SCHNEERSOHN, Rabbi Sholom Dovber: " [Zionists] regard themselves as completely liberated from the Torah and the commandments for now, they think, nationalism has replaced religion"

Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (1866-1920) (major Russian Orthodox Jewish rabbi, leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch branch of Hasidic Judaism and strong opponent of Zionism): ”[the Zionists] make the impression… that the whole purpose of the Torah … is merely to strengthen collective feeling. This theory can easily be adopted by young people who regard themselves as instruments prepared for the fulfilment of the Zionist ideal. They naturally regard themselves as completely liberated from the Torah and the commandments for now, they think, nationalism has replaced religion, and is the best means for the preservation of society” (Dan Cohn-Sherbok and Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok, “Judaism: A Beginner’s Guide”, Oneworld, 2010).