Ultra Orthodox Communities

In Jerusalem

Important Rabbinical Leaders:

1. (Yisrael) Ba'al Shem Tov: (Lit. The bearer of the good name/ The good magical healer), (1698-1760), Ukraine, founder of the Hasidic movement.

2. The Gaon of Vilna or Vilna Gaon, (Lit. The wise man from Vilna), -The Gr"a - Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman, (1720-1797), Vilna, Lithuania, The leader of the Non- Hasidic (Litvish) world, known also as Misnagdim (Mitnagdim).

3. The Chosom Sofer (Chatam Sofer), Rabbi Moshe Sofer, (Schreiber), Hungary, (1762-1839), instructed his followers to lead traditional lifestyles and to resist modern culture.

4. Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin (1818–1898) Jerusalem, Rabbinical leader of the Old Yishuv, Founded the Diskin Orphanage – son co-founder Eidah Hareidis

5. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (also written Zonnenfeld) (1849 – 1932) Jerusalem, Co-Founder of the Edah Hareidis.

6. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935) First Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem and Later the Jewish communities of Mandate Palestine, Pro-Zionist.

7. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auebach (1910-1995), Renowned Rabbi, leader of the Kol Torah Yeshiva.

8. Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910- ) current leading Rabbi of the Litvish (non-Hassidic) community.

9. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef – Rishon LeTzion – (1920- ), Former Chief Rabbi of the Sephardic community in Israel. Still seen as the Leading Rabbi by many followers. Spiritual Leader and ultimate authority of the Shas Party.

Major Hasidic Courts in Israel:

1. Gur (Ger)

2. Viznitz

3. Belz

4. Zans-Klausenburg

5. Karlin-Stolin

Major Hasidic Courts in the United States:

1. Bobov

2. Satmar

3. Skver

“Exceptional” Hasidic groups:

1. Chabad (Lubavitch)

2. Breslov

Major Yeshivot in Jerusalem (Litvish):

1. Mir

2. Hebron

3. Kol Torah

4. Itri

5. Brisk

Political Parties:

United Torah Judaism: Two Factions - Agudat Yisroel (Yisrael) – Affiliated with Hasidic Judaism

and Degel HaTorah – Affiliated with the Litvish (Misnagdim) groups.

Shas: Sephardic Ultra-Orthodox -http://www.shasnet.org.il/Front/NewsNet/newspaper.asp

English Press (Israeli):

HaModia: http://www.hamodia.com/

Yeted Ne'eman: Print Daily - no website

HaMishpach Magazine - http://www.mishpacha.com/updates/

Glossary:

Hasidism: Religious and cultural movement that was founded in 18^th Century Eastern Europe. Stresses spirituality, prayer, happiness, and personal closeness to God (Deveikus). Since its founding has splintered into a myriad of smaller groups each with unique customs, dress and teachings.

Misnagdim (Mitnagdim): Name adopted by the Non-Hassidic European Jewish communities. Stress Intellectualism, Torah learning and strict adherence to the Jewish Law. Nowadays called Litvaks or Litvish (Lithuanians).

Prushim: Name given to the community of Jerusalem descendants of the disciples of the Vilna Gaon.

Edah Hachareidis: The organization representing the Anti-Zionist factions of the Jerusalem communities. Founded in 1929, it first resisted the Zionist leadership under the British Mandate and later in 1948 the Jewish State. They accept no funding from the government and they do not participate in Elections. Affiliated with Satmar Hasidim.

Badatz: acronym for Beit Din LeTzedek (lit. Court of Justice) High court of the Edah HaChareidis.

Neturei Karta: (Lit. guardians of the city) Small, vocal and radical Anti Zionist group – a few hundred families – that split from the Eidah Chareidis.

Cheider: (lit. "room"): traditional primary school for boys.

Yeshiva: Institution of higher learning.

Beis (Beit) Medrash : House of study.

Kollel (Koilel): In the 19^th and early 20^th century it referred to the community organization. Late 20^th century till today refers to the study hall of Avrechim (married, post–Yeshiva Students).

Gemach: (acronym for the Hebrew – Gemilut Hasadim- lit. acts of kindness) Community based no-interest loan funds that assist with anything from cash, to furniture, to diapers.

Pashkevil (Pashkaveil): Posters usually announcing speaking events, death notices and public condemnations. Serve as major source of media and communication for those that do not have television or internet.

Daas (Daat) Torah: (Lit. The opinion of the Torah) Litvish ideological doctrine that authorizes the great Torah masters to rule even on non-halakhic matters, esp. In the public arena. Also, the particular rulings issued on these matters are often called ‘Daas Torah’. The doctrine is identified by scholars as modern invention, by some as a tool of the Agudat Yisrael leadership.

Cherem: "The Ban", Public excommunication. The ultimate punishment for a community member.

NOTE: The Hebrew letter "Tav" ת without a dagesh (dot) is pronounced by Sephardic Jews (and in modern Hebrew), Tav (T), whereas in European pronunciation – Sav (S) – example – Daat Torah or Daas Torah.

Further Resources:

Heilman, Samuel C. and Friedman, Menachem, The Haredim in Israel: Who are they and what do they want, American Jewish Committee, (1996)

Scanned copy can be viewed here: https://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/18437

Brown, Benjamin, "Orthodox Judaism" in the Blackwell Reader in Judaism, Neusner, Avery-Peck, (2001) Blackwell Publishers, Malden, Mass, pp. 232-255

Rose, Ahron, "Haredim: A Defense" in Azure Vol. 25, pp. 29-60 (2006)

Fulltext here:

http://www.azure.org.il/download/magazine/1725az25_Rose.pdf.

http://www.jewishmediaresources.com

Guide and Program Coordinator - Asher Altshul is a tour guide, rabbi, archaeologist and educator. He is completing a Masters Degree at the Hebrew University. He leads tours in Jerusalem (and all over Israel) and teaches Talmud at a Zionist Hesder Yeshiva in the Old City. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Anat and their two daughters.

He can be reached at:

asher.altshul@mail.huji.ac.il or 052-2-323-219