THE FIFTH CHABAD RABBI AND ZIONISM: THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST
The 1880s marked the beginning of the politicization of East European Jewry. The phenomenon is specified by the common politicization of the society, but also it is a reaction to anti-Semitism. One form of Jewish politicization was the creation of “Hibbat Zion”, in which the religious actors also took part. With the participation of hovevei-Zion, in 1897 was established the World Zionist Organization (WZO). Closer to the Third Zionist Congress in 1899 intensified secular tendencies, and the part of religious leaders (including the 5th Chabad Rebbe) tried to form an independent political camp. In 1899, as a result of traditional establishment’s leaders meeting, convened by Schneerson, it was decided to begin the promotion of tradition. In 1900, the anti-Zionist brochure “Or la-Yesharim” was published in Warsaw, which rhetoric was based on satire. The Orthodox rejection of Zionism was explained by the ideological differences between religion and nationalism. Schneerson’s letter stands out on the general background of the anti-Zionist rhetoric, but also refers to the conflict of interest between the Orthodox and the Zionists. In the first decade of the 20th century Orthodoxy was modernized. The modernization expressed itself in politicization and partisanship. So, in 1907 appeared the Jewish orthodox party, Knesset Israel, and some rabbis, the authors of “Or la-Yesharim”, supported it. Nevertheless, Schneerson, continued to adhere to the principle of complete isolation. Thus, there is a certain duality in the status of Eastern European Jewish orthodoxy in the early 20th century. On the one hand, the Orthodoxy, in particular Hasidism, tries to present itself as an anti-modernization camp, on the other hand, the methods of conducting political activity are not characteristic of the traditional society, but were dictated by modernization.