The Edah HaCharedis (Hebrew: העדה החרדית HaEdah HaCharedis), also written Edah Haredit, is a prominent Haredi rabbinical body in present-day Jerusalem. Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbÄ«;; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbÄ«) in Judaism, means teacher, or more literally great one. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root-word RaV, which in biblical Hebrew means great or distinguished, (in knowledge). In the ancient Judean schools (and among Sefaradim today) the sages... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin: Hierosolyma) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 metres (about 2000-2500 feet). ...

There is also a Sephardi Edah HaCharedit, with the exact same name, which is however not affiliated with the better known Ashkenazi Edah HaChareidis, which this article deals with. Sephardi Jews (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew Səfardi, Tiberian Hebrew ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Sfaradim, Tiberian Hebrew ) are a subgroup of Jews originating in the Iberian Peninsula, generally defined in contrast to Ashkenazi Jews. ...

Logo of the Edah Charedis

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x524, 14 KB) Summary Logo of the Edah Charedis of Jerusalem Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x524, 14 KB) Summary Logo of the Edah Charedis of Jerusalem Licensing This is a logo of a corporation, sports team, or other organization, and is protected by copyright and/or trademark. ...

History and Ideology

The Edah was founded in 1919 by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin (son of Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, Rabbi of Brisk, Lithuania) in 1919, prior to the establishment of the Chief Rabbinate by the Zionist movement under British auspices. Rabbi Sonnenfeld was named the first Chief Rabbi of the Edah Charedis, a position he held until his passing in 1932, during the time when the Ottoman Empire's control over Palestine was weakening, and continued in its offices when the British took control after World War I under the British Mandate of Palestine. The British chose to create a new Zionist rabbinical hierarchy under the newly-created Chief Rabbinate of Palestine, which later became the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook became the first Chief Rabbi in 1921. The Edah HaCharedis, which was - and still is - strongly anti-Zionist, resisted these moves and opposed the new British-created Zionist Chief Rabbinate. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849 - 1932) was the Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazi Haredi Jewish community of Jerusalem during the years of the British mandate and co-founder of the Edah HaChareidis. ... Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin HaGaon Harav Yehoshua Leib Diskin (1818-1898), also known as the Maharil Diskin, served as a Rabbi in Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Shklov, Brisk and finally Jerusalem after moving there in 1876. ... Brisk as a proper name may refer to: Brest, Belarus (Brest-Litovsk) The Brisk yeshivas, rabbinical college originally founded in Brest and relocated to Jerusalem. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Söğüt (1299-1326), Bursa (1326-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Constantinople (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanl... Palestine (Hebrew: Palestina, also ארץ ישראל, Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), a Hebrew term for the same area; Arabic: ‎ Filastīn or Falastīn) is one of many historical names for the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the banks of the Jordan River, plus various adjoining lands to the east and... Combatants Allied Powers: British Empire France Italy Russia United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Military dead: 4 million The First World War, also known as The Great War, The War to End All Wars, and World War I (abbreviated WWI) was... Map of the territory under the British Mandate of Palestine. ... Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ... Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 - 1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate of Palestine, the founder of the (now) Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz Harav, and a renowned Torah scholar. ... // Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ... Anti-Zionism is a term used to describe several different political and religious points of view. ...

Rabbi Sonnenfeld was succeeded by Rabbi Yoseph Tzvi Dushinsky. He was succeeded by Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis, who was succeeded by the famous Satmar Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum. Rabbi Teitelbaum lived in the United States, but was the chief rabbi of the Edah HaCharedis. Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's nephew, the late Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar, was given the title of President, upon Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's passing. Meanwhile, in 1945, Agudath Israel, formerly aligned with the Edah, broke away from it. The Dushinsky Hasidic dynasty is one of the few not to be named for the place where it originated. ... Satmar is the largest Hasidic group in existence today. ... Grand Rabbi Joel (Yoel) Teitelbaum, (1887-1979), known variously as Reb Yoelish and the Satmar Rav (or Rebbe) (יואל טייטלבוים), was a prominent Hungarian Hasidic rebbe and Talmudic scholar. ... Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Teitelbaum (November 1, 1914 – April 24, 2006) was a Hasidic rebbe and the world leader of the Satmar Hasidim, which is believed to be today the largest Hasidic community in the world, with some 100,000 followers. ... Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including: an international movement, the World Agudath Israel an American organization, Agudath Israel of America an Israeli political party, Agudat Israel This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The anti-Zionist stance of the Edah is determined by the book Vayoel Moshe, written by former Edah President and Chief Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, which is regarded as the standard using which all issues relating to the Zionist state are determined. Grand Rabbi Joel (Yoel) Teitelbaum, (1887-1979), known variously as Reb Yoelish and the Satmar Rav (or Rebbe) (יואל טייטלבוים), was a prominent Hungarian Hasidic rebbe and Talmudic scholar. ...

Despite the anti-Zionist stance of the Edah HaCharedis, a fragile cooperation is maintained with the state-run Chief Rabbinate (for example, for the purpose of registering marriages and divorces). On the other hand, converts to Judaism who convert through the Edah HaChareidis (like converts through all non-government organizations), are not recognized as Jews by the state for the purpose of obtaining Israeli citizenship via the Law of Return. [1] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The official position held by the Edah includes rules not to accept any money from the government, nor to accept Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return. These prohibitions are also written in Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's Vayoel Moshe. Because of this, the state's non-recognition of Edah conversions for the purposes of the Law of Return is not very important to the converts themselves.

Controversies

2006: Yisroel Vales

When in 2006 Yisroel Vales, a 19-year old kollel student was accused of manslaughter in the death of his three-month old son, the leadership of the Edah HaChareidis joined the public battle for his release. Protesters demanded an end to the prosecution of a 'victimized father'. The Vales case caused a severe uproar in Israeli society, and many secular newspapers wrote defamatory articles accusing Haredim of defending an alleged 'child murderer'. A Kollel is an institute for Jewish learning for adults; they have traditionally been a Yeshiva for married men. ...

Kashrut supervision

The Edah HaCharedis is known for its high standards in rabbinical supervision of kosher food, and is considered to be one of the strictest hechsherim in Israel. It is often simply known as the hechsher of the "Badatz", which stands for Beis Din Tzedek or "Righteous Court of Law". Products which the Edah certified are marked with the well-known logo of the Edah, shown above. The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... Hechsher (הכשר Hebrew: kosher approval , plural: hechsherim) is the formal granting of certification, usually by an authorized rabbi, that a product is certified as kosher (meaning fit [for consumption].) A hechsher is usually conveyed to the public by a special marking on products (generally foods) certifying that the item is certified... A beth din (בית דין, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ...

Prominent members of the rabbinical court of the Edah HaCharedis

Chief Rabbis (גאב"ד) of the Edah HaCharedis

1. 1919-1932: Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849-1932)
2. Grand Rabbi Yoseph Tzvi Dushinsky (1865-1949)
3. Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis (1864-1953)
4. Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979)
5. 1979-1989: Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss (1901-1989; author of Minchas Yitzchak, formerly of Manchester, England)
6. 1989-1996: Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Freund (1904-1996; author of Ateres Yehoshua (Chassidei Satmar)
7. 1996-2002: Grand Rabbi Yisrael Moshe Dushinsky (1921-2003; son of Rabbi Yoseph Tzvi Dushinsky, listed above)
8. 2002 to present: Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss (formerly dayan of Antwerp, Belgium)

Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849 - 1932) was the Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazi Haredi Jewish community of Jerusalem during the years of the British mandate and co-founder of the Edah HaChareidis. ... The Dushinsky Hasidic dynasty is one of the few not to be named for the place where it originated. ... Grand Rabbi Joel (Yoel) Teitelbaum, (1887-1979), known variously as Reb Yoelish and the Satmar Rav (or Rebbe) (יואל טייטלבוים), was a prominent Hungarian Hasidic rebbe and Talmudic scholar. ... Satmar is the largest Hasidic group in existence today. ... Manchester is a city in England, considered by many to be the countrys second city [1][2]. It is a centre of the arts, the media, higher education and big business. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Satmar is the largest Hasidic group in existence today. ... The Dushinsky Hasidic dynasty is one of the few not to be named for the place where it originated. ... A Rabbi (Classical Hebrew רִבִּי ribbī; modern Ashkenazi and Israeli רַבִּי rabbī) is a religious Jewish scholar who is an expert in Jewish law. ... The Cathedral of our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp) in the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to several triptychs by Baroque painter Rubens. ...

Presidents (נשיא) of the Edah HaCharedis

1. Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887-1979)
2. Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar (1914-2006)
3. Rabbi Dovid Soloveitchik Rosh Yeshivah of Brisk, current President of the Edah Charedis

Grand Rabbi Joel (Yoel) Teitelbaum, (1887-1979), known variously as Reb Yoelish and the Satmar Rav (or Rebbe) (יואל טייטלבוים), was a prominent Hungarian Hasidic rebbe and Talmudic scholar. ... The Late Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar dancing at a wedding Satmar (or Satmar Hasidism or Satmarer Hasidim) (חסידות סאטמאר) is a movement of Orthodox Haredi Jews who adhere to Hasidism originating in the Hungarian town of Szatmárnémeti, originally part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and presently located in... Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Teitelbaum (November 1, 1914 – April 24, 2006) was a Hasidic rebbe and the world leader of the Satmar Hasidim, which is believed to be today the largest Hasidic community in the world, with some 100,000 followers. ... The Late Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar dancing at a wedding Satmar (or Satmar Hasidism or Satmarer Hasidim) (חסידות סאטמאר) is a movement of Orthodox Haredi Jews who adhere to Hasidism originating in the Hungarian town of Szatmárnémeti, originally part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and presently located in... Rosh yeshiva (Hebrew: ראש ישיבה) (pl. ... Brisk yeshivas commonly known as Brisk (a name used by many Yiddish-speaking Jews to refer to the town of Brest-Litovsk, located in what is now Belarus). ...

Past members

• Rabbi Pinchas Epstein
• Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher (1928-2003), author of Even Yisrael
• Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (1932-2006)
• Rabbi Binyamin Rabinowitz

Rabbi Moshe Halberstam Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (April 1, 1932 –`April 26, 2006) was the son of Grand Rabbi Yaakov Halberstam of Tschakava, a scion of the Sanz dynasty. ...

Present members

• Rabbi Dovid Soloveitchik, president
• Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, chief rabbi
• Rabbi Yaakov Blau
• Rabbi Meir Brandsdorfer (Chassidei Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok)
• Rabbi Naphtali Hertzke Frankel
• Rabbi Yeshayah Rosenberger
• Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch (head)
• Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ulman (Chassidei Dushinsky)
• Rabbi Yaakov Mendel Yuravitch

The founder of the Toldos Aharon dynasty, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok Kahn, son-in-law of Rabbi Aharon Roth Rabbi Abraham Chaim Roth, the Shomer Emunim Rebbe of Bnei Brak, son of Rabbi Areleh Roth. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Dushinsky Hasidic dynasty is one of the few not to be named for the place where it originated. ...

Prominent Rabbis affiliated with the Edah HaChareidis

• Rabbi Shmuel Wosner
• Rabbi Moshe Sacks

External links

• Statements against Zionism by the Edah Hacharedis
• Obituary of Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss of the Eidah Charedis
• Obituary of Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher of the Eidah HaCharedis
• Obituary of Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Fisher, with much information about the history of the Eidah Charedis
• Obituary of Rabbi Moshe Halberstam of the Eidah HaCharedis