Power is not a sin: The Zionist answer to history – opinion

The article reflects on the legacies of Theodor Herzl and Ze'ev Jabotinsky, arguing that their teachings on Jewish self-reliance and power remain critically relevant, especially after October 7. Herzl, who died on July 3, 1904, understood that Jewish survival required political instruments and sovereignty, not just emancipation. Jabotinsky, commemorated around 29 Tamuz, emphasized that "weakness does not become moral because it is Jewish" and that Jewish life cannot depend on the conscience of hostile majorities. The author contends that many in the Jewish world have become too comfortable, believing that security, acceptance, and Holocaust memory would suffice, an illusion shattered by recent events. They argue that while Jews are comfortable with memory, grief, and achievement, "Jewish power still embarrasses too many Jews." The article concludes that Herzl and Jabotinsky provided a doctrine for Jewish adulthood: to build and wield power with discipline, ensuring survival is non-negotiable, rather than relying on goodness, victimhood, or being understood.