Anti-Zionism Is Not Anti-Semitism: Orthodox Jews Protest Against Zionist Narrative in New York

On December 20, 2015, the Jewish [Zionist] Federation of Greater Orange County hosted an event claiming that anti-Semitism is growing on university campuses across the United States.

Meanwhile, a group of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews from Upstate New York held a peaceful protest outside the Monroe Theater in Monroe, NY. They sought to clarify a critical distinction: anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism . Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss addressed the crowd, explaining that conflating the two terms is a form of Zionist propaganda designed to silence criticism of Israel’s policies.

The protesters carried banners with powerful messages, including one that read, “The occupation of Palestine is the main cause of the exacerbation of anti-Semitism.” Their demonstration aimed to shed light on the true roots of global tensions while affirming their commitment to justice and peace.

This event serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the nuanced differences between Zionism and Judaism.