Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Religion News
Moving Zionism Forward: A Conversation with the President of the American Zionist Movement

Moving Zionism Forward: A Conversation with the President of the American Zionist Movement

Last updated on: June 16, 2017 at 11:30 am by Guest Contributor

Moving Zionism Forward: A Conversation with the President of the American Zionist Movement 2017-06-16T11:30:58-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Richard D. Heideman

In a New York City bookstore in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, far-left, self-described “radicals” gather to discuss “Freedom-Fighting Under State Repression.” Contempt for everything from Israel and America to capitalism and law enforcement dominate the conversation. But the most caustic rhetoric is reserved for redefining Zionism.

The movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland is a racist and genocidal enterprise according to these the speakers who fancy themselves part of a unifying force that brings “social and economic justice” groups together. What took place on this spring evening is a form of anti-Semitism that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned about decades ago, declaring, “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking anti-Semitism!”

This past week, Jews around the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Those who understand that human rights are at the core of Zionism also understand that Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War safeguarded access to holy sites not only for Jews but for people of all faiths.

But as we have seen in Brooklyn, on college campuses, at the United Nations and in progressive political circles, the reunification of Jerusalem is but another chapter in the campaign to redefine Zionism and delegitimize the Jewish state.

One of the more prominent figures opposing the history revisionists is Richard D. Heideman, a Washington D.C. attorney and President of the American Zionist Movement.

An affiliate of the World Zionist Organization, AZM serves as an umbrella organization on behalf of 25 Zionist organizations in the United States.

With Zionism and its history being vilified by the Left as well the traditionally anti-Semitic “white supremacy” crowd, Heideman, who began his tenure just this year, finds himself facing challenges that will have historic significance.

Right before the Jerusalem celebration began, Heidemen spoke to the Haym Salomon Center about his new position and its challenges.

“My first goal,” said Heideman, “is to restore the good name of Israel, the Jewish people and Zionism. Because in the eyes of many we have become sullied and that is unfair, undeserved, and must be confronted. I am determined to change the dialogue and issue a strong, straightforward response to the assaults, the insults, and the unfair use of words such as racist, criminal and apartheid to describe us.”

Advocating a three-pronged approach that begins with education, Heideman is extremely concerned about young people who he believes don’t have a grasp of the history of Zionism and are unable to respond to Israel’s detractors.

Asked about how to reach young people, Heideman’s answer is to go where the millennials and current generation can be found.

“They are on social media and reachable. They are on the college campuses and reachable. They are in high school and reachable. They are young professionals who are searching for their own identity and establishing their professional future. They are all identifiable and reachable, and we as a community have done a very poor job of providing a platform for those young people to feel comfortable and confident in their standing and future relationship as active members of the world Jewish community.”

Expressing concern about divisiveness within the Jewish community, the second prong of Heideman’s approach is unity.

Heideman explained that the various Jewish organizations have divergent perspectives from across the political spectrum and have allowed these disagreements to tear the community apart. He stressed the importance of abiding by civil discourse guidelines adopted by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

“I don’t believe we’ve made enough effort to encourage those on the left and those on the right to coalesce around our commonality. It’s too easy for them to concentrate on our differences rather than our unique similarities that arise out of our faith, our principles, our teachings, and our obligation to be dignified and respectful of each other.”

Heideman’s third prong is geared toward impact. He sees the need for the Zionist movement to engage in global advocacy around key issues designed to advance the first two prongs, with the ultimate goal of reminding the world of the rich contribution that the Jewish people, Israel and Zionism have made to civilized society.

While there is no shortage of pro-Israel organizations that promote Israel’s democracy and equality for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ community, Heideman sees the need to take and expand the approach implemented by Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America.

“I have three grandchildren born in Hadassah hospitals. On each occasion of visiting at the hospital, the roommates of my daughters were of various religions, various dress, their families were of various races, religions, and national origins. When you walk the halls of Hadassah hospitals you see as many Arabs and Muslims, as many Christians, as you will see from across the cultural divide within Judaism. It is that demonstration of respect for humankind that is a message that young people will identify with.”

Heideman sees an important role for Christian Zionists to play, especially when it comes to impact and changing the image of Jews, Israel, and Zionism on the global stage.

I welcome their support, I appreciate their support and see them as our partners in changing the dialogue and improving the situation and deterring the continued assault under which we have suffered.

Paul Miller is president and executive director of the news and public policy group Haym Salomon Center. Follow him on twitter @pauliespoint.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 15, 2017

It's Time to Stand Up and Be the Church in the Refugee Crisis

Next Post

August 16, 2017 The Invisible Classroom: Seeing Religion’s Importance to 21st Century Humanities Pedagogy

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Story of God Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2022 August 2022 January 2022 December 2021 August 2021 July 2021 February 2021 January 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John the Baptist Peter Nicodemus James