Political Movement - Zionism - Religious Zionism
The Religious Zionist Movement, or
Religious Zionism, also called Mizrachi, is an ideology combining
Zionism and Judaism, which offers Zionism based on the principles of
Jewish religion and heritage.
In the United States it is often combined with Modern Orthodox Judaism,
with its intellectual center within Yeshiva University many of whose
rabbis and teachers are prominent leaders and members of both Religious
Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy.
Ideology
The Religious Zionist Movement is a faction within the Zionist movement
which justifies Zionist efforts to build a Jewish state in the land of
Israel on the basis of Judaism. The main ideologist of religious Zionism
was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook who justified Zionism according to Jewish
religion and urged young religious Jews to support Zionist efforts to
settle Israel, and the secular Labour Zionists to give more
consideration to Judaism.
Rabbi Kook saw Zionism as a part of a divine scheme which will finally
result in the resettlement of the Jewish people in its homeland. This
will bring salvation ("Geula") to Jews, and then to the entire world.
After world harmony is achieved because of the refoundation of the
Jewish homeland Israel, the Messiah will come.
Religious Jews believe that since the land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) was
given to the ancient Israelites by God, the right of the Jews to that
land is permanent and inalienable. To generations of Diaspora Jews, Zion
has been a symbol of the Holy Land and of their return to it, as
promised by God in Biblical prophecies. (See also Jerusalem, Jews and
Judaism)
Despite this, many religious Jews were not enthusiastic about Zionism
before the 1930s, and many religious organizations opposed it on the
grounds that an attempt to re-establish Jewish rule in Israel by human
agency is blasphemous, since only the Messiah can accomplish this. They
considered it religiously forbidden to try to hasten salvation and the
coming of the Messiah. They saw Zionism as an expression of disbelief in
God's salvation and power, and therefore as a rebellion against God.
Rabbi Kook developed a theological answer to that claim, which gave
Zionism a religious legitimation.
Rabbi Kook answer was the following:
Zionism was not merely a political movement by secular Jews. It was
actually a tool of God to promote his divine scheme and to initiate the
return of the Jews to their homeland - the land he promised to Abraham,
Izhak and Jacob. God wants the children of Israel to return to their
home in order to establish a Jewish sovereign state in which Jews could
live according to the laws of Torah and Halacha and commit the Mitzvot
of Eretz Israel (these are religious commandments which can be performed
only in the land of Israel). Moreover, to cultivate the land of Israel
was a Mitzva by itself and it should be carried out. Therefore, settling
Israel is an obligation of the religious Jews and helping Zionism is
actually following God's will.
Another big problem of religious Jews with Zionism is that Zionists were
largely secular Jews, and in some cases were atheist in their point of
view. The atheism of the early Zionists was imported from Marxism by
Socialist Zionism which saw Zionism as an avant-garde effort of building
an advanced socialist society in the land of Israel, while solving the
anti-Semitism problem. The Kibbutz is a good example of Socialist
Zionism: it was a communal settlement set to fulfill national goals, in
which no Jewish law was observed (such as Kosher food). Rabbi Kook had
an answer to this as well:
Secular Zionists may think they do it for political, national or
socialist reasons, but in fact - the actual reason for them coming to
resettle in Israel is a religious Jewish spark ("Nitzotz") in their
soul, planted by God. Without their knowledge, they are contributing to
the divine scheme and actually committing a great Mitzva.
The role of religious Zionists is to help them to establish a Jewish
state and turn the religious spark in them into a great light. They
should show them that the real source of Zionism and the longed-for Zion
is Judaism and teach them Torah with love and kindness. In the end, they
will understand that the laws of Torah are the key to true harmony and a
socialist state (not in the Marxist meaning) that will be a light for
the goyim and bring salvation to the world.
Professor Shlomo Avineri explains the last part of Kook's answer:
וסופם של חלוצים אלה, המגששים בעוורון החילוניות, אך האור הגנוז שבהם
מוליכם אל דרך הגאולה - סופם ש"מלא-לשמו" יגיעו "לשמו" -עמוד 222
Translation:
"... and the end of those pioneers, who scout into the blindness of
secularism and atheism, but the treasured light inside them leads them
into the path of salvation - their end is that from doing Mitzva without
purpose, they will do Mitzva with a purpose." (page 222, 1)
History and organizations
The first Rabbis who supported Zionism were Rabbi Yehuda Shlomo Elkalay
and Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Klisher. They argued that the change in the status
of Western Europe's Jews following emancipation was the first step
toward salvation (גאולה) and that therefore one must hasten the
messianic salvation by a natural salvation — whose main pillars are the
Kibbutz Galuyut ("Gathering of the Exiles"), the return to Eretz Israel,
agricultural work (עבודת אדמה) and the revival of the everyday use of
the Hebrew language.
The Mizrachi (acronym for Merkaz Ruchani or "religious centre") is the
name of the religious Zionist organization founded in 1902 in Vilna at a
world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov
Reines. It operates a youth movement, Bnei Akiva which was founded in
1929.
Mizrachi believes that the Torah should be at the centre of Zionism and
also sees Jewish nationalism as a tool for achieving religious
objectives. The Mizrachi party was the first official religious Zionist
party and founded the Ministry of Religion in Israel and pushed for laws
enforcing kashrut and the observance of the sabbath. It also played a
role prior to the creation of the state of Israel in building a network
of religious schools that exist to this day.
Major figures in the religious Zionist movement include Rabbi Abraham
Isaac Kook who became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Palestine in 1924 and
tried to reconcile Zionism with Orthodox Judaism.
Mizrachi had a separate trade union wing, founded in 1921, called
Hapo'el Hamizrachi which represented religious Jews in the Histadrut and
tried to attract religious Labour Zionists.
In 1956, Mizarchi, Hapoel Hamizrachi and other religious Zionists formed
the National Religious Party or Mafdal to advance the rights of
religious Jews in Israel.
The flagship religious institution of the religious Zionist movement is
"Merkaz ha-Rav" Yeshiva, which supplied the religious Zionist movement
most of its Rabbis and scholars.
Religious Zionism today
Religious Zionists are often called "Kippot Sruggot" because of the
knitted skull caps that they wear. In Israel, different factions of
Orthodox Judaism can be distinguished by the headgear of its members
(such as Haredi Ashkenazi, Haredi Mizrahi, Hassidic etc).
Politics
Most religious Zionists are right wing supporters and vote for the
Mafdal (National Religious Party), Likud (Conservative party) and
National Union (nationalist party). However, there is a small minority
of left wing religious Zionists. They are headed by Rabbi Michael
Malkior and represented by the Meimad party (ran together with the
Israeli Labor party).
Many of the religious Zionists are settlers in Jerusalem, the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip. Many others are supporters of the settlers movement
Gush Emunim.
Military service
Military service is an important value among religious Zionists and in
recent years they have gained a majority in the Israeli Defence Forces
NCOs' and petty officers' staff. They have a high presence in combat
units and are considered by IDF officers and commanders as quality
soldiers and officers.
Female religious Zionists are exempt from military service, but do a
two-year national service instead (such as working at hospitals, schools
and day-care centers).
Notable religious Zionist figures
This is a list of current notable religious Zionist leaders. The list is
sorted lexiographicly according to the last name.
* Rabbi Shlomo Avinar - head of "Ateret Kohanim" Yeshiva and pillar
idealog of the Religious Zionist Movement
* Rabbi Chaim Drukman - former member of Mafdal
* Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu - the unofficial spiritual leader of the
Mafdal
* Efi Eitam - IDF war hero and the leader of the Mafdal.
* Rabbi Michael Malkior - leader of Meimad (left wing religious
Zionism).
* Zvulon Orlev - the leader of the Mafdal "pragmatist" faction.
* Rabbi Yuval Sherlo - "pragmatist" religious Zionist Rabbi
* Rabbi Abraham Shpira - the spiritual leader of the Religious Zionism
and the head of "Merkaz ha-Rav" Yeshiva.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Zionism
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