Zionism is the Jewish national movement of rebirth and renewal in the land of Israel, the historical birthplace of the Jewish people. The yearning to return to Zion, the biblical term for both the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, has been the cornerstone of Jewish religious life since the Jewish exile from the land two thousand years ago, and is embedded in Jewish prayer, ritual, literature and culture. Zionism originated in late 19th century Europe and is a form of nationalist irredentism (seeking to reclaim the rightful lost territories of Israel).…
