In a text written in Jerusalem in 1926, Gershom Scholem, who later became one of the greatest Jewish scholars and intellectuals in the twentieth century, pointed to the dangers inherent in Zionism’s attempt to secularize and nationalize Judaism. Involved in the organization ‘Brit Shalom’ (Covenant of Peace), that advocated a binational arrangement in Israel-Palestine, Scholem at that time argued that binationalism was essential for distinguishing Zionism from messianism. The lecture will elaborate on Scholem’s observations, take them as a starting point for understanding Zionism and its complexities, and explore their relevance for the discussion of Israel and its current crises.