Flexigidity Quotes

“It emphasizes that the People of Israel originated from a specific geographic location – the Land of Israel with Jerusalem, also known as Zion, at its heart. Nearly four thousand years ago, the Hebrews, later known as the Israelites, and then as the Jewish People – emerged in that territory. They preserved uninterrupted loyalty to, association with and presence in this land in spite of multiple forced departures. This story holds that a Jew’s life is compromised by exile (galut) and by the condition of the Diaspora (galutiyut) and that a full Jewish life on personal, communal, national and religious levels can only be led in Zion. Thus, during their nearly two millennia of exile, Jews have always yearned to return to their motherland, live freely in it and realize their self-determination within independent sovereign institutions.”
― Gidi Grinstein, Flexigidity: The Secret of Jewish Adaptability & Challenge and Opportunity Facing Israel

“The story of 'nationhood' (le'om or umah) speaks of the Jewish People as bound by an unbreakable association with its land, Zion. It emphasizes that the People of Israel originated from a specific geographic location – the Land of Israel with Jerusalem, also known as Zion, at its heart. Nearly four thousand years ago, the Hebrews, later known as the Israelites, and then as the Jewish People – emerged in that territory. They preserved uninterrupted loyalty to, association with and presence in this land in spite of multiple forced departures. This story holds that a Jew’s life is compromised by exile (galut) and by the condition of the Diaspora (galutiyut) and that a full Jewish life on personal, communal, national and religious levels can only be led in Zion. Thus, during their nearly two millennia of exile, Jews have always yearned to return to their motherland, live freely in it and realize their self-determination within independent sovereign institutions. This dormant dream was rekindled and realized in the 20th century by the call of Zionism and by the actions of Zionists. Thus Zionism is the modern manifestation of this outlook”
― Gidi Grinstein, Flexigidity: The Secret of Jewish Adaptability & Challenge and Opportunity Facing Israel

“Thus, while European Jewry was decimated, two communities that were demographically marginal one hundred and thirty years ago – those in North America and in Zion – are now the largest in the Jewish world.”
― Gidi Grinstein, Flexigidity: The Secret of Jewish Adaptability & Challenge and Opportunity Facing Israel