Page 59 - HaMizrachi Pesach 5782 USA
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the deciding view. Thus, for instance,   were distant from any work in the   support, that will stand on its own and
      Mizrachi decided the question of   Land of Israel. Many have answered   will sustain itself: a united community
      nationalizing land. Those advocating   our call and given hundreds and   that is not divided and partitioned into
      for nationalizing land demanded   thousands.  But  this  is  not  how   Sefardim and Ashkenazim, Yemenites
      that no individual have permission   the Land of Israel will be built. A   and Bukharans. This partition is an
      to purchase land in any place in the   relationship must be created between   outcome of the exile, and we must
      Land of Israel, and that all land instead   the donor and the Land of Israel, such   eradicate it.
      be national property. The members of   that the donor will know that he is
      Mizrachi agreed with the principle of   receiving. We must draw the Jews of   Mizrachi must muster our forces and
      nationalizing land, but recognized that   the synagogues and the study halls   send pioneers to the Land of Israel who
      it is implausible to preclude individuals   close to working the land, thereby   will literally participate in building the
      from redeeming land from foreigners.   bringing them into the Mizrachi   land. If Mizrachi were not to build the
      Therefore, they proposed that land   Organization. As long as Zionism   land, then others all the more so! We
      be bought with public funds and be   was merely a matter of fashion, it   are in need of people who do not
      national property, but individuals   had no place in the synagogues and   send money, but bring it with them
      too have permission to redeem tracts   study halls. However, now that it has   to the land! Let the merchants among
      of land and to purchase them from   become a vital question, now that   us,  the accomplished individuals,
      foreigners, and this proposal was   it concerns building the nation and   come and invest their resources in
      accepted at the Congress.        the land in practice, it has relevance   the Land of Israel for business and
                                       to the Jews of the synagogues and
      After we returned from London clearly   study halls. Of course, they must   for profit. We must answer the call
      aware that Mizrachi can be a major   embrace whole and complete Zionism:   of the Land of Israel, of our country
      force among our people, Mizrachi   Mizrachi Zionism! The members of the   and our homeland, and if only we
      began developing with quick strides   synagogues must accept the Mizrachi   so desire, we can build it. We have
      in America as well. Members were   program and join Mizrachi not only as   wealthy individuals and statesmen in
      added, chapters were founded, and the   individuals, but as groups. This is what   greater numbers than others think.
      organization continually grew from   Agudath HaRabbonim did at its recent   We must purchase real estate in the
      day to day. I do not know the actual   convention, resolving to join Mizrachi   Land of Israel, must redeem the land
      reason for the rapid development   as an association. This is what real   from foreigners, and so we shall have
      of Mizrachi in recent months. It is   rabbis do. Numerous synagogues in   the dust of the Land of Israel not after
      possible that the disputes between   New York and country towns are   death, but in life!
      Mizrachi and the General Zionists   continually joining Mizrachi.
      caused many to take note of the                                   Mizrachi must disseminate its spirit
      character, views, and stances of   In financial matters as well, our   in every possible place. The teachers’
      Mizrachi. The motto of Mizrachi seems   organization has emerged from its   training college too was founded for
      already to have gained repute, to the   limited circle. We were compelled to   the dissemination of this spirit. This
      point  that  others  are  coming  and   announce an Eretz Yisrael Fund to   college is in need of development, it
      mimicking it. Not only did Mizrachi   the amount of half a million dollars.   remains a fragile sapling that requires
      create the motto “The Land of Israel,   Even without a significant fundraising   cultivation and care. Yet it is to be
      for the people of Israel, according to   campaign, about one hundred and   hoped that this institution will develop
      the Torah of Israel” on paper, but it   ten thousand dollars, including forty   and attain its exalted purpose: to rear
      strives to bring it to life, and if others   thousand in cash, has been brought in   expert teachers loyal to Judaism and
      come and mimic it in that respect   thus far for the fund. Yet this amount is   to tradition.
      too – may they be blessed! Work is   quite small relative to what is needed.
      executed not by a program, but by   We must expand our work in the Land   We must provide the people and the
      workers and doers. We must publicize   of Israel, particularly in Jerusalem.   money for great and unceasing work
      the character, goals, and ambitions of   “One who tears [in mourning] over   in the exile and in the Land of Israel.
      Mizrachi not only with words, but also   Jerusalem  is  exempt  from  tearing   A great hour is upon us, and we must
                                       over the other cities of Judea” – and
      with deeds, through industrious and                               be prepared with forces mustered and
      faithful workers.                the same goes for rebuilding our holy   means at the ready.
                                       city! Jerusalem has great political
      Our organization has grown greatly   value, because it is there that the
      this year. We have been joined by   backbone of the Yishuv resides. We
      new forces who until now stood at   must create in Jerusalem a healthy
      a distance from our movement and   community that will not require






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