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RELIGIOUS ZIONIST LEADERS

Gael Grunewald

Continuing our series about the leaders who have
shaped Religious Zionism over the last 150 years

rabbi ze’ev javitz

av Ze’ev Javitz (1847-1924) in 1924, he became very active in writing and compiling a historical
was born in Kolno to a the Mizrachi Movement from its encyclopedia called Toldot Yisrael.
Rdistinguished and wealthy inception. He edited the Mizrachi It covered Jewish history from the
family known for its religious paper, HaMizrach, from 1903-1904 time of the patriarchs until the
observance and adherence to the and served on its first Board of Chibbat Zion Movement but was
traditional Jewish way of life. He Directors. In this position, he was only published in its entirety after his
began writing at an early age and called upon to write the party’s first death (14 volumes). He wrote many
his first article of renown, Migdal statement of purpose. He wrote: “Zion books on education and Midrash and
HaMeah, synthesized his beautiful and Torah are two holy vessels which is the author of Mekor Berachot, a
style of writing with his profound complement and need one another… book on blessings and prayer.
scholarship. It dealt with the history
of Judaism, covering the 100 years Rabbi Tzvi Shechterman founded
from the death of Mendelssohn (1786) Moshav Kfar Yavitz – named in
to the death of Montefiore (1886). memory of Rav Javits, in 1932. It is
Being a member of Chovevei Zion, he located in the upper Sharon region,
put his writing talents to use for the near Tel Mond and 10 kilometers
Zionist cause. In a famous article, from Even Yehuda. Rav Shechterman
BeDerech Tzeiti, he describes the First purchased the land close to Arab
Aliyah of the Bilu Movement to Eretz Tel Kuram and Taibe, and planted
Israel. grapevines and orchards in order
to sell the produce to Jews in the
In 1888, Rav Javitz moved to Israel Diaspora.
and settled in Yehud. On Tu BiShvat
1890, Rabbi Javitz took his students to True to the Torah VeAvodah ideal, a
plant trees in the agricultural colony pioneering group of new immigrants
of Zichron Yaakov. This custom associated with Mizrachi was called
was adopted in 1908 by the Jewish upon to work the land, with a view
Teachers Union and later by the to settling it. One of these laborers
Jewish National Fund. He soon moved was Michael Hazani, who became
to Zichron Ya’akov, where he taught a founding father of religious
and published widely on educational settlement in Israel.
theory. However, his educational
ideals did not find favor with Baron de The moshav was surrounded by
Rothschild and he was forced to leave Arabs and was the most under-siege-
Zichron Ya’akov after three years, settlement during the Arab Riots of
moving to Jerusalem until 1897, when There is no other force that can 1936-1939. During the Second World
he left Israel altogether. protect and strengthen the Zionist War, the workers’ group had to be
ideal except for the observance of true dispersed and many were able to find
That same year, the First Zionist Judaism in all its aspects and in all its placements in other settlements.
Congress took place and Rav Javitz purity.”
joined the movement with great Today Kfar Yavitz is home to 120
enthusiasm. Returning first to Rav Javitz devoted the remaining families and its main income comes
Vilna, Germany, and finally London, years of his life, not only to the from agriculture: flowers, orchards,
where he remained until his death Mizrachi but to researching, strawberries, squash and more. 

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