ZION, ZIONISM, ZIONIST
We hear these words, but do you know what they mean? Often there is misunderstanding and error. What is the definition of Zion and where did this word come from?
“Zion is a placename in the Tanakh, often used as a synonym for Jerusalem as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole. The name is found in 2 Samuel, one of the books of the Tanakh dated to approximately the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem, Mount Zion, located to the south of Mount Moriah. According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5.
That is what I find online when I look up the word, but in reality Zionism is a nationalist movement that emerged in the late 19th century, advocating for the establishment and support of a Jewish homeland in the historical region of Palestine. It emphasizes the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and aims to create a safe and sovereign nation for Jews. They believe that God gave the land to the Jews and they hold title deed to it. Many would say that Zionism is the move to bring the Jews scattered all over the world back to the land of Israel. This is what I believe. Hundreds of thousands of Jews are returning to their homeland. Israel welcomes them with open arms. Israel’s government offers help to each one as they start a new life in Israel.
