Are Fewer Ba’alei Tshuva Religious-Zionist?

No hard data exists — but a theory for why an all-or-nothing reaction happens, and why it not only need not but should not.

Q. Am I mistaken or do most of the Ba’alei Tshuva belong to the less-Zionist element?

As far as I know, there has yet to be a comprehensive survey, nevertheless, there are definitely some “repentants” who so regret their previous lifestyle, that they go to the opposite extreme, and give up even the positive Zionist, nationalist or modern aspect. For some, especially the younger element, the complex message of religious-Zionism, that tries to take the best of all worlds, and believe that modernism, Zionism and the State of Israel, and Tzahal don’t at all contradict religion. To the contrary, the students of Rav Kook and organizations like Rosh Yehudi strongly believe that the same G-d who gave us the Torah, still runs history and over the past century, has gathered the exiles, revived the Holy Land, the Holy Language, the Holy army and Jewish State. In fact, Rav Kook wrote that anyone who deals with “teshuva” today, but ignores the modern prophetic return of the gathering of the exiles, is unfortunately ignoring & neglecting his strongest proof that the G-d of Israel is alive, runs the world and is currently fulfilling His ancient prophecies.

G-d is the One who also revealed to us modernity, computers, medicine, etc. and all of these are gifts which are meant to be used for advancing Torah, goodness, idealism, health, fertility, education etc. and not chalila “void of G-d” nor “tests of the Satan”! It’s clearly easier to understand simple black-and -white messages, but our world is complex. It’s also easier to deride and criticize all who disagree with “me”, but the Torah is positive-minded, and believes that we should all take the positive ideology and aspect of truth from every movement, because G-d wants us to cooperate with all Jews and all truths (one of His 13 traits). Additionally, there are a considerable number of Jews in different stages of the process of Tshuva, without leaving their jobs or communities, whose introspection is “invisible” but is nevertheless, taking place.