Haredim and Zionism

Template:TotallyDisputed The relationship between Haredim and Zionism has always been a difficult one. Before the establishment of the State of Israel, the majority of Haredi Jewry was opposed to Zionism. However, after the creation of the state, each individual movement within Jewish Orthodoxy charted its own path in approaching the State of Israel, and the land that the Torah calls an inheritence for the Jewish people.

Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, one of the previous Rebbes of the Satmar Hasidim, in his famous book "VaYoel Moshe," calls the creation of the Israeli state an "act of Satan", blames Zionism for the Holocaust and calls it the greatest form of spiritual impurity in the entire world. Many Orthodox, and especially Hasidic groups, have either adopted his approach, or do not oppose it.

However, the Satmar approach is far from universally accepted. The leaders of the Belz, Ger, and Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic movements have offered their support to the State's military objectives. The Lubavitcher Rebbe even went so far as to say that negotiating land-for-peace is a violation of Jewish Law.

There is also a group of Orthodox Jews known as Hardalim. They are, in their own words, a movement of Haredi Jews who are also Zionist.

Background

The Talmud, in Ketubot 111a, mentions that the Jewish people have been bound by three oaths: 1) not to ascend to Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) as a group using force; 2) not to rebel against the nations of the world; and 3) not to delay the coming of Moshiach, the Jewish messiah, through their own sins. Many consider the establishment of the state of Israel to be a violation of these oaths.

This passage of the Talmud is based on a mystical meaning of the verse "I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, that you neither awaken nor arouse the love while it is desirous." This verse is found thrice in Shir HaShirim, (Song of Songs), verses 2:7, 3:5, 8:4.

In Poland and Hungary in 1920s, most Haredi Jewish movements, including the entire Hasidic world, remained opposed to Zionism. In some cases this opposition was only mild and passive; in other cases it was very strong. The strongest forms of anti-Zionism originated in Hungary, where in 1920 a group of 12 leading rabbis condemned Zionism in very strong words. It was followed by a similar declaration in 1925. These movements opposed the establishment of a State, but were largely not opposed to moving to and living in the physical boundaries of the area known to Jews as Eretz Yisroel, the 'Land of Israel.'

Hasidic movements strongly opposing Zionism are, amongst others, Satmar, Bobov, Munkacz, Vizhnitz, Toldos Aharon, Dushinsky, Pshevorsk, Tosh and many others.

Amongst the Orthodox rabbinical leadership, religious Zionists form a minority. This can be attributed to the fact that (non-Zionist) Haredi Jews traditionally continue their Jewish studies much longer than Modern Orthodox Religious Zionist Jews do, which leads to the Haredi world producing a comparatively much higher number of poskim and dayanim.

Different Haredi groups on the issue of Zionism

Groups which are generally supportive of the State of Israel

Lithuanian ('Litvish') Haredi Judaism

Ponevezh yeshiva on Israel Independence Day

A number of Lithuanian leaders like the Chazon Ish (1878-1953), Rav Shach (1898-2001), and Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, have expressed strongly anti-Zionist views. Examples of this are found in lectures and letters of Rav Shach. The main newspaper of the Litvish world, the Yated Neeman, regularly publishes articles strongly criticizing Zionism, naming it a 'heretical movement'. The main Litvish community does vote, as per the instructions of the Brisker Rov and the Chazon Ish. Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv urges his students to vote for the Degel HaTorah list. Rabbi Shimshon Pinkus, quoted in the book of his speeches about Purim, explains that in each generation the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) appears in different forms. Examples he gives are the Enlightenment and communism. He goes on to explain that nowadays Zionism is a form of the Yetzer Hara. The opposition of the Litvish world against Zionism differs from that of the Hasidic world in that it is mainly focused on the secular character of Zionism, and less strongly so on the issue of a Jewish state being forbidden whether it is religious or not.

Nonetheless, one of the leaders of the Lithuanian Jewish world, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986) expressed something approaching ambivalent support of the State of Israel, claiming that it is proper to pray for the Welfare of the State of Israel, so long as one does not call it the "first flowering of the redemption." (The reference is to the standard Zionist prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel, which refers to the State as the first flowering of the Redemption.) Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, openly displayed thanks to soldiers of the Israeli army.

Satmar

Main article: Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)

The Satmar Hasidic movement, whose previous Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum wrote in the 1960s an extensive critique of Zionism entitled Vayoel Moshe (see Sefer Vayoel Moshe below), counts more than 100,000 members.

Historically, Satmar has played a major role in Jerusalem's Edah HaChareidis rabbinical council; the last two Satmar Rebbes, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum and Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, succeeded each other as its President, with Rabbi Joel serving from 1953 until his death in 1979, and his nephew and successor Rabbi Moshe leading it from 1979 until his death in 2006. All movements affiliated with the Edah accept Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's Vayoel Moshe as binding.

Satmar and Neturei Karta are often confused by people not aware of the difference between these movements. While certain elements of Neturei Karta actively cooperate with Arab and Islamic movements calling for the destruction of Israel, Satmar Hasidim have never done this, as per instructions from their leaders.

Central Rabbinical Congress (CRC)

The Central Rabbinical Congress or CRC is a rabbinical organization which consists mainly of Satmar and some smaller but similar Hasidic groups. In 1986 the CRC publicized the following declaration:

It is our duty to denounce those who invoke the name of the Almighty in vain. It is our holy obligation and our moral responsibility to call on them: Stop using these falsehoods and heresies to justify yourselves and your misdeeds. The Jewish faith, as transmitted by the Almighty to our forefathers has not and will never countenance the zionist and nationalistic doctrines of the state of Israel. These false doctrines are compounded of atheism and anti-religious zionism, ideologies alien to Judaism. Let them not be misrepresented to the world as Jewish.

Dushinsky

Main article: Dushinsky (Hasidic dynasty)

In July 1947, less than a year before the actual founding of the state, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, who was both the Rebbe of the Dushinsky Hassidic movement and the Ashkenazi Haredi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, of the Edah HaChareidis rabbinical council, delivered a personal statement on behalf of the Edah HaChareidis to the United Nations, declaring his "definite opposition to a Jewish state in any part of Palestine." In 2002, Grand Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky, son of Rabbi Yosef Tzvi, wrote a praising letter of recommendation to a new edition of the Satmar Rebbe's book Vayoel Moshe.

Edah HaChareidis

Main article: Edah HaChareidis

The Edah HaChareidis is Jerusalem's council of extreme anti-Zionist Haredim. In 1947, Chief Rabbis Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky and Zelig Reuven Bengis delivered a statement to the United Nations in which they declared their opposition to a Jewish state, fearing that "a Jewish state would be a rallying point for anti-Semitism and thus an actual danger to the Jewish people." Since then, the Edah has developed itself as the largest mainstream anti-Zionist body. It includes groups such as Satmar and Dushinsky. The Rebbes of both of these movements have at times been the Chief Rabbis and Presidents of the Edah.

Neturei Karta

Main article: Neturei Karta

A small ad hoc group holding this ideology is Neturei Karta, with bases mainly in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and New York. An extreme faction of Neturei Karta which openly display support for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and the Palestine Liberation Organization as well as Hamas has been condemned by nearly all other anti-Zionist Haredim, including Satmar and the Edah HaChareidis.

Groups which are generally opposed to the State of Israel

Ger and Belz Hasidism

Main article: Ger (Hasidic dynasty)

Main article: Belz (Hasidic dynasty)

The Ger and Belz Hasidic movements have adopted a pragmatically supportive stance towards the state of Israel. While both movements have a history of anti-Zionism before the establishment of the State just like that of all other Hasidic movements, their positions are comparatively mild. While they do not say prayers for the State of Israel nor do they serve in the Israeli military, they do vote, and Ger mildly opposes withdrawals from the occupied territories. Ger and Belz are the most influential movements behind the Israeli political party Agudat Yisrael, which together with the Litvishe Degel HaTorah forms United Torah Judaism.

Chabad-Lubavitch

Main article: Chabad-Lubavitch

The previous generations of Chabad-Lubavitch leadership have been very critical of Zionism. The fifth Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn wrote that "those who assist the Zionists will pay at the Day of Judgment, because they are causing the masses to sin."

However, the last Lubavitcher Rebbe expressed overwhelming support for the State's military endeavors, strongly condemning any transfers of land as against Jewish law. His reasoning, however, was not based on any theological argument. Rather, he argued that the safety of the Jewish people was paramount, and physical presence of so many Jews in one place meant that the borders of that place had to be protected. Nonetheless, he did draw support for his statements from the notion in the Torah that the land of Israel was given to the Jewish people, and that Jewish ownership of the land could not be overcome by mere political interests. Nonetheless, he refused to call the state by name, claiming that the holy land exists independent of any authority that sees itself as sovereign over the land. He further criticized feelings of nationalism connected to the State of Israel, claiming that the only thing that unites Jews is the Torah, not a secular state that happens to be planted on holy land.

Hardal

Main article: Hardal

The Hardal community is a community of Haredim who support the state of Israel. Hardal itself is an acronym for Haredi Dati Leumi. Dati Leumi refers to religious Jews who are Zionists. The Hardal community is based largely on the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, a Haredi Zionist himself.

Haredi books about Zionism

Several books on the issue of Zionism were written by different rabbis.

Sefer Vayoel Moshe

Vayoel Moshe was written by the Satmar Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum (1887-1979). It consists of three parts: Maamar Shalosh Shevuos (three oaths), Maamar Yishuv Eretz Yisroel (settling the Land of Israel), and Maamar Loshon HaKodesh (the holy tongue). The first part, which is the main part of the book, discusses the three oaths mentioned in Ketubot 111a - that the Jewish people is not allowed to ascend to Eretz Yisrael by force, that the Jewish people is not allowed to rebel against the nations of the world, and that the Jewish people may not by their sins delay the coming of Moshiach, the Jewish messiah. It is primarily a book of Halacha, Jewish law. In the book, Rabbi Teitelbaum refers to religious Zionism as a major desecration of G-d's name, blames Zionism for the Holocaust, and refers to Zionist leaders such as Theodor Herzl as 'heretics'.

Kuntres Al HaGeulah VeAl HaTemurah

Also written by the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, this small book consists of inspirational polemics against Zionism. He wrote it in 1967 as a rebuttal to those who said that the Six Day War was a divine miracle that showed God's support for the Zionist State, saying instead it was a test from God to see whether we would follow the Torah or be lead astray by miracles which seemed to support Zionism in the eyes of the masses. He compared this to the miracles that are often done by idolators in support of their religions, inasmuch as Judaism is not based on miracles, but rather the national revelation on Sinai.

Eim HaBanim Semeichah

Eim HaBanim Semeichah was written by Rabbi Shlomo Teichtal, and published in 1943. Teichtal grew up a staunch anti-Zionist, Chassid of the Munkatsher Rebbe. However, during the Holocaust, Rabbi Teichtal adopted a decidedly different position from the one he espoused in his youth and that held by the Haredi community leaders. The physical product of that introspection is the book, Eim HaBanim Semeichah, in which he specifically retracts his previous viewpoints, and argues that the true redemption can only come if the Jewish people unite and rebuild the land of Israel. Many of his coreligionists viewed the book with skepticism, some going so far as to ban Rabbi Teichtal from their synagogues. [3]

In the book, Rabbi Teichtal strongly criticizes the Haredim for not supporting the Zionist movement. When it was written, it was a scathing criticism of the Jewish Orthodox establishment, and Agudas Israel in particular.

He writes:

It is clear that he who prepares prior to the Sabbath will eat on the Sabbath (Avodah Zarah, 3a), and since the Haredim did not toil, they have absolutely no influence in the Land (of Israel). Those who toil and build have the influence, and they are the masters of the Land. It is, therefore, no wonder that they are in control... Now, what will the Haredim say? I do not know if they will ever be able to vindicate themselves before the heavenly court for not participating in the movement to rebuild the Land. (p. 23)

Involvement with the State

Among Haredi anti-Zionist movements, opinions differ on the attitude to take now that the state exists. Some movements remained actively anti-Zionist, others lowered their voice; some refuse to vote, while others do vote; some accept money from the government, while others will not.

Many Chassidic Rebbes with followers in the land of Israel, including the Gerer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe, and others have encouraged their followers to vote in Israeli elections. Lubavitcher Chassidim are encouraged to join the Israeli Defense Force, in order to ensure the state's security (inasmuch as the State's security is inextricably entwined with the safety of the Jewish people who live within its borders).

Meanwhile the Edah HaChareidis rabbinical council of Jerusalem and its associated communities, including Satmar, Dushinsky, Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, do not vote and do not accept government money. Around election days, posters by the Edah HaChareidis are posted throughout Haredi neighborhoods of Jerusalem proclaiming that it is forbidden to vote in the elections, and that doing so is a grave sin. The Edah HaChareidis and its affiliated movements do recognize the authority of the Israeli police in criminal matters. [4]

The main newspaper of the Litvish world, the Yated Neeman, regularly publishes articles strongly criticizing Zionism, naming it a 'heretical movement'. The main Litvish community does vote, as per the instructions of the Brisker Rov and the Chazon Ish. [5] The Lithuanian leadership, most notably Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, instructs his students to vote for the Degel HaTorah list. Indeed, one Degel HaTorah representative, Rabbi Uri Lupolianski, is as of 2007 the mayor of Jerusalem.

See also

• Zionism
• Anti-Zionism
• Religious Zionism
• Haredi Judaism
• Hasidic Judaism