his clan went to Egypt with Gd's blessing, because of famine in the region. This week's chapter opens with: 

וַיְחִ֤י יַעֲקֹב֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם שְׁבַ֥ע עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וַיְהִ֤י יְמֵֽי־יַעֲקֹב֙ שְׁנֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָֽה׃ 

Jacob lived seventeen years in the land of Egypt, so that the span of Jacob’s life came to one hundred and forty-seven years.

The first phrase, arguably the main message, is that Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years. The fact that underlies this statement is that Jacob and his clan did not leave Egypt. The famine had ended no more than five years from Jacob's arrival in Egypt, at least 12 years ago. Why didn't Jacob and his clan return to the Promised Land? 

One thought is that they were fulfilling Abraham's prophecy: 

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאַבְרָ֗ם יָדֹ֨עַ תֵּדַ֜ע כִּי־גֵ֣ר ׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם וַעֲבָד֖וּם וְעִנּ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה׃ 

And [God] said to Abram, “Know well that your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years;  (Gen 15;13). 

I do not believe that (normal)  people try to fulfill prophecies. Prophecies are declarations of the Almighty.  If the Almighty wills an event ( and does not have a  change of heart) , the events will occur regardless of  puny human actions. Working to fulfill a prophecy is an empty endeavor. 

Language is imprecise, all words are vague, with shades of meaning differing between  the speaker and the listener.  Words evolve.  We are in a constant game of "telephone." Imagine what "texting" someone meant in the 12th Century.

Zionism is an evolving word. Zionism was (and is?) associated with a prophecy. Early (pre 1903 [Kishinev Pogrom]  immigrants were motivated by the prophecy of return to the Holy Land. But the prophecy fulfillment motivation was distorted by legalisms. Migration to the Holy Land had become obligatory according to some (Nachmanides) although it remained outside of the 613 commandments listed by Maimonides.  Although the religious obligation may be related to the prophecy, the mitzvah  is a clear call to action, the prophecy is not. There is a high level disagreement about the mitzvah status of moving to the Holy Land. 

Zionism is tied to the ultimate  prophecy: Messianism. The attempt to bring the Messiah, taking action to fulfill the prophecy of ultimate salvation, has a  very checkered ( almost entirely negative) past. It has been the source of splinter sects, debauchery, murder, etc. The Messianist believes that she is saving the world. No sacrifice is too great. It is a very dangerous position!

I am a Zionist. I think that Zionism follows in the tradition of patriarch Jacob. The State of Israel was (and is) needed as a refuge  and protector for the Jews of the world. That is not the most beautiful fairy tale, but it is how it played out. 

Jacob and his clan went to Egypt to survive the famine.  They stayed because they were doing well economically, they were supported by the state and/or patron Joseph. They did not want to confront enemies and the possibility of another famine. The prophecy was in the background. They did not volunteer to become slaves because of Abraham's dream. Subjectively, they went about their normal lives with their normal motivations. The dream of the Promised land moved to the background.

The children of Israel traded their "freedom" for the slavery of the nourished. The bondage in Egypt began not with whips, but with the subjugation of dreams  to economic security. They became enslaved to sustenance. The dead need no bread.  They are a memory marked by the location of their remains. 

I plan to spend more time in Israel now that I am no longer tied to my practice. I feel more comfortable there.   I will be near the graves of my parents... and my own burial plot. 

May all the beautiful prophecies be fulfilled. I will not stand in their way. I will try to do what I believe is right. That is complex and fluid; Gd's will will prevail.