About Us
The first Religious Zionist Congress met in Vilna in 1902, initiated by a number of Rabbis and communal leaders – among them Rav Jacob Reines, Rav Isaac Nissenbaum and Rav Ze'ev Javitz. It was at this event that the name Mizrachi - a conglomeration of the words Mercaz Ruchani (
Spiritual
Center) - was chosen. The Mizrachi movement envisioned itself as the spiritual center of the Zionist organization and called for making Eretz
Israel the spiritual center of Judaism. The name Mizrachi was applied in order to show the relationship between the new Zionist movement and the Mizrachi segment of Hibbat Zion, which was established by Rabbi Shmuel Mohilver in 1893. Their purpose was twofold: On one hand, they desired to heighten the awareness among religious Jews towards the possibility of Aliya; and on the other hand, they desired to influence the non-religious Zionists by creating an atmosphere of tolerance and equality throughout the Zionist movement.
Throughout the 20th Century Mizrachi built a steadily expanding movement of followers and adherents devoted to Torah and Eretz Yisrael. Under the influence of giants and visionaries such as Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook in Israel and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik in
North America, Mizrachi built a strong ideological foundation and a unique place in the Zionist landscape. Mizrachi has generated a myriad of institutions over the years, all of them contributing to the effort to fulfill the goals of its founders. Through its successful projects in the fields of education and Torah, encouraging Aliyah, the Jewish settlement of Eretz Yisrael and the strengthening of the security of the Jewish State, generations of Jews have flourished in communities throughout
Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. The principles of Torah V’Avodah, Torah im Derech Eretz, Torah u’Mada and Torah u’Medinah, were strengthened, leaving their permanent and proud imprint of Torah and Zionism on the State of Israel and on the Jewish People.
Members of Mizrachi are found throughout society in
Israel. They are at the forefront of economics, politics, welfare, technology, science, the army and in every sphere of everyday life. In Jewish communities outside of
Israel, Mizrachi members are at the vanguard of communal, spiritual and education leadership.
Mizrachi also finds itself in the enviable position of running educational programming throughout the Israeli education system. Through its "Merkaz Lechinuch Dati" arm, the Mizrachi provides supplementary religious education in 255 secondary schools in
Israel.
At one time, Mizrachi youth in
Israel encounter a problem when they reach the age of 18. They were faced with the dilemma of choosing between continuing their Torah studies and serving in the army. This problem was overcome by the setting up of the "Hesder" program where boys sign up for 5 years in place of the regular 3 and throughout this period combine the two. Over 30 Yeshivot - Talmudic academies - have been established accommodate the over 6000 students currently in this program. Not all Mizrachi youth enter the Hesder Yeshivot. Some decide to dedicate an extra year to learning before they enter the regular army stream or move directly into army service. Mizrachi is very proud of the proportionally large number of serving officers in the Israel Defense Forces that are associated with the Movement.
Female members of the Mizrachi movement living in
Israel faced a similar dilemma when they reached the age of 18. For many it is questionable in Jewish law whether women should serve in the army or not. Three options now exist for our young women. The first is to get a religious exemption from service, but this option is very rarely used. The second is to serve in the educational corps of the army where our girls serve as teachers in various spheres - to a regular soldier, those from underprivileged homes and those with learning impediments, as well as working in underdeveloped towns.
The third option is called "Sherut Leumi", a program under which Mizrachi girls volunteer for one or two years of national service. At present there are some 6000 girls "working" from Eilat to the northern border, from the coast to the
Jordan River. Their National Service may take many forms. They work in hospitals, old age homes, shelters for children from broken homes, various educational institutes. In addition, they sometimes work with new immigrants and have available to them many more options throughout
Israel. Approximately 50 of these young women are selected every year to serve as teachers and tutors in Jewish communities throughout the world including 5 currently volunteering in the
Toronto Jewish day school system.
As mentioned earlier, part of our motto is "Am Yisrael B'Eretz Israel" and this entails development of the
land of
Israel. The Mizrachi movement proudly boasts a “Kibbutz Hadati” network of 16 kibbutzim where an Orthodox lifestyle is maintained. These kibbutzim are spread throughout the Land and are involved in agriculture and industry. They proudly observe the various Torah laws, which apply to the
Land of
Israel including Shemitta (the sabbatical year), Orlah, Tevel etc.
In addition to the achievements of the religious kibbutzim, Mizrachi also sponsors the "Religious Moshav Movement". This is a network of 64 moshavim extending throughout the land. In addition, it also boasts 9 Moshavim Shitufiim where the lifestyle is a combination of kibbutz and moshav. Finally, the Mizrachi movement also has 14 community settlements, which are not connected to any agricultural enterprises.
The Mizrachi movement has also had a hand in establishing five additional institutes of higher learning, four trade schools, five old age homes, a mortgage bank, a pension fund, 131 free interest loan societies, a construction company and various kibbutz guest houses. Mizrachi officials have been involved in cultural institutions including the daily newspaper Hatzofe, Mossad Harav Kook, and in literary activities such as the publication of the Talmudic Encyclopedia. Though most of these institutions now operate completely independently, their origins were in the Mizrachi Movement.
The Mizrachi movement's achievements in the
Land of
Israel are truly outstanding. This, however, is all independent of the important work that Mizrachi does in the various Diaspora communities. Many members of the Mizrachi movement are sent as emissaries throughout the Jewish world, specifically to smaller communities where their impact is enormous. All this is in addition to the 37 countries where the Mizrachi movement has active branches.
In addition to its local branches throughout the world, Mizrachi has fostered a network of religious Zionist Kollelim in over 15 cities in the Diaspora. Its Kollel Mitzion division has been instrumental in recruiting talented young families and young men to move to these cities and spread the love of Torah and Torah study in the communities to which they have been assigned.
In order to serve our University age youth, Mizrachi has established Yavneh Olami as an international Religious Zionist student organization that utilizes innovative educational resources to inspire, educate and empower Jewish students from the Diaspora to strengthen their connection to
Israel and the Jewish People.
Thousands of religious Jewish students around the globe are the products of a strong Jewish education and come from Zionist homes, yet lack a basic understanding of the connection of the Jewish people to the
Land of
Israel as well as fundamental knowledge about
Israel’s history, culture, and politics. These students, including those who have spent a full year on a yeshiva or other long-term program in
Israel, frequently find themselves ill-equipped to face the challenges confronting pro-Israel students on campus.
Yavneh Olami’s vision is to establish an international community of active Israel-minded students who possess a firm commitment and deep sense of responsibility to
Israel and the Jewish People. In order to accomplish this Yavneh Olami runs a series of high-quality educational programs that focus on hasbara (pro-Israel advocacy),
Israel connectivity, leadership development, and Aliyah promotion.
In addition to offices in Jerusalem and New York and an expanding volunteer network in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa, Yavneh Olami has a strong representation is here in
Toronto. Our young and dynamic staff work together with students to generate fresh ideas tailored to the interests of different populations. Working in partnership with various governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations in
Israel and abroad, Yavneh Olami prides itself on meeting the needs of religious Zionist students with the utmost level of professionalism.
The Mizrachi youth movement, Bnei Akiva has a long and impressive track record addressing the needs of religious Zionist youth up to the age of 18. It has been active for the past 70 years. Founded in Israel in 1929, Bnei Akiva is the largest youth group in
Israel and boasts many branches throughout the country with thousands of active members. The World Bnei Akiva movement is also active in 37 countries where it plays an active role in communal youth activities. The World Movement sends out 120 "shlichim" a year throughout the Jewish world where they work with the members of the movement, teach in Jewish day schools and in some instances also perform rabbinical duties as well.
In
Toronto, Bnei Akiva runs five different Branches or snifim offering regular structured enjoyable Shabbat afternoon activities and educational programs. Shabbatonim are organized for the various age groups. For the high school aged chanichim there is also a Monday evening Beit Midrash learning program set up in one of the local synagogues in an informal study hall atmosphere. This program attracts 50 – 100 students on a weekly basis.
All these complex multifaceted aspects of the Mizrachi movement express themselves on a more concrete level in the activities of the Mizrachi office here in
Toronto. For over 60 years, Mizrachi Toronto has been involved in raising funds for a wide range of Israeli Torah institutions as well as fundraising for special projects such as our major resettlement initiative for Gush Katif. Mizrachi Toronto, in building for our future, provides funding to assist youth leadership development organizations such as Bnei Akiva, Yavneh, and Mach Hach Ba'aretz. Mizrachi Toronto’s various committees mount annual programs for Yom Ha’Atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim. True to its mission statement of strengthening the Torah of
Israel, Mizrachi Toronto’s greatest pride is its regular Torah lectures and Shabbatonim where Israeli and Diaspora Torah scholars have the opportunity to provide spiritual and religious enrichment for the general community.
Mizrachi Organization of
Canada
The People of Israel, in the
Land of
Israel,
According to the Torah of
Israel
