Haredi nationalism

Haredi nationalism is a recent ideological current among Haredi communities in Israel. The group is distinct from the Hardal, who are not Haredim, but rather Religious Zionists (Dati Leumi) who have adopted aspects of Haredi beliefs and lifestyle.

Ideology

Zionism has historically been rejected by the vast majority of Haredim in some way, shape, or form for a variety of reasons, mostly due to the ideology's secular origins and the belief that a Jewish state cannot exist in the Land of Israel until the coming of the Messiah. Attempts to synthesize traditional Judaism and Zionism resulted in the creation of Religious Zionism, which was initially uniformly rejected by most Haredi communities.

However, some Haredim, primarily Sephardim, have increasingly adopted nationalistic beliefs, while still holding a wide variety of views on the State of Israel and Zionism. Notably, the Shas party has become increasingly nationalistic, despite previously espousing a form of Haredi non-Zionism. The party joined the World Zionist Organization, a move criticized by their Ashkenazi counterpart, Agudat Israel.

Sephardic chief rabbi, Mordechai Eliyahu, was considered a leader amongst both the Hardal and Haredi non-Zionists. His influence created a bridge between both worlds by Haredizing religious Zionists and nationalizing Haredim.

Otzma Yehudit, a Kahanist political party, has a Haredi department intended to draw support from the increasingly right wing and ultranationalist Haredi communities.

See also

• Hardal
• Religious Zionism
• Hebrew Universalism
• Haredim and Zionism