To Be Or Not To Be Afraid of Term, ZIONISM

 Nadene Goldfoot                                         

Wonder woman is a Zionist.  The connection between Wonder Woman and Zionism stems entirely from the real-world casting of Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the superhero in the DC Extended Universe. Fictional character Diana of Themyscira predates modern Israel, but Gadot's public identity as an Israeli who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made the franchise a lightning rod for political debate.  She is standing in front of an exploding volcano, the Iranian country trying to wipe our her country.  Yes, I'm with Gadot in having a political debate.  

Being that I'm 92 years old, I am not cringing at the term, ZIONISM.  It's a belief of my era, something that brought me BACK  into the fold of my people. 

Yet I am reading that OTHERS have taken away it's soul  and have been demeaning it, crushing it into soil of their lands, making it verboten to use.  

Let me tell you again, about Zionism.  We'll start with Zionists from history: Max Brod (1884–1968), Zionist from 1912, Rachel Cohen-Kagan (1888–1982), , later Israeli politician Albert Einstein (1879–1955), Eldad (1910–1996) 

What was this movement that they were all hepped up about?

Zionism is a movement that supported making a home for Jewish people in the historic land of Israel. Famous historical figures include Theodor Herzl, who started modern political Zionism, and David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel

Why did they want their own home?  Where were they already living?  They were a scattered people, a small group, found all over the world in little pockets,  many as 2nd class citizens, considered the scapegoat of the world, the wanderers who were recluses, not joining their churches.  They were objects of being picked on always, injured, killed in pogroms, and were the indigenous people from ancient Israel, of Judea, as we were Jews from there.  They were a people who could read and write and do math where others couldn't causing jealousy along with causing education, knowledge, and the aid to kings that needed their skill. They were blamed for the bad weather, whatever, ...enough.

Theodor Herzl: Writer and journalist who organized the first Zionist Congress in 1897.

Chaim Weizmann: Chemist and leader who helped get the 1917 Balfour Declaration and became Israel's first president.

David Ben-Gurion: Main founder and first prime minister of Israel.

Golda Meir: Early political pioneer and the fourth prime minister of Israel.

Louis Brandeis: American Supreme Court Justice and leader of US Zionism.

Henrietta Szold: Founder of Hadassah, the women's Zionist organization. 

Modern Pro-Israel Public Figures

Gal Gadot: Israeli actress who has openly supported Israel.

Jerry Seinfeld: American comedian who has visited and voiced support for Israel.

Gene Simmons: Musician known for vocal public support of Israel.

Mayim Bialik: Actress and author who frequently speaks about her Zionist views.  

The Zionism movement carried on into the 1920's with 

 the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Emir Faisal (later King of Syria and Iraq) signed the Faisal-Weizmann Agreement on January 3, 1919. The pact promoted Arab-Jewish cooperation for a future Arab state and a Jewish national home in Palestine, though it ultimately collapsed amid shifting colonial mandates.  

You could say:  Conflicting Visions: Faisal pursued a unified, independent Greater Syria, while Weizmann championed Jewish settlement aspirations in Palestine.

The Mandate Outcome: The conference deferred Middle East decisions, leading to the San Remo resolution where France took control of Syria and Britain took Palestine.

Zionism had been limited until the 19th century by Jews, but then, as times changed, so did their ideology.  Its form was religious and expressed most commonly in the traditional liturgy, pseudo-messianic movements, and in limited Aliyah (moving back to Israel).  Later on, late 19th Jews from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, used Hibbat Zion movements, producing literature about it.  They held a big conference about it in 1897.  They realized and stated in writing that Jews are still a people, like Italians are a people, too many that our religion of Judaism would not continue if we all assimilated, which we refused to do;  the days of Hellenism long gone, and wished to retain their identity as a national community.  

It is normal to want to be from your own country.  We were forced out by the Romans and kept from returning on threat of our lives.  We tried assimilation;  it didn't work.  

Resource:

https://www.jns.org/news/u-s-news/scoop-avoid-saying-zionism-head-of-jewish-federations-comms-project-says-in-presentation-to-young-leaders

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Texas Woman Running For Congress States Anti-Semitic and Dangerous Decisions To Harm Zionists

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

The most prominent recent incident in Texas involving a woman attacking Zionism and Zionists is the controversy surrounding Maureen Galindo, a Democratic candidate running for Congress in Texas' 35th Congressional District.  Recently in May 2026, Galindo posted on her campaign's social media stating that she would turn the Karnes ICE detention center into a prison for "American Zionists". She also made derogatory remarks linking them to pedophiles and proposed establishing a "castration center, "obviously to put Zionists away.  

Her rhetoric sparked widespread condemnation from both sides of the aisle. Critics, including Democratic leadership and Jewish organizations, condemned the statements as antisemitic and dangerous.  Leading Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, explicitly condemned the remarks. Top Texas Democrats stated they would not campaign with or support her, and other members of Congress threatened to file a motion to expel her from the House if she won.  

When she ran for city council District 1 last year:  I’m Maureen, an advocate for housing justice and participatory democracy. I’ve lived in San Antonio for 10 years — eight years currently and previously when I attended UTSA, graduating in 2010. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in liberation-based psychology, helping individuals and communities heal from systemic harm. I also have a private practice in sex therapy supporting people in developing self-agency over their bodies and heal from trauma. My lived experience getting displaced as a single mom at Soapworks Apartments downtown jump started my housing justice work, showing me firsthand how unstable housing devastates the health of communities. Since then, I’ve fought for policies that protect residents from displacement, hold City Hall and developers accountable, and ensure community voices shape our city’s future.                           

 She wasn't on her "soapbox" then about Zionism, but she's really hateful now.  There's nothing in her write-ups showing anything about Zionism.  Does she know what it is?  Zionism is simply a movement to secure the Jewish return to the Land of Israel, a term coined in 1893 to express the aspirations as  ancient as the Babylonian Exile.  The Babylonian Captivity (or Babylonian Exile) occurred between 597 BCE and 538 BCE. During this period, the Neo-Babylonian Empire forced thousands of Judeans from the Kingdom of Judah into exile in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq).

On May 24, 1991, EL AL set an all-time record by carrying 1,087 passengers on a single Boeing 747 aircraft. This feat was part of Operation Solomon, an extraordinary mission in which Israel airlifted more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to safety. Using 35 aircraft, including specially-modified EL AL planes, this daring rescue fulfilled a generations-long dream of returning to the Jewish homeland for many. This is the period of the Big Return. Many, those from all over the world, even the USA, have been moving back to Israel; mostly escaping attacks for being Jews. Between Passover 2025 and 2026, nearly 19,400 people successfully completed Aliyah to Israel.

Now get this:  Candidate Stance: "Galindo denied that her statements were antisemitic, asserting she is "against Zionist Jews" but not Jewish people in general."  There is more anti-Semitism in the USA today than there had been back in the 1930s from such thinking, and then it was not against Zionism but Jews per se.  Who is she appealing to in Texas?  Are there others there who are just as opinionated towards us as that and would relish what she promises to do ?  

"Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) said in a shared statement on Wednesday that they would motion to expel her from Congress if she wins the election in Texas's 35th Congressional District." I hope that it will find the motion will not be necessary, but if needed, Congress will heed these Senators.  

Resource:

https://www.google.com/search?q=woman+in+Texas+attacking+Zionism&sca_esv=85eb12dc1a1c780b&sxsrf=ANbL-n6X4OZgRiYMX6bLOWnGMuX6KTLaFQ%3A1779755968604&source=hp&ei=wOsUatzlIamp0PEPs43mqQ0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAah

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1290400179881647

https://sanantonioreport.org/profile/maureen-galindo-2025-san-antonio-city-council-district-1-candidate/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity

https://www.facebook.com/ELALIsraelAirlinesUSA/posts/%EF%B8%8F-on-may-24-1991-el-al-set-an-all-time-record-by-carrying-1087-passengers-on-a-s/1174108621428202/

The New Standard Jewish Enyclopedia

https://www.icej.org/blog/against-the-tide-western-jews-return-to-israel-in-record-numbers/

https://www.icej.org/blog/what-does-the-bible-have-to-say-about-the-return-of-the-jews-to-their-homeland/

Supporter Of Israel Like Elizabeth Taylor

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             
                       

Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was 2 years older than myself (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) died at 79,  was a British and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s.

Where are supporters of Israel like Elizabeth Taylor was?  Taylor was raised as a Christian Scientist and converted to Judaism (Reform Branch) in 1959. Although two of her husbands – Mike Todd and Eddie Fisher – were Jewish, Taylor stated that she did not convert because of them, and had wanted to do so "for a long time", and that there was "comfort and dignity and hope for me in this ancient religion that [has] survived for four thousand years.  I feel as if I have been a Jew all my life." Walker believed that Taylor was influenced in her decision by her godfather, Victor Cazalet, and her mother, who were active supporters of Zionism during her childhood.

Following her conversion, Taylor became an active supporter of Jewish and Zionist causes. In 1959, she purchased $100,000 worth of Israeli bonds, which led to her films being banned by Arab countries throughout the Middle East and Africa. She was also barred from entering Egypt to film Cleopatra in 1962, but the ban was lifted two years later after the Egyptian officials deemed that the film brought positive publicity for the country. In addition to purchasing bonds, Taylor helped to raise money for organizations such as the Jewish National Fund, and sat on the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

Taylor also advocated for the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel, cancelled a visit to the USSR because of its condemnation of Israel due to the Six-Day War, and signed a letter protesting the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 of 1975. In 1976, she offered herself as a replacement hostage after more than 100 Israeli civilians were taken hostage in the Entebbe skyjacking. She had a small role in the television film made about the incident, Victory at Entebbe (1976), and narrated Genocide (1981), an Academy Award-winning documentary about the Holocaust.

Taylor's health increasingly declined during the last two decades of her life and she rarely attended public events after 1996. Taylor had serious bouts of pneumonia in 1990 and 2000, two hip replacement surgeries in the mid-1990s, a surgery for a benign brain tumor in 1997, and successful treatment for skin cancer in 2002. She used a wheelchair due to her back problems and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004. She died of the illness aged 79 on March 23, 2011, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, six weeks after being hospitalized. Her funeral took place the following day at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. The service was a private Jewish ceremony presided by Rabbi Jerome Cutler. At Taylor's request, the ceremony began 15 minutes behind schedule, as, according to her representative, "She even wanted to be late for her own funeral." She was entombed in the cemetery's Great Mausoleum.

Richard Burton as Mark Antony with Taylor as Cleopatra in Cleopatra (1963)  During her prime in the 1950s and 1960s, Elizabeth Taylor was widely regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world, often cited as a "miracle of construction" due to her rare violet eyes, thick lashes, and high-contrast features. She was frequently voted the most beautiful woman in lists and polls.

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor

Popular Anti Semite With Big Following, of Young Democrats, Hasan Piker

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

34 Year old Hasan Piker, a prominent Turkish-American Twitch streamer with a large following, has drawn significant controversy and criticism for his commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including statements criticizing Zionism and comparing the Israeli state to Hamas. 

He was born in 1991 in New Jersey, and grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, and is 6'4:.  Hasan Doğan Piker is known online by the name HasanAbi,  As of 2026, Piker's Twitch channel ranks among the platform's most-subscribed.

A Muslim, His father, Mehmet Behçet Piker, is a political scientist and economist who served on the Board of Directors (and as Vice President) of Sabancı Holding, and who is a founding member of the conservative Future Party in Turkey. Turkey's president, Erdogen, is not a friend of Israel.  Piker's uncle, Cenk Uygur, is a political commentator and co-founder of The Young Turks, a left-leaning news network.  

A Twitch channel is a personalized, live-streaming webpage on the Amazon-owned Twitch platform where a creator broadcasts live video content, such as gaming, art, or conversation. It serves as a home hub for a user to stream video, host a live chat, and build a community.

Statements Regarding Hamas and Israel

• "A Thousand Times Better" Claim: Piker has been quoted as stating, "Hamas is a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state" of Israel.
• October 7th Commentary: Piker has faced intense criticism for comments made following the October 7, 2023, attacks, such as "It doesn't matter if rape happened on October 7th. It doesn't change the dynamic for me," and for framing the attack within the context of1srael's actions.
• Blaming Israel for Attacks: During the 2026 Web Summit Qatar, Piker argued that Israel played a "significant role" in how the October 7th attacks occurred.
• Context of Criticism: Piker frequently describes Israel as a "fascist settler colonial apartheid state" and argues that Israel cannot operate without U.S. backing. 

Attacks on Zionism and Backlash

• Anti-Zionism vs. Antisemitism: Piker has stated he is "anti-Israel" and an "avowed anti-Zionist," arguing that he is not antisemitic, ( that's like a Nazi against Jews but saying he really likes them) despite criticism from figures like Rep. Ritchie Torres and the Anti-Defamation League, who have labeled him an "apologist" for 10/7 and 9/11. He takes advantage of knowing that most Americans do not know the meaning of Zionism (the right of Jews to return to the Land of Israel, a term coined in 1893 by Nathan Birnbaum to express aspiration as ancient as the Babylonian Exile of Jews from their homeland of Judah.  It was picked up later encouraging the migration of Jews to Palestine by people like Herzl.  The 1st Zionist Congress was in 1897 took place due to all the pogroms and hatred Jews were experiencing even then.  
•  It was stated that Jews had the political aspirations as for a national home in Palestine guaranteed by public law  called the BASLE PROGRAM-- the first manifesto of the Zionist movement, drafted between 27 and 30 August 1897 and adopted unanimously at the First Zionist Congress).   Zionism then proceeds from the assumption that the Jews are still a people or nation, many of whom cannot or will not assimilate themselves to other peoples and wish to retain their identity as a national community.  
• Comparison to Nazis: Piker has been accused of comparing liberal Zionists to "liberal Nazis".
  
  
  
• Political Rifts: His commentary has caused divisions among Democrats, with some, such as Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, appearing with him, while others criticize his involvement due to his rhetoric.  Sayed declines to disavow Piker's past comments.  

Piker has maintained that his critics are acting in bad faith and that he is highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and "speaking truth to power".  (I say that he doesn't know his history which is truth and HIstoric facts should have more power than what consists of his intelligence.  )

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasan_Piker