A street interview with a Hasidic man in New York is circulating widely online after he rejected Zionism on religious grounds and argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not represent Jews who share his anti-Zionist beliefs.

The short video was circulated by accounts associated with anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish activism, including Torah Judaism, under the headline, “Judaism Forbids Zionism — Netanyahu Does Not Represent Us.”

In the interview, the man presents his opposition to Zionism as a religious position, distinguishing between Jewish identity and support for the modern State of Israel and rejecting the idea that Netanyahu can speak on behalf of the Jewish people as a whole.

The remarks reflect a longstanding anti-Zionist position held by some segments of the Orthodox and Hasidic world. Certain Haredi groups reject Zionism on theological grounds, although attitudes toward Zionism and the State of Israel vary substantially across Orthodox communities.

The distinction is important: the views expressed in the video are those of the interviewee and should not be understood as representing Hasidic or Orthodox Jews generally. Large Orthodox communities encompass a wide range of positions toward Israel, from ideological anti-Zionism and non-Zionism to active religious Zionism and strong political support for the state.

The clip nevertheless highlights a recurring dispute over the relationship between Judaism, Zionism and political representation — particularly when Israeli leaders speak about Israel's relationship with Jews around the world.