What IS Zionism?

In this Unpacked video, suitable for students in grades 6-12, students gain a comprehensive understanding of Zionism – its meaning, central ideas, and historical development over centuries.

The nearly 20-minute video explores the connection between Judaism and Zionism, defined as the belief in the Jewish people’s right to self-governance in their ancestral homeland. It traces the rise of modern political Zionism in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, examining how escalating antisemitism shaped the movement and the sense of urgency felt by leaders such as Theodore Herzl.

Students also investigate the six major streams of Zionism that emerged from differing visions of Jewish self-determination and the nature of a Jewish homeland. By comparing these approaches, they will consider how ideological disagreements gave way to compromise, particularly in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the need for survival.

In its examination of present-day Zionism, the video helps students contextualize contemporary antisemitic and anti-Zionist events and reflect on the ongoing question of whether and why Zionism remains relevant today.