Zionism and Judaism. A New Theory

Why should anyone be a Zionist, a supporter of a Jewish state in the land of Israel? Why should there be a Jewish state in the land of Israel? This book seeks to provide a philosophical answer to these questions. Although a Zionist need not be Jewish, nonetheless this book argues that Zionism is only a coherent political stance when it is intelligently rooted in Judaism, especially in the classical Jewish doctrine of God's election of the people of Israel and the commandment to them to settle the land of Israel. The religious Zionism advocated here is contrasted with secular versions of Zionism that take Zionism to be a replacement of Judaism. It is also contrasted with versions of religious Zionism that ascribe messianic significance to the State of Israel, or which see the main task of religious Zionism to be the establishment of an Israeli theocracy.
Review
"Anyone who is serious about the idea that God gave Israel the Torah and the land of Israel must read this book by today's doyen of Jewish philosophical theology. Those who study it will learn immensely from David Novak's lifetime of learning, and those who differ with his conclusions, or his premises, will be challenged to see if they can do better in addressing one of the great questions facing Judaism today: how the modern state of Israel can thrive as a Jewish, democratic state at peace with its neighbors, its living heritage and itself."
Lenn E. Goodman, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee