The Arguments For and Against Religious Zionism Activity

B"H

Source:
Among others, Rabbi Yitzchak Alfassi.
Rabbi Yitzchak Alfassi is one of the most famous and accepted Chassidut authors in Israel. The author himself comes from a chassidic family (Chassidut Gur) and due to his religious contexts and descriptions, he is very much acceptable for haredi readers. Otherwise Haredim refuse to accept or deal with writings from university professors or other researchers. Yitzchak Alfassi is one of a very few exceptions.

He was born in Tel Aviv in 1929, served in the Israeli army and has written almost 80 books dealing with Chassidut.
Today, Rabbi Yitzchak Alfassi still lives in Israel.


The Redemption must begin in a natural way and only after that comes the supernatural Redemption.

The renewed activity of settling in the Land of Israel began following renewed conclusions that the final redemption, which is destined to happen in the near future, will only occur following the actual practice of living in Israel. The “Awakening above” will only happen after the “Awakening below”. In retrospect we can see just how correct they were with their approach.

This idea is constantly mentioned and revived by the founders, such as HaRav Zvi Hirsch Kalisher, HaRav Eliyahu Guttmacher, HaRav Yehuda Chai Alkalai, and in actual fact this was the objective of the Chassidim and the Vilna Gaon’s students’ Aliya. The Aliya announces the Redemption, as Rabbi Meshulam Feivish from Zabarz, one of the Chassidism’s founders, writes, “And of course this current massive awakening comes from G-d and the moment is near, the moment when the Almighty hurries and hastens us, may it be soon in our days, Amen Selah.”

What is interesting is that the immigrants must speak in the holy language [i.e. Hebrew]! “The Land is ours for we speak the holy language [Hebrew] and the people who live in the holy Land of Israel must speak in the holy language [Hebrew]. ”These ideas came, went and were forgotten until the heralds of Zion revived this concept: “The start of the Redemption will be the result of the natural activity of man” – Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher. “When the Jewish People will live up to it and will begin to carry out the sanctified work [the work of the Almighty] … which will be the start of the Redemption, even if the People of Israel are not entitled to it” – Rabbi Eliyahu Guttmacher.

“The Torah and the intellect require us to do all that we are able to in the natural way.” “… and its beginning will be close to nature.”

And, how else could it be ? Of course, there were plenty of counterarguments:

Throughout the generations it has been the firm belief that the Redemption will come in a miraculous way. People only started to believe in the false messiahs after they had “proven” miraculous acts that were unnatural.

Rabbi Avraham Ya’acov from Sadigora, a contemporary of the heralds, says to Lawrence Oliphant the Brit when the latter asks him for help with building settlements in the Landof Israel: “We are hoping for a miraculous Redemption from the heavens [from the Almighty] and not for one made by flesh and blood.”
These arguments are repeated over and over again: “The Redemption will come through atonement and in a miraculous way instigated by the Holy One blessed be He Himself … We have seen many miracles and wonders that were unnatural.”

“Only G-d alone will gather together the dispersed people of Israeland not the acts of clumsy people who behave arbitrarily, they will not gather in our exiles.”
“We were instructed by the Tannaim [Mishna scholars] and the Amoraim [Talmud scholars] not to postpone the End of Times by any materialistic act of trickery.”

Even when those involved in the Aliya to the Land of Israel are observant religious Jewish people, it does not make a difference since they are heretics and transgress the prohibition concerning the postponement of the End of Times: “This is not the way to the real or true salvation and the purpose as awaited by G-d’s angels and the real prophets and we cannot even consider it for living this moment or for an accidental redemption.”

The essence of Zionism is a “denial of the Divine Providence in the principles of reward and punishment and the awaited Redemption.”
“And concerning those people who dare go to the Landof Israel, this is against the laws of the Torah and the Blessed One’s warning until He will gather in our dispersed ones by the righteous Redeemer.”

These arguments were politely counterattacked by Rabbi Mordechai Eliasberg, Rabbi Nachum Greenhaus, Rabbi Joseph Yaffe and Rabbi Shmuel David Feinberg. Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Friedlander’s, the Admor from Liska, reaction is interesting since he opposes the framework of the Zionist Organisation, “But it would be beneficial to establish an organisation that encourages settling in the Holy Land according to the way which was founded by our leader and teacher Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher some forty years ago, and included in the organisation’s statues it should state that there is not any connection with the Zionists or Mizrachi movements”; however even this idea is revolutionary to the ideas of Zionism’s protagonists.

Is it possible that the non-religious will bring the Redemption?
In his introduction to the book “Da’at HaRabbinim” the editor asks if it is possible that even if the Redemption will come in a natural way, will it be by “the people who openly desecrate Shabbat and the people who eat cadavers and prey, insects and vermin, and those who do not don tefillin (phylacteries)?” And he argues that: “In the past we were exiled from our Land because of our sins and now it is possible that we will return to her because of sinners and criminals?”
Rabbi Simcha Rosenfeld, the Rabbi of Piotrekov, comes back to this point: “How great is the madness and stupidity of these people, the heads and leaders of this organisation, bad people and sinners, people who cast off the yoke of the Torah and commandments, the desecrators of Shabbat, promiscuous people and people who eat all abominations, for they said about their madness that they will salvage Israel, that they will return the Jewish People to Israel and return them to the Holy Land … these people made us laugh, a painful and soul saddening laugh.”

The leaders of Zionism, Rabbi Zalman Leib Barit from Plongian, Rabbi Hillel David Trivesh, Rabbi Nachum Greenhaus, and Rabbi Shmuel Ya’acov Rabinowitz contended this argument.
The reactions against this viewpoint from the Rabbis who supported the settling in the Landof Israel but outside the Zionistic framework are interesting. The Admor Rabbi Yisrael from Pilov-Kotzk writes: “Even though these active people are not very righteous, we have learned that G-d sometimes finds a shelter amongst the simple people of Israel rather than with the completely righteous ones and not one of us can know through whom it pleases G-d to sanctify His Name in the near future.” The Admor Rabbi David Moshe from Tchortkov writes as follows: “What do we care if those people who negotiate with the Sultan – he is implying Herzl – are not religious? After all, is it not so that when we have a case in their courts [secular, non-Jewish] we accept a non religious lawyer who knows how to be a good lawyer for his client.”
The intensification of the struggle against Zionism reached all extremes when it took the position of completely rejecting immigration to the Land of Israel and that there is currently no commandment regarding coming to live in the Landof Israel. This idea in itself is not a new one. Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum Moyhel, the author of “Yismach Moshe”, and founder of the Sigat – Satmar dynasty already wrote: “it is as clear to me as the sun that if I go my loss will be greater than my gain … and any desire longed for to go and settle in our Holy Land is like the act itself, especially when one has obtained a pass, since there is no doubt that there is a commandment for settling in the Land of Israel.”
The Chassidim started an organized Aliya immediately following the Balfour Declaration: Chassidim from Koznitz, Chassidim from Yablona, the Gur Chassidim, the establishment of B’nei Barak, and all this reawakened the struggle between the Mitnagdim [opponents to Chassidim] and the people who returned to Zion, and yet again the argument was brought up that nowadays there is no commandment regarding settling in the Land of Israel but rather a commandment for learning Torah.

The essence of Zionism, regardless as to who is involved in it, is a “malignant disease."

The establishment of the State of Israel caused most people to change their minds, but the Admor from Satmar and his followers kept this viewpoint. The Zionist Rabbis completely dismissed this opinion and they were not alone in this matter. Rabbi Yisrael Morgenstern from Pilov states:
According to the Ramban there is a positive commandment regarding settling in the Land of Israel therefore, when it is permitted to come to Israel each and every person is commanded to come and settle in the Land of Israel, even those people who do not go to Israel for its own sake fulfila positive commandment."

Rabbi Avraham from Sochatchov, the author of “Avnei Nezer” and “Eglei Tal”, states that:
“Those people living outside of the Land of Israel have a great obligation to purchase some property in Israel and that there is no end to the reward for those people who support the Land of Israel.”
Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum, Av Beit Din [president of the religious court] of Warsawsays:
“It is most definitely a great obligation”.
Rabbi Tzadok HaCohen from Lublin:
“There is no debate as to whether it is a high virtue to live in the Landof Israel even in these days … and one should not miss out on the opportunity to fulfil this wonderful obligation.”
In his book “Zimrat HaAretz”, Rabbi Moshe Zvi Fogel states that: “There is no doubt about it, it is the law, according to everyone, that every person can force his entire household to come and settle in the Landof Israeland in Jerusalem.”

Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik from Brisk and Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim Meisel from Lodz supported immigrating to the Land of Israel and “the acquisition of land and agricultural tools to labour it”, however they strongly opposed Zionism. Even the “Machzikei HaDass”, founded by the Chassidei Belz, supports the idea of “kissing her [Israel’s] clods of earth and helping to build her [Israel] … blessed are you when you will merit … to labour the Landof Israel,” however, they were opposed to the vision of “The Redemption of Israel”.
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The intensive discussion is still going on until today. One side considers settling in the Land of Israel as a "corridor" to the Messianic Age. Once we live in Israel, the rest is going to happen automatically. Fulfilling the Mitzwot – YES, and if not, it is not that important. More important is to be already in the land.
The anti – Zionists don't accept the State of Israel at all. And those taking a closer look onto the history of the State of Israel may understand why. Especially the activities of a former Prime Minister called David Ben Gurion and his coalitions with the Communists and the Arabs. Additionally, his behaviour during the "Kastner Trial".

Today's national religious party MAVDAL has mostly lost its former ideals and got adjusted to the Israeli world of politics. The parties agenda seems to be not to cause too much trouble and its only members following the old ideologies are the ones from the settler movement. The land is ours and no land will be given away to the Palestinians. Not even for any peace purposes. A peace which will never come into existence anyway.

The anti – Zionist movement mostly consists of two movements. Of those not accepting the State of Israel at all, and of those who intend to live here according to the Torah. Having a Torah life but not accepting the government.
A Jew is only able to fulfill all Mitzwot in the Land of Israel (e.g. Shemittah or uplifted prayers) and this is the reason why many Haredim move to Israel. The former Satmarer Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum didn't keep his Chassidim away from settling in Israel. However, they should lead a life according to the Torah and not getting involved with the present State of Israel.

Not all Haredim but some accept the Israeli citizenship (how else could you travel) but refuse taking any money from the government. Principles a Zionist can hardly grasp.
In my opinion, people should much more deal with the history of anti – Zionism before making false claims.


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