Do orthodox Jews reject zionism

Answer 1

This is a complicated issue, as most Orthodox Jews have mixed feelings toward Zionism. Before the founding of Israel almost all of Orthodox Judaism rejected Zionism. As a movement in Europe, it was largely anti-religious. After the founding of Israel many Orthodox groups half-heartedly accepted Zionism as a necessary evil, seeing them as the only force able to prevent a second Holocaust at the hands of the Arabs. However, many Orthodox Jews openly denounce Zionism and even those that don't publicly tend to privately. Nowadays, the majority of Orthodox Jews participate in Israeli politics, voting and running for office. They do so more out of necessity than out of belief in the system.

It is important to note that while the overwhelming majority of Orthodox Jews feel a kinship to their Jewish brethren in Israel, they do not believe it to be a "Jewish State" since it was not formed by the Messiah nor does it espouse Religious Jewish Law.

Answer 2

Some reject it completely, and forbid their community from participating in elections. Most, however, view the government of Israel in practical terms, as do most Israeli Arabs.

Some reasons that Orthodox Jews haven't embraced Zionism:
1) Many Jewish immigrants were encouraged or pressured (especially in the 1950s) to leave their Orthodoxy.2) The official, gov't sponsored majority school system (mamlakhti) is secular.

3) The government has sponsored such forbidden things as digging up graves, Sabbath-violations, and tens of other examples.

4) Unlike in the U.S.A., when a politician here (except in the minority religious parties) invokes mention of God, it creates a political brouhaha, as if a contemptible thing has been committed.

5) The religious community is discriminated against in housing, allocations, school funding, etc.

These are just a few examples.