To mark Israel's Independence Day on Thursday, The Times of Israel's weekly podcast, Times Will Tell, is concentrating on the troubling new trend of anti-Zionism among young Diaspora Jews and we're speaking with author and educator Ben. M. Freeman, whose new book, “Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People” explores how progressive society has turned Zionism into a form of racism.

But all is not lost: In his new book, Freeman also offers ways in which Jews can remain liberally minded and reclaim Israel and their Jewish pride for themselves.

"I believe very fundamentally that it is not possible to be anti-Zionist and to be proudly Jewish. I think that it is just not possible because I see anti-Zionism as a form of anti-Semitism, a form of anti-Jewish racism," Freeman tells The Times of Israel.

Glasgow-born Freeman, 34, is an educator based in Hong Kong who was inspired to found a "Jewish Pride movement" by his personal experiences in coming out of the closet and claiming for himself LGBTQ+ pride.

In addition to personal anecdotes and self-help encouragement, the book is an informative dive into the history of anti-Semitism. Spoiler, it began well before the advent of Christianity.

He discusses how Jews in many eras, including our own, have internalized this pervasive systemic anti-Semitism, to the detriment of themselves and the Jewish people as a whole as whole communities assimilate based on the myths and biases of anti-Jewish racism.

Likewise, we speak about the racial labeling of Jews and the concept of "light-skinned Jews who pass as White" versus "White Jews." It's not as clear-cut as it sounds. Finally, he gives encouragement for seeding the Jewish Pride movement throughout the Diaspora and spotlights a rainbow collection of seven young activists who have taken up the gauntlet.

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