World Agudath Israel

World Agudath Israel (The World Israelite Union) was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Orthodox Judaism. Its base was in Eastern Europe where traditional Judaism was strong before the Second World War and was undergoing a revivial due to the Hasidic movement. Its origins lie in a conference held at Kattowitz in 1912 after the Tenth World Zionist Congress had defeated a motion by religious Zionists for funding for religious schools. This defeat resulted in a number of religious Zionists (or Mizrachim) withdrawing from the official Zionist movement though it continued to support the establishment of religious settlements in Palestine.

Agudath Israel gained a significant following, particularly among Hasidic Jews, and even ran in Polish elections winning seats in that country's parliament.

While hostile to Zionism, Agudath Israel accepted the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and 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.

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.

The World Agudath Israel Federation continues to hold regular international conferences and religious meetings known as a knesiah.

External links

• Agudat Israel article from the Jewish Virtual Library