Zionism: From Herzl to Today’s Headlines, with Shaina Wasserman

At one point, discussions around definitions of Zionism meant deep ideological debates about the merits of Rav Kook’s religious Zionism versus A.D. Gordon’s Labor Zionism. In the past ten years, the conversation has changed dramatically and now centers on “right wing Zionists” versus “left wing Zionists” versus “anti-Zionists” and “non-Zionists.” The word “Zionism” may be seen as a dirty word by some on the left and may be a requirement by some on the right. When did our relationship to Israel get so complicated? 

This 5-session online course will examine the changing meaning of “Zionism” over time, by starting with the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, in order to better understand how the word challenges us today. Using source materials, we will share our personal narratives and connections to Israel and Zionism as we practice having honest and brave conversations with each other.  

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About the Instructor: Shaina Wasserman is passionate about Israel education and contributing to the continuity of the Jewish community. Shaina currently serves as the Vice President of Communal Relations at J Street where, among other projects, she leads webinars and educational programs for Jewish communal leaders including clergy. Before moving to Boston, Shaina worked at The Jewish Education Project in New York, Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, CA and The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. She holds Masters Degrees in Jewish Nonprofit Management and Jewish Education from HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. She received her BAs in History and in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University.