Zionist Inside Joke

The 2008 Zochrot conference was held June 22-24 in Tel Aviv at the ZOA House. The Zionist Organization of America was an ironic place to host a conference focused on the return of Palestinian refugees. But what was even more entertaining was the graffiti that was painted all over Ibn Gvriol Street and the ZOA house prior to the conference.

Theodor Herzl, considered the father of Zionism, tirelessly campaigned all over Europe and the Middle East in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for a Jewish homeland. He felt that something bad was in the works for Jews in Europe. At first he met with mostly resistance and disbelief. Nobody believed his idea would work. But he said, "If you will, it is no dream." Every Israeli child grows up learning this Herzl quote, and many others, as well as seeing Herzl's ubiquitous photograph.

Which is why seeing this graffiti outside the ZOA house and Right of Return conference was so funny:



It says literally, "If you don't want, there's no need." But it's a figure of speech and in English we would say, "If you don't want, so nevermind."

Author's Note: it was rather difficult to get this to be funny with the translation and the lack of context and blah blah blah for those who aren't familiar, so thanks for bearing with my explanation.