Messianism and Zionist Ideology: Paradoxes of Interpretation and the Myth of the Promised Land
Abstract
This study critically examines the Zionist movement’s reliance on the Messianic doctrine—across both religious and secular currents—as a justification for its nationalist ideology and claim of historical continuity in the idea of return and state‑building in the Land of Israel. It traces how different currents reinterpret Messianic thought to serve ideological agendas, while highlighting the methodological critiques within Jewish studies that seek to dismantle the myths surrounding Messianic faith. The research argues that the doctrine, as reflected in ancient and modern Jewish literature, represents diverse and often contradictory interpretations rather than a fixed religious truth. Its findings show that the supposed convergence between Messianic vision and Zionist ideology is inconsistent with theological tradition and lacks historical grounding. Consequently, the term “Zionism,” as used in official Israeli discourse, is revealed to be heavily ideological and propagandistic, aimed at mobilizing religious sentiment to secure Jewish immigration to Palestine and consolidate support for the Zionist project.
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