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Religious Support for Secular Zionism
1 The allure of Eretz Yisroel was deep amongst the Jews of Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It
is not surprising that those who viewed the world through the lens of Torah would look at the
possibility of return to Zion from that perspective as well. Accepting the practical arguments of the
Zionists, several European Rabanim saw the secular Zionist endeavor as a project that could (and
should) be supported by religious Jews. This was particularly true at the
beginning of the movement, when Herzl made significant efforts not to
alienate religious feeling.
2 Some went even further, ascribing a religious significance to the actions of
the secular Zionists. These Rabanim went on to set up an organization called
Mizrachi (Merkaz Ruchani). It was founded by Rav Yitzchak Yaacov Reines
(1839-1915) in 1902 at a world conference of religious Zionists in Vilna.
3The most sophisticated and articulate proponent of
this point of view was never a member of Mizrachi.
Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook (1865-1935) was a
Yitzchak Yaacov Reines
(1839-1915) Chasid, who learned from the Natziv (1817-1893).
His support for Zionism was one aspect of his
unique, kabala based world view, that saw “sparks of holiness” hidden in
many, unexpected, places. His tremendous scholarship and outstanding
personal tzidkus made him stand out from the other Zionist rabanim.
4 In addition to seeing a spiritual significance in secular Zionism, Rav Kook was
a practical man who put his ideas into action. He moved to Eretz Yisroel in
1904 and was appointed Rav of Jaffo on arrival. In 1914 he traveled to an
Agudas Yisroel convention in Europe, and was marooned there by the outbreak Rav Avraham Yitzchak
of war. On returning to Eretz Yisroel in 1918 he was appointed Rav of Kook (1865-1935
Jerusalem. With the creation of a National Rabinut (by the British, at the behest of the Zionist
Movement) he was appointed first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisroel, in which role he served till
his death in 1935.
5 The successors of the Mizrachi (and similar groups) form the National Religious Party (and its
splinters) in Israel today.
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3 The most extreme expression of this viewpoint is found amongst the Neturei Karta, leading their
adherents to actively cooperate (at least on the propaganda front) with Israel’s Arab enemies.
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