Page 33 - HaMizrachi Chanukah 2021 - USA

IEWS

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Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. · Sivan · Rabbi Danny

Schacter ·nahav Meir Mirvis

cast
we
am
abbi Yitzchak Yaakov Reines, the founder I not afraid that there will be no next gen- • As our eyes to the future, the pri-
of the Religious Zionist movement, eration of religious doctors or religious law- orities of our global movement should
R defined what he meant when he yers. Nor am I afraid there will be no religious be guided by the same core tenets of
clearly
chose the name "Mizrachi." Contrary to journalists or religious high-tech workers. Religious Zionism which have formed
popular perception, it had nothing to do I fear that the next generation will not the central pillars of our ideology
with "mizrach," or east. He explicitly defined it as • include rabbis, spiritual leaders and Torah schol- • throughout our proud history: Am Yisrael, Eretz
a conflation of the two words, "merkaz ruchani." , ars of a serious stature; that we will not develop • Yisrael and Torat Yisrael.
He wanted his new organization to serve as a , the next Rabbi Kook or the next Rabbi Solove- , Though it may not have been the initial
spiritual center, to, in his words, "impart the : itchik, the next Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria or the , intent when the name "Mizrachi" was com-
faithful spirit of Judaism to Zionism in general".' • next Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein. • prised from the words "merkaz ruchani" (spir-
Over the years, our movement has lost its Our young people hear a lot about the com- : itual center), we should take inspiration from
way. Particularly in the last few decades, it has : plexity of life and the integration of different : the origins of our movement's name to promote
unfortunately positioned itself and is experi- • worlds and less about dedication, devotion, and • a thriving and confident "merkaz ruchani" - a
enced, even by those like me who deeply iden- • concentration on Torah learning. • spiritual middle-ground. Religious Zionism is
tify with it, as a "merkaz politi," placing politics • It is my great wish that the Torah will not • uniquely placed to respond to the challenges
rather than spirituality at its center. • be a 'side dish' but the 'main dish.' I hope that • of ever-increasing polarization by providing a
But its ideals remain exalted and even more • our community will cherish and respect those • centrist ideological home for a Judaism that is
necessary than ever before. Nowhere else can , who dedicate their lives to Torah, and that rabbis • proudly Zionist, cares deeply about Jewish unity,
we see the profound relevance of Torah values : and tzaddikim will not only appear in children's , and is unashamedly committed to Torah and
to modern society in all its facets, as in the : stories about the Jews of yesteryear but will be , Torah values.
G-d given gift of our times called Medinat Yis- living and breathing role models at the center , We must resist the temptation to limit
rael. Nowhere else can we potentially see the • of our community. • ourselves to our historical comfort zones and
actualization of the love of Eretz Yisrael and • 1 thank G-d for the privilege of sitting in Jeru- : expand our horizons beyond education and pol-
Am Yisrael in so broad and profound a way. As : salem and writing about the future challenges : itics. Religious Zionism must educate the next
we celebrate the remarkable milestone of 120 : of the Jewish people. • generation to bring our values and beliefs to
years, let us explore how to be the most effec- • This was something we could only dream : every sphere of leadership and influence.
tive, inspirational "merkaz ruchani" envisioned : about 120 years ago! By cultivating future Religious Zionist lead-
by our founder. • ership and empowering a network of interna-
• tional branches, sh/ichim, affiliated institutions
1. Rabbi Y. L. Hakohen Fishman, Sefer HaMizrachi: Kovetz •
leZeicher haGaon Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Reines zt"/ , • and ideological partners, we can create the plat-
(Mossad Ha Rav Kook, 1946), pp. 98-101. • form to further advance the global revival for
• our Israel-centered vision for the Jewish world.
Rabbi Dr.Jacob}. Schacter is University Professor •
of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and Senior ,
Scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future at • Sivan Rahav Meir is a popular Israeli media person- : Rabbi Danny Mirvis is Deputy CEO of World
Yeshiva University. : a/ity and World Mizrachi's Scholar-in-Residence. • Mizrachi.

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