Eyes Upon the Land

Chabad Lubavitch on Israel

Authors

  • Norton Mezvinsky International Council for Middle East Studies Author
  • Joshua Kolb International Council for Middle East Studies Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/rsth.v32i1.7

Keywords:

Chabad Lubavitch, Zionism, messianism, Hasidism, Israel-Palestine conflict

Abstract

Originating in eighteenth century Russia, present day Chabad Lubavitch is strongly shaped by the thought and previous leadership of the seventh and last Chabad Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. In keeping with the two preceding Chabad Lubavitch Rebbes, Schneerson remained essentially opposed to major aspects of political Zionism; he distinguished clearly between the land of Israel and the state of Israel. Schneerson maintained, as did his predecessors, that Redemption would occur only with the coming of Moshiach (the Messiah). Given the fact of the state’s existence after 1948, however, Schneerson modified to some extent the previous extreme anti-Zionism of Chabad Lubavitch and put great emphasis upon the security of Jews and of the Holy Land. In 1997, three years after
Shneerson’s death, a lengthy article titled “Eyes Upon the Land” was posted to the Chabad website and was edited by rabbinical affiliate Eliyahu Touger into a book. The following examination of the text Eyes Upon the Land: The Territorial Integrity of Israel: A life Threatening Concern provides insight into an influential sector within the context of which Ibrahim Abu-Rabi spoke and wrote.

References

Vovber Levin, Shalom. 1982. Ignot Kodesh Ha’rashab. Volume 1. New York: Kehot.

———. 1986. Ignot Kodesh Ha’rashab. Volume 2. New York: Kehot Heilman, Samuel and Menachem Friedman. 2010. The Rebbe. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Sheva, Aretz. 2011. Israeli National News. July 20. www.israelnationalnews.com/news/news.aspf/145899

Schneerson, Menachem Mendel. 2001. [1997]. Eyes Upon the Land, edited by Eliyahu Touger. New York: Sichos, http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/eyes-upon-the-land/01.htm

Ginsburgh, Haray. 2013. “Weekly Shiur.” Gal Einai. October 8 (4 Cheshvan, 5774). www.inner.org

Published

2013-12-12

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Mezvinsky, N., & Kolb, J. (2013). Eyes Upon the Land: Chabad Lubavitch on Israel. Religious Studies and Theology, 32(1), 7-21. https://doi.org/10.1558/rsth.v32i1.7