Agudat Israel
Encyclopedia
Agudat Yisrael began as the original political party
representing the ultra-Orthodox
population of Israel
. It was the umbrella party for almost all ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, and before that in the British Mandate of Palestine. It originated in the original Agudath Israel movement founded in Europe
(1912, Kattowitz, then Germany) in the early part of the twentieth century.
In Palestine, Agudat Yisrael was established in opposition to the organized Jewish community (Yishuv).
One of its most authoritative spokesmen against the formation of a Jewish State, the Dutch poet Jacob Israël de Haan
, was assassinated by the Haganah in 1924.
In 1933, it entered into an agreement with the Jewish Agency there, according to which Agudat Yisrael would receive 6.5% of the immigration permits.
Eventually, at the eve of the proclamation of Independence of the Jewish State (1948, Agudat Yisrael yielded to pressure from the Zionist movement and has been a participant in most governments since that time.
In the 1980s Rabbi Elazar Shach
, leader of Israel's "Lithuanian
" Haredi
Jews and its pre-eminent rosh yeshiva
("yeshiva
dean") at the time, split with Agudat Israel and created the new Degel HaTorah
("Flag of the Torah") party, that was controlled by Lithuanian-style Haredi leaders as opposed to the Hasidic leaders who controlled Agudat Israel. Rabbi Shach later assisted Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef in splitting from Agudath Israel and creating a Sephardic Haredi party known as Shas
. Agudath Israel and Degel HaTorah have not always agreed with each other about policy matters; however, over the years the two parties have co-operated and united as a voting bloc
in order to win the maximum amount of seats in the Knesset
since many extra votes can be wasted if certain thresholds are not attained under Israel's proportional representation
parliamentary system. The two parties chose to function and be listed under the name of United Torah Judaism
(Yahadut HaTorah).
When both parties joined the government coalition of Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon
in 2004 the UTJ union was broken due to rivalries. For the Israel legislative election, 2006
Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah have once again put their differences aside and have officially revived their United Torah Judaism
alliance in order to win the maximum amount of seats in the 17th Knesset.
Though Agudat Yisrael has never elected more than a handful of members in the Knesset, it has often played crucial roles in the formation of Israel's coalition government
s because Israel's system of proportional representation
allows small parties to wield the balance of power between the larger secular parties. This political leverage has been used to obtain funding for yeshiva
s and community institutions and to pass legislation regarding observance of the Shabbat
and kosher ("dietary") laws, often to the consternation of secular Israelis.
s of Ger
, Vizhnitz
and Belz
.
In addition, policy decisions of Agudat Israel are ratified by its Council of Torah Sages which includes several other prominent Hasidic leaders and scholars, many being the leading rabbi
s from the main constituent groups. When participating in government coalitions, the party generally refrains from accepting actual cabinet posts. Its positions on Israeli foreign policy and the Palestinian question has been flexible in the past since the party formally rejects political secular Zionism
and does not view such issues ideologically. Therefore, it has been able to participate in both Likud
and Labour led coalitions. In more recent years it has become more sympathetic to the settler movement
in the West Bank
and thus more security conscious on military issues affecting Israel's survival. Agudat Israel supported Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan of 2005.
In 1948, Rabbi Yehuda Meir Abramowicz
was appointed as General Secretary.
Rabbi Meir Porush, as well as Yaakov Litzman
, and Yisrael Eichler, from the Hasidic courts of Ger
and Belz
have represented the party in Israel's Knesset
recently. Another longtime Agudat MK is Rabbi Shmuel Halpert
, a member of the court of Vizhnitz
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
representing the ultra-Orthodox
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
population of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It was the umbrella party for almost all ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, and before that in the British Mandate of Palestine. It originated in the original Agudath Israel movement founded in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(1912, Kattowitz, then Germany) in the early part of the twentieth century.
History
Agudat Yisrael was founded in Katowice (Upper Silesia, now in the southwestern part of Poland), in 1912, with purpose of providing an umbrella organization for observant Jews, who opposed the Zionist movement.In Palestine, Agudat Yisrael was established in opposition to the organized Jewish community (Yishuv).
One of its most authoritative spokesmen against the formation of a Jewish State, the Dutch poet Jacob Israël de Haan
Jacob Israël de Haan
Jacob Israël de Haan was a Dutch Jewish literary writer and journalist who was assassinated in Jerusalem by the Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah for his anti-Zionist political activities and contacts with Arab leaders. He is believed to be the first victim of Zionist political violence...
, was assassinated by the Haganah in 1924.
In 1933, it entered into an agreement with the Jewish Agency there, according to which Agudat Yisrael would receive 6.5% of the immigration permits.
Eventually, at the eve of the proclamation of Independence of the Jewish State (1948, Agudat Yisrael yielded to pressure from the Zionist movement and has been a participant in most governments since that time.
In the 1980s Rabbi Elazar Shach
Elazar Shach
Elazar Menachem Man Shach also spelt Eliezer Schach, was a leading Lithuanian-born and educated Haredi rabbi in Bnei Brak, Israel. He also served as one of three co-deans of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak along with Rabbis Shmuel Rozovsky and Dovid Povarsky...
, leader of Israel's "Lithuanian
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
" Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
Jews and its pre-eminent rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
("yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
dean") at the time, split with Agudat Israel and created the new Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah is an Ashkenazi Haredi political party in Israel. For much of its existence it has been allied to Agudat Yisrael under the name United Torah Judaism.-Ideology:...
("Flag of the Torah") party, that was controlled by Lithuanian-style Haredi leaders as opposed to the Hasidic leaders who controlled Agudat Israel. Rabbi Shach later assisted Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef in splitting from Agudath Israel and creating a Sephardic Haredi party known as Shas
Shas
Shas is an ultra-orthodox religious political party in Israel, primarily representing Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Judaism.Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi dominated Agudat Israel, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic and Mizrahi ...
. Agudath Israel and Degel HaTorah have not always agreed with each other about policy matters; however, over the years the two parties have co-operated and united as a voting bloc
Voting bloc
A voting bloc is a group of voters that are so motivated by a specific concern or group of concerns that it helps determine how they vote in elections. The divisions between voting blocs are known as cleavage...
in order to win the maximum amount of seats in the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
since many extra votes can be wasted if certain thresholds are not attained under Israel's proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
parliamentary system. The two parties chose to function and be listed under the name of United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters...
(Yahadut HaTorah).
When both parties joined the government coalition of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
in 2004 the UTJ union was broken due to rivalries. For the Israel legislative election, 2006
Israel legislative election, 2006
Elections for the 17th Knesset were held in Israel on 28 March 2006. The voting resulted in a plurality of seats for the then-new Kadima party, followed by the Labour Party, and a major loss for the Likud party....
Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah have once again put their differences aside and have officially revived their United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters...
alliance in order to win the maximum amount of seats in the 17th Knesset.
Though Agudat Yisrael has never elected more than a handful of members in the Knesset, it has often played crucial roles in the formation of Israel's coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s because Israel's system of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
allows small parties to wield the balance of power between the larger secular parties. This political leverage has been used to obtain funding for yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s and community institutions and to pass legislation regarding observance of the Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
and kosher ("dietary") laws, often to the consternation of secular Israelis.
Religious and political leadership
Political power is presently vested in the Hasidic rebbeRebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
s of Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
, Vizhnitz
Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz is the Yiddish name of Vyzhnytsia, a village in present-day Ukraine.Followers of the rebbes of Vizhnitz are called Vizhnitzer chasidim....
and Belz
Belz (Hasidic dynasty)
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine, near the Polish border. The town has existed since at least the 10th century, with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century...
.
In addition, policy decisions of Agudat Israel are ratified by its Council of Torah Sages which includes several other prominent Hasidic leaders and scholars, many being the leading rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s from the main constituent groups. When participating in government coalitions, the party generally refrains from accepting actual cabinet posts. Its positions on Israeli foreign policy and the Palestinian question has been flexible in the past since the party formally rejects political secular Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
and does not view such issues ideologically. Therefore, it has been able to participate in both Likud
Likud
Likud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
and Labour led coalitions. In more recent years it has become more sympathetic to the settler movement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and thus more security conscious on military issues affecting Israel's survival. Agudat Israel supported Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan of 2005.
In 1948, Rabbi Yehuda Meir Abramowicz
Yehuda Meir Abramowicz
Yehuda Meir Abramowicz was an Israeli rabbi and politician. He served as general secretary of Agudat Yisrael, which he represented in the Knesset from 1972 until 1981, and as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset between 1977 and 1981...
was appointed as General Secretary.
Rabbi Meir Porush, as well as Yaakov Litzman
Yaakov Litzman
Yaakov Litzman is an Israeli politician and Deputy Government Minister. A follower of the Ger Hasidic dynasty, he heads the Agudat Israel part of the United Torah Judaism faction in the Knesset.-Biography:...
, and Yisrael Eichler, from the Hasidic courts of Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
and Belz
Belz (Hasidic dynasty)
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine, near the Polish border. The town has existed since at least the 10th century, with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century...
have represented the party in Israel's Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
recently. Another longtime Agudat MK is Rabbi Shmuel Halpert
Shmuel Halpert
Rabbi Shmuel Halpert is an Israeli politician and a former fember of the Knesset for the ultra-orthodox party Agudat Yisrael , part of the United Torah Judaism alliance...
, a member of the court of Vizhnitz
Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz is the Yiddish name of Vyzhnytsia, a village in present-day Ukraine.Followers of the rebbes of Vizhnitz are called Vizhnitzer chasidim....
.
See also
- Agudath Israel of AmericaAgudath Israel of AmericaAgudath Israel of America , is a Haredi Jewish communal organization in the United States loosely affiliated with the international World Agudath Israel.-Functions:...
- Degel HaTorahDegel HaTorahDegel HaTorah is an Ashkenazi Haredi political party in Israel. For much of its existence it has been allied to Agudat Yisrael under the name United Torah Judaism.-Ideology:...
- Haredi JudaismHaredi JudaismHaredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
- Hasidim and Mitnagdim
- United Torah JudaismUnited Torah JudaismUnited Torah Judaism is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters...
- World Agudath IsraelWorld Agudath IsraelWorld Agudath Israel , usually known as the Aguda, was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Ashkenazi Torah Judaism, in succession to Agudas Shlumei Emunei Yisroel...
External links
- Agudat Yisrael Knesset website
- Agudat Yisrael Jewish Virtual Library