History
World Agudath Israel was established at a conference held at Kattowitz (Katowice) in 1912 after the Tenth World Zionist Congress had defeated a motion by the Torah Nationalists Mizrachi movement for funding religious schools. Its aim was to strengthen Orthodox institutions independent of the Zionist movement and Mizrachi organization. The advent of the First World War delayed development of the organisation, however.
During the First World War, Dr Pinchas Kohn and Rb Emmanuel Carlebach from Germany, were appointed as the rabbinical advisors to the German occupying forces in Poland. In this position, they worked closely with the Grand Rabbi of Ger, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter. As a result of this collaboration, the Agudath Israel, whose aim was to unify Eastern European and Western European Orthodox Judaism, was formed.
Agudath Israel gained a significant following, particularly among Hasidic Jews, and even ran in Polish elections winning seats in that country's parliament (Sejm). Among the elected representatives were Alexander Zusia Friedman, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, Rabbi Yosef Nechemya Kornitzer of Kraków and Rabbi Aharon Lewin of Reysha. Great Torah luminaries of the day at the helm of Agudath Yisroel included the Gerrer Rebbe, the Radziner Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Elazar Leiner and the Chafetz Chaim. In Latvia between 1922-1934 the Agudath Israel faction, led by Mordechai Dubin, was present in Saeima (The Parliament). Another prominent member of Agudath Israel was Michoel Ber Weissmandl.
In Britain, the Agudath Israel movement was represented by the Adath Israel Synagogue, formed in 1909 and then the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations formed in 1926. By 1943 it represented approximately 5000 families and was led by Rabbi Dr Solomon Schonfeld. The British secretary of the Agudath Israel World Organization, the political wing of the movement, was Harry Goodman, publisher and editor of Jewish Weekly. He played a key part in maintaining the Agudath Israel organization through World War II.
Prior to World War II and the Holocaust, Agudath Israel operated a number of Jewish educational institutions throughout Europe and continues to do so in both the United States as Agudath Israel of America and in Israel. Agudath Israel is guided by its Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Sages) in Israel and the USA.
In the post-War period, Agudath Israel reached a modus vivendi with the State of Israel, which was predominantly led by secularists, and thus the need to secure the status quo between Ashkenazi Rabbinical leaders and David Ben-Gurion which ensured Ashkenazi Rabbinical co-ordination with the state, as well as the implementation of such guarantees, such as being Shomer Shabbat and Shomer Kashrut. It has established itself as an Israeli political party winning seats in the Knesset either as the Agudat Israel or in coalition with other Orthodox groups running under the name United Torah Judaism.
The World Agudath Israel Federation holds international conferences and Torah congressional meetings known as a Knessia Gedola.
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