Our congregation bears the name of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise (1874–1949), a remarkable leader who was an inspiration to our founding rabbi, Isaiah Zeldin. One of the reasons Rabbi Zeldin so deeply esteemed Rabbi Wise was his fierce and unwavering devotion to the Zionist movement and the creation of the State of Israel.
This was far from obvious—or a “given”—at the time. In the early 20th century, most American Jews—especially within the Reform movement—were not supporters of Zionism. They sought to become fully American, to assimilate into the fabric of their new country, and viewed the idea of Jewish nationhood as contrary to that goal.
Left to right, American Zionist Leaders, 1922: Nathan Straus (co-owner of Macy’s), U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, and Rabbi Stephen S. Wise
Rabbi Wise, however, saw things differently. He believed that embracing America and supporting a Jewish homeland were not mutually exclusive but rather complementary—that one could be both a proud American and a devoted Zionist. In 1897, he helped found the New York Federation of Zionist Societies, which later became the Federation of American Zionists, the forerunner of today’s Zionist Organization of America. At the Second Zionist Congress in Basel in 1898, he served as secretary, working closely with Theodor Herzl himself.
Wise later recalled his final conversation with Herzl:
“My unwavering faith that the Jewish State would be established was the legacy I had received forty years earlier from Herzl… Herzl placed his arm around me and said, ‘I shall not live to see the Jewish State. But you, Wise, are a young man. You will live to see the Jewish State.’ I thank God that it was given to me to live till that glorious day of May 14, 1948, when… the prophecy of Theodor Herzl was at last fulfilled.1”
Rabbi Zeldin was deeply inspired by Rabbi Wise’s Zionism and honored his teacher by naming our congregation for him when it was founded in 1964.
I’ve been thinking a lot about these two extraordinary leaders as I prepare to travel to Israel to attend the 39th World Zionist Congress—the very institution Herzl created to engage Jews around the world in shaping the future of our people. That vision of mutual responsibility and global partnership continues to this day.
Just this week, I attended two gatherings that embody that spirit: a fundraiser for the Israel ParaSport Center and a lunch meeting about the Youth Renewal Fund, which supports innovative education throughout Israel’s most underserved communities. These efforts are modern expressions of Zionism—building a strong, just, and compassionate society in the Jewish homeland.
Each of us can take part in this ongoing work. Connect with an Israeli nonprofit. Deepen your understanding through one of our classes at Wise or explore resources online. Attend my “Talking Together About Israel” classes. Join ARZA to strengthen our Reform Movement’s connection to Israel. And if you’re able, join me this spring for our trip to Poland and Israel, where we’ll trace the steps of the early Zionists who turned Herzl’s dream into reality.
May we be inspired—like Rabbis Wise and Zeldin—to engage deeply with Israel, with our people, and with the timeless hope for peace and renewal in our land.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yoshi
1 Challenging Years: The Autobiography of Stephen Wise.