World Agudath Israel (Hebrew:אגודת ישראל), usually known as theAguda, was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm ofAshkenaziTorah Judaism. It succeededAgudath Shlomei Emunei Yisroel (Union of Faithful Jewry) in 1912.[1] Its base of support was located inEastern Europe before theSecond World War but, due to the revival of theHasidic movement, it included Orthodox Jews throughout Europe. Prior to World War II and theHolocaust, Agudath Israel operated a number of Jewish educational institutions throughout Europe. After the war, it has continued to operate such institutions in the United States asAgudath Israel of America, and in Israel. Agudath Israel is guided by itsMoetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Sages) in Israel and the USA.
World Agudath Israel was established by Jewish religious leaders at a conference held atKattowitz (Katowice) in 1912.[1] They were concerned that the TenthZionist Congress had defeated a motion by the Torah NationalistsMizrachi movement for funding religious schools.
Among the chief founders of the organization wereJacob Rosenheim (one of the leaders of German Jewry), and RabbiAvrohom Mordechai Alter (the fourthGerrer Rebbe).[2][3] The aim of World Agudath Israel was to strengthen Orthodox institutions independent of the Zionist movement and Mizrachi organization.[4] The advent of the First World War delayed development of the organisation, however.
During theFirst World War, Rabbi Dr.Pinchas Kohn and Rabbi Dr. Emmanuel Carlebach (both from Germany),[5][6][7] were appointed as the rabbinical advisors to the German occupying forces in Poland. In this position, they worked closely[8] with the Grand Rabbi of Ger, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter. As a result of this collaboration, they developed the Agudath Israel organization, with the aim of unifying Eastern European and Western EuropeanOrthodox Judaism.
Agudath Israel gained a significant following, particularly among Hasidic Jews. It had representatives running in thePolish elections after the First World War, and they won seats in that country'sparliament (Sejm).[9][10][11] Among the elected representatives wereAlexander Zusia Friedman, RabbiMeir Shapiro,[12] Rabbi Yosef Nechemya Kornitzer ofKraków, and Rabbi Aharon Lewin ofReysha.
Prominent Torah scholars who led Agudath Yisroel included theGerrer Rebbe, theRadziner Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Elazar Leiner, and theChafetz Chaim. InLatvia between 1922-1934, members of theAgudath Israel faction, led byMordechai Dubin, were elected toSaeima (The Parliament). Another prominent member of Agudath Israel wasMichoel Ber Weissmandl. InLithuania, Agudath Israel was active inside ofAchdus, which merged into the Jewish Economical and Religious Party, and in Czechoslovakia, Agudath Israel first founded theJewish Conservative Party, which than merged into theJewish Economic Party and lastly into theJewish Republican Party [sk].
In the United Kingdom, the Agudath Israel movement was represented by the Adath Israel Synagogue, formed in 1909, and theUnion of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, formed in 1926. By 1943 Agudath Israel represented approximately 5000 families and was led by Rabbi DrSolomon Schonfeld. The British secretary of the Agudath Israel World Organization, the political wing of the movement, was Harry Goodman, publisher and editor ofJewish Weekly. He played a key part in maintaining the Agudath Israel organization through World War II.[13]
In the post-war period, Agudath Israel was active in Europe to provide aid for Holocaust survivors. There was a branch in the World Agudath Israel World Organization inEngland located at 37/38 Mitre Street inLondon. Another branch was located in Switzerland, located at 59 Lavaterstrasseled which was led by Dr.Shlomo Ehrman. There were also branches inAllied-occupied Germany. The Central-Committee of Agudath Israel of theBritish Zone was led by RabbiYisroel Moshe Olewski,[14] RabbiShlomo Zev Zweigenhaft[14] andEfraim Londoner[14][15] and was located inBergen-Belsen.[15] Yehuda Leib Girsht represented Agudath Israel on the camp committee of Bergen Belsen.[15] The Central Committee of Agudath Israel of theAmerican Zone was led by H. Parasol and N. Braunfeld and was located at Trogerstrasse 58/4 inMunich.
WhenIsrael was founded, Agudath Israel reached amodus vivendi with the State of Israel, which was predominantly led bysecularists. It helped secure an agreement between Ashkenazi rabbinical leaders andDavid Ben-Gurion which ensured Ashkenazi rabbinical co-ordination with the state, as well as the implementation of such guarantees as public observance consistent with the laws of theSabbath andKashrut. It has established itself as an Israeli political party winning seats in theKnesset either as theAgudat Israel or in coalition with other Orthodox groups running under the nameUnited Torah Judaism.[16]
The World Agudath Israel federation held international conferences and Torah congressional meetings known asHaKnessia HaGedolah (Hebrew:הכנסייה הגדולה,lit. 'The Great Congress'), which included many of its spiritual and political leaders, from Israel and around the world. To date, six congresses have been held, the last of which was in 1980.They were in 1923, 1929, 1937, 1954, 1964, and 1980.
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