Sunday, May 2, 2010

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld

B"H

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was the first head of the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" in Mea Shearim. In 1921, the Israeli Rabbanut (Chief Rabbinate) was founded by the British and Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook became its first Chief Rabbi. However, anti - Zionist groups in Mea Shearim did neither accept Rabbi Kook nor the Rabbanut as their leading religious directions. The result was that they founded their own institution.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was not a great friend of the more Zionist influenced Rabbi Kook and there are many Kuntres from Rabbi Sonnenfeld against Rabbi Kook. Below is a video showing both Rabbis leaving an institution of the British in those days. First Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook is leaving the building first and then Rabbi Sonnenfeld comes out. Both did not exchange a word.


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