Book contents
- Orthodox Judaism and the Politics of Religion
- Orthodox Judaism and the Politics of Religion
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- A Note on Terminology
- Introduction
- 1 Of Priests and Prophets
- 2 The Genesis of Orthodox Political Camps
- 3 Interwar Poland
- 4 Divisive Land
- 5 A New Era in Orthodox Relations
- 6 Emerging Israeli Milieus
- Epilogue
- Appendix
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
4 - Divisive Land
The Jewish Settlements in Mandatory Palestine
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2020
- Orthodox Judaism and the Politics of Religion
- Orthodox Judaism and the Politics of Religion
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- A Note on Terminology
- Introduction
- 1 Of Priests and Prophets
- 2 The Genesis of Orthodox Political Camps
- 3 Interwar Poland
- 4 Divisive Land
- 5 A New Era in Orthodox Relations
- 6 Emerging Israeli Milieus
- Epilogue
- Appendix
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
On March 4, 1925, the New York-based Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that the international Mizrahi movement’s executive had decided to expel one Dr. Robert Weiss from its ranks. All things being equal, this disciplinary measure was not earth-shattering. Mizrahi assumed the right to revoke the membership of those whose statements or actions purportedly deviated from the movement’s values. However, the reasons that the organization’s leadership gave to justify his ouster warrant attention. According to a party statement, the Viennese sociologist of religion and pundit on Jewish religion and politics, most notably Palestine affairs, was removed for actions “contrary to the discipline of the party,” that is “constant collaboration with the Agudist press.”1 In addition, Mizrahi pointed to the fact that Weiss had arranged a meeting between Chaim Weizmann and Pinhas Kohn – the president of the Agudah world movement’s political executive. At this summit, the two figures laid the groundwork for a conference of high-ranking ZO and Agudat Yisrael officials to discuss the possibility of the latter joining the Zionist-led Jewish Agency for Palestine. The decision to expel Weiss from the party on these grounds is baffling, for Mizrahi thinkers had long been urging the entire Orthodox world to join the Zionist movement. As such, they often castigated Agudat Yisrael for its passive approach to the settlement enterprise and enmity toward Zionism. Likewise, religious Zionists had publicly exhorted Agudah to join in the efforts to launch the Jewish Agency.2 On the face of things, then, Mizrahi should have welcomed Weizmann and Kohn’s meeting as a first step toward rapprochement between non-Zionist Orthodoxy and the ZO. Accordingly, Weiss’s harsh punishment calls for some explanation.
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- Orthodox Judaism and the Politics of ReligionFrom Prewar Europe to the State of Israel, pp. 104 - 130Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020