While
many Orthodox Jews opposed Zionism, there were some
who thought that building a homeland in Palestine
would begin the redemption of the Jewish people promised
by biblical prophets. Religious Zionists envisioned
a Jewish homeland based on the Torah and its commandments.
Mizrachi, the most prominent religious Zionist party,
was founded in Vilna in 1902. Its name is an acronym
for the Hebrew term merkaz ruhaani (spiritual center).
Mizrachi’s synthesis of religion and nationalism
proved popular. The party quickly established 210
branches in the Russian Empire, as well as groups
in Western and Central Europe.
Mizrachi saw itself as representing the interests
of Orthodox Jews in the Zionist movement and in the
new Zionist society taking shape in Palestine. Shortly
after World War I, Mizrachi was authorized by the
World Zionist Organization to establish the office
of chief rabbinate in Palestine and to set up religious
schools there. Young Mizrachi members formed Ze’irei
Mizrachi (Mizrachi Youth) and sent pioneers to Palestine
to build settlements in the spirit of religious renewal.
Their motto, "Torah va-Avodah" (Torah and
Labor) inspired the creation of Ha-Po’el ha-Mizrachi,
a religious labor party.
