Activist's Journey From Leftist Politics to Religious Zionism Detailed
Shulamit Ben-Chur, a fourth-generation Israeli and social activist from Tel Aviv, shared her life story in an interview with Arutz 7, detailing a spiritual and political journey that led her from secular leftist activism to embracing the teachings of "Torat Eretz Yisrael" (the Torah of the Land of Israel).
Born to a Palmach fighter mother and a Holocaust survivor father who fought with the Jewish Brigade, Ben-Chur's early life was marked by a love for Israel instilled by her mother and caution towards non-Jews from her father's experiences. Despite this, she felt a lack of spiritual depth in her upbringing. The family moved to the United States when she was five and a half, a move she described as a significant cultural shock. There, she experienced antisemitism firsthand, which fueled her desire to return to Israel.
Upon returning to Israel, Ben-Chur became involved in leftist politics, even demonstrating with the Meretz party. However, her worldview began to shift through her studies of Jewish history and encounters with researchers like Uri Milstein. She also viewed the Oslo Accords as a turning point, feeling they would lead to disaster while others celebrated. Her experiences in Tel Aviv's cultural scene left her feeling a profound emptiness, prompting a deeper search for meaning.
This search led her through various spiritual and philosophical studies, including Hasidism and the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh for nearly two decades. She eventually found her spiritual home in the connection between the Torah, the people of Israel, and the Land of Israel, emphasizing that true adherence involves seeking truth, setting aside ego, and understanding one's connection to the collective and the land. She now actively organizes public prayers and Torah classes for children in Tel Aviv, integrating the story of Israel's establishment into her teachings.
Ben-Chur concluded the interview with a message of hope, stating that Israelis are in a redemptive process and should not despair. She stressed the importance of gratitude for the state, its army, and police, and urged the nation to stand proudly with its identity. She believes that all divine actions stem from love.
