The story of Zionism is remarkable and without parallel. It is a story of a people exiled from their homeland, a people that despite having suffered from prejudice and oppression for 2,000 years, maintained a strong identity, never losing faith with the dream of an eventual return home. This course examines how these ancient dreams took on new religious, cultural, national, and political dimensions that actualized into the Zionist Enterprise--culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The story continues with questions around the meaning of Zionism today, its relationship with the Jewish people in the Diaspora, and some of the contemporary challenges it faces – most notably, the intense criticism of Zionism and the State of Israel, particularly in the aftermath of October 7, 2023 – inviting a deeper reflection on the values, resilience, and relevance of Zionism in the modern era.

With the current pervasive misrepresentation of Zionism seen today, this course presents a nuanced multi-faceted perspective based on primary sources, firsthand accounts, and official documents.

Join us to deepen your understanding of how and why the State of Israel came into being, and its significance for you personally and for the Jewish people as a whole.

Table of Contents
Lesson 1 - Seeds of Zionism
Lesson 2 - Building a Jewish Homeland
Lesson 3 - The Birth of the State of Israel
Lesson 4 - Defining Zionism Today
Lesson 5 - Zionism and the Diaspora
Lesson 6 - Looking Ahead: The Challenges and Promises of Zionism

Taught by Sierra Lautman, Senior Director of Jewish Innovation at United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

Register using code ZION50 to take the course cost down to $50 per person (originally $179)

JewishVA.org/Melton