Ultra-Orthodox Jewry in Eretz Israel during the British Mandate and Today

Born in Jerusalem in 1894. Studied in yeshiva from age of eight until marriage. Among original activists in Eda Haredit and executive of Agudat Israel. Founded the newspaper "Kol Yisrael." Supported himself by working as educational director of Diskin orphanage. Community haluka life, based on Kollelim (groupings for study of Torah) and allocation of donated funds-usually on ethnic basis, disrupted by World War I: terrible poverty; breakup of ethnic groupings. Situation improving with arrival of British forces; connection with America also opening. Founding of Chief Rabbinate; Rabbi Diskin and Rabbi Eliyashar chosen. Splitting of municipal committee into two: Ashkenazim and Sefardim. Disputes with German Ezra, which advocated assimalation with nationalist Jews, Hebrew language and choice of Rabbi Kook as Chief Rabbi. Kook's extended halakhic permits (heterim) regarding sabbatical year (shmitta) and willingness to deal with secular issues aroused wrath of rabbis of old yishuv despite admiration by great rabbis. Old yishuv eventually chose own chief rabbi, Rabbi Sonnenfeld. Eda Haredit felt discriminated against. Appearance of Professor De Haan moving closer to Eda Haredit; and ties to Higher Arab Committee. Organization of Eda Haredit in framework of World Agudat Israel. Clashes between Agudat Israel and Eda Haredit, mainly on issues of cooperating with nationalist organizations and attitude toward Rabbi Kook. Sharpening of conflict over question of founding secular Jewish ; state; Deepened schism between two groups eventually brought complete split of Eda Haredit from Agudat Israel.