Jews and Muslims lived together for centuries. Did Zionism tear them apart?
On the podcast Deja Vu, Rabbi Haim Sofer examines the historical relationship between Jews and Muslims during centuries of cohabitation in places like al-Andalus, Morocco and Iraq, and discusses how Zionism and ambitions for a Jewish state and Third Temple transformed those relationships. The episode focuses on the roots and rationale of Neturei Karta, an Orthodox Jewish movement that opposes Zionism and the establishment of a Jewish state.
Why It Matters
This conversation revisits how national and religious movements reshaped long-standing intercommunal ties and highlights an internal Jewish dissent—Neturei Karta—that challenges the linkage between Judaism and political Zionism. Understanding these perspectives sheds light on historical and contemporary debates about Jewish identity and the politics of statehood.
Key Facts
- Program: Deja Vu
- Guest: Rabbi Haim Sofer, religious scholar
- Topics covered: Jewish-Muslim coexistence in al-Andalus, Morocco, Iraq; Zionism; the Third Temple; Neturei Karta's anti-Zionism
- Producers: Mohamed Hassan and Marcos Bartolomé
- Editor: Alexandra Locke
On a recent episode of Deja Vu, Rabbi Haim Sofer explored how Jewish identity and communal life evolved during long periods of coexistence with Muslim societies in regions such as al-Andalus, Morocco and Iraq. He traced how Jewish communities lived alongside Muslim neighbors through centuries of exile and persecution, framing that shared history as a baseline for later changes. Sofer then turned to the arrival of modern Zionism and the political project of establishing a Jewish state. He discussed how the idea of a state and the revival of plans for a Third Temple shifted relationships between Jews and Muslims, altering social and religious dynamics that had persisted for generations. The episode also examined Neturei Karta, an Orthodox Jewish movement that opposes Zionism. Sofer outlined the group's stance against a Jewish state, situating their position within broader debates over whether Judaism and political nationalism are inseparable. The episode credits list Mohamed Hassan and Marcos Bartolomé as producers, Alexandra Locke as editor, Adam Abou-Gad as engagement producer and Alex Roldan as sound designer. Listeners can connect with the program via @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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Original source: Al Jazeera