What Zionism Is and What It Is Not July 1, 2026, 5:00 a.m. ET Credit...Mauricio Lima for The New York Times Rabbi Berman is the president of Yeshiva University. In parts of America and Europe, the word “Zionism” has become little more than a slogan shouted by opposing sides at protests. It can be a term of pride or a biting shorthand for anger toward and condemnation of Israel and its supporters. This has led to a profound misunderstanding of what Zionism is and what it is not.