Page 6 - HaMizrachi Pesach 5782 USA

Reaching Out to
Rabbi Hart
Levine
All of Am Yisrael:

The Mizrachi Way

or Religious Zionists and we may live, Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael, From its founding until today, Mizrachi
HaMizrachi magazine, this Medinat Yisrael and Torat Yisrael are at has consistently looked outwards,
has been a year of celebration the forefront of our consciousness. concerned for the welfare of all Jews –
F marking 120 years since the whether we agree ideologically or not.
founding of Mizrachi in 1902. But the Years ago, when I was a student at the Each of us has a responsibility to be a
University of Pennsylvania, I founded
story of Mizrachi really begins with an organization called Heart to Heart merkaz ruchani, a centering spiritual
the first Zionist Congress in 1897, when (H2H), with a simple mission: to force, for all of Am Yisrael. I left Israel
Theodor Herzl and others gathered include uninvolved students in Jewish with a renewed passion for this work,
in Basel to start the modern Zionist life by enabling involved Jewish and with the excitement and energy
project. Secular in nature, modern students to share meaningful positive of 200 young Jews ready to bring this
Zionism was a far cry from the biblical Jewish experiences and relationships vision back to America.
Zionism that had sustained our people with their peers. During a recent trip
through centuries of exile, and so to Israel, it struck me that this mission As we celebrate the season of our
most religious leaders steered clear of also lies at the very heart of Mizrachi. redemption, we must remember
Herzl in those early years – until 1902, Mizrachi’s commitment to actively
when Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Reines In Israel for the first time in two work to advance the process of
and others changed the dynamic. years, I had the joy and honor of redemption. We must not remain on
Rabbi Reines argued that despite our speaking to hundreds of students in the sidelines of history, content to
disagreements, religious Jews must Mizrachi leadership programs and spend our days in our own narrow
join and influence the direction of Mizrachi-affiliated gap year yeshivot silos with people just like us, but
the movement. Religious Jews would and midrashot. We spoke about rather reach out to our fellow Jews
be “Mizrachi”, the merkaz ruchani, the what it means to be an ambassador and welcome them into our homes
spiritual center of the movement. for Mizrachi when they go back and communities. May we find the
Bringing a spiritual, religious, and to campuses and communities in strength to reach out with love to
G-dly perspective to modern Zionism the Diaspora, about being involved all of Am Yisrael, and bring the final
and, ultimately, the State of Israel. with and influencing their Jewish redemption!
community, and taking responsibility
To this day, the Mizrachi ethos for the broader Jewish population
has remained consistent. Mizrachi in their vicinity. In a session with
communities and Mizrachi shlichim Mizrachi semicha students, we worked
do not simply say Hallel on Yom together to define the unique genre
HaAtzmaut or march in the Israeli Day of “Mizrachi outreach”, distinct from Rabbi Hart Levine is RZA-Mizrachi’s Senior
Parade. A Mizrachi Jew believes that Charedi or Chabad outreach, that is Educator for Leadership and Learning
we are a part of something far greater rooted in Ahavat Yisrael and a love of helping connect the next generation to the
than ourselves. Wherever in the world the State of Israel. ideals of Mizrachi.

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