Kedushat Zion

Kedushat Zion (Hebrew: קדושת ציון, "Holiness of Zion") is a Haredi association and publishing initiative founded in 2015. Its full name is "Agudat Kedushat Zion – Hitachdut HaHaredim LeDrishat Zion Al Taharat HaKodesh" (Association of Kedushat Zion – Union of Haredim for the Demand of Zion in Purity of Holiness). The organization describes itself as a broad coalition of Haredi Jews from across the spectrum – Lithuanian, Hasidic, Sephardic, Yemenite, old Yishuv and new immigrants – united by a desire to awaken love for the Land of Israel, study the vision of the prophets, and work toward a state governed by Torah law. The association was founded on Jerusalem Day (28 Iyar) 5775 (2015). Its monthly journal, also called Kedushat Zion, first appeared in Elul of that year and is distributed in about 10,000 copies in Haredi population centers. The first national conference was held on 28 Iyar 5776 (2016). Founders included Yehuda Epstein (chairman), Rabbi Yitzchak Brand, Pesach Halperin, Yehuda Sheraz, and other Haredi avrechim, some graduates of Yeshivat Aderet Eliyahu. Over the years the leadership expanded to include Hasidic figures such as Rabbi Betzalel Ganz (a Gerrer Hasid) and Chaim Einhorn, as well as people from Sephardic and Lithuanian Haredi circles, including the Jerusalem Faction. Kedushat Zion emphasizes that settling the Land of Israel is a central mitzvah, because the Torah can only be fully observed when the Jewish people dwell as a nation in their land. It advocates studying laws of statecraft to formulate a Torah constitution. The group views modern historical processes – the Balfour Declaration, the San Remo Conference, the ingathering of exiles – as part of the redemption process, and it cites the Hatam Sofer, the Chazon Ish, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and others as ideological forebears. It takes a complex stance toward the State of Israel: it sees the existence of a Jewish state as a sanctification of God's name, but criticizes its secular leadership and non-Torah governance as a desecration that must be changed. It opposes military service in the IDF as long as the army is not conducted according to Torah. The association runs a publishing arm, Machon "Daat Torah," which produces educational materials and Torah literature, including the books "Em HaBanim Semeicha" and "Nachamu Nachamu Ami," and in 2020 published "Medina Shel Torah," a collection of statements by rabbis calling for a Torah constitution. It holds an annual national conference near Jerusalem Day, smaller events on Balfour Declaration Day (17 Kislev) and Hanukkah, and commemorations for Rabbi Yisachar Shlomo Teichtal (13 Shevat) and Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1 Iyar). It organizes Shabbat gatherings for yeshiva students, tours in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and encourages Haredi settlement in Judea and Samaria, especially in Emmanuel. It also organizes gate circuits outside the Temple Mount and guided tours there. The organization has received public support from numerous rabbis, including Rabbi Meir Mazuz, Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Rabbi Leib Mintzberg, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, the Kopitshnitz Rebbe, the Kretshnif Rebbe of Kiryat Gat, the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Rabbi Dov Kook, Rabbi Mordechai Shariki, Rabbi Yitzchak Brand, Rabbi Ze'ev Leff, and others. It has faced opposition from Neturei Karta and the Jerusalem Faction, who have tried to disrupt its events; several rabbis have canceled participation due to this pressure, most notably Rabbi Meir Mazuz.

Kedushat Zion was founded on Jerusalem Day, 28 Iyar 5775 (2015), by a group of Haredi avrechim, some of them graduates of Yeshivat Aderet Eliyahu. The founders included Yehuda Epstein (who became chairman), Rabbi Yitzchak Brand, Pesach Halperin, Yehuda Sheraz, and others. The monthly journal Kedushat Zion first appeared in Elul 5775 (2015), edited by Rabbi Yehuda Epstein. The first national conference was held on 28 Iyar 5776 (2016). In the years that followed, the leadership expanded to include Hasidic figures such as Rabbi Betzalel Ganz, a Gerrer Hasid, and Chaim Einhorn, who is married to a granddaughter of Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, as well as people from Sephardic and Lithuanian Haredi circles, including the Jerusalem Faction. The association established Machon "Daat Torah" as its publishing arm, producing educational materials and Torah literature. In 2020 (5780), it published the book "Medina Shel Torah," a collection of statements by leading rabbis calling for a Torah constitution in the State of Israel. The launch event featured speakers including Rabbi Mordechai Neugershal, Rabbi Prof. Avraham Steinberg, and Rabbi Yoel Schwartz. In 5780 (2020), marking 100 years since the San Remo Conference, the association ran a campaign to publicize a letter by Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (the "Or Sameach"), who wrote that following the San Remo decision, "the fear of the oaths was removed from us" – meaning the concern about establishing a Jewish government based on the Three Oaths was lifted because the nations gave permission for Jews to establish a state. The association also began encouraging Haredi settlement in Judea and Samaria, especially in Emmanuel, in 5779 (2019). It organizes annual national conferences near Jerusalem Day, smaller events on Balfour Declaration Day (17 Kislev) and Hanukkah, and commemorations for Rabbi Yisachar Shlomo Teichtal (13 Shevat) and Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger (1 Iyar). In 5782 (2022), it marked the 100th anniversary of Rabbi Schlesinger's death with a series of conferences and a special journal issue. The association has faced opposition from Neturei Karta and the Jerusalem Faction, who have tried to disrupt its annual conferences, including by harassing participating rabbis. Several well-known rabbis have canceled their participation due to this pressure, most notably Rabbi Meir Mazuz. Despite this, the organization has received public support from numerous rabbis, including Rabbi Meir Mazuz (before his cancellation), Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Rabbi Leib Mintzberg, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, the Kopitshnitz Rebbe, the Kretshnif Rebbe of Kiryat Gat, the Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Rabbi Dov Kook, Rabbi Mordechai Shariki, Rabbi Yitzchak Brand, Rabbi Ze'ev Leff, and others.

• Founded on Jerusalem Day, 28 Iyar 5775.

• First issue of the monthly journal Kedushat Zion published in Elul 5775.

• First national conference held on 28 Iyar 5776.

• Association begins encouraging Haredi settlement in Judea and Samaria, especially in Emmanuel.

• Book 'Medina Shel Torah' published; campaign to publicize the Or Sameach letter on San Remo's 100th anniversary.

• 100th anniversary of Rabbi Akiva Yosef Schlesinger's death marked with conferences and a special journal issue.

Haredi association promoting love of the Land of Israel and a Torah-based Jewish state, operating within the Haredi community.

• Monthly journal Kedushat Zion

  Monthly journal edited by Rabbi Yehuda Epstein, distributed in about 10,000 copies.

• Book 'Medina Shel Torah'

  Published in 2020, a collection of statements by rabbis calling for a Torah constitution.

• Book 'Em HaBanim Semeicha'

  Published by Machon Daat Torah.

• Book 'Nachamu Nachamu Ami'

  Published by Machon Daat Torah.

• San Remo Centennial Campaign
• Aliyah Encouragement

1. 1קדושת ציון - קדושת ציוןkedushastzion.org
2. 2אודות - קדושת ציוןkedushastzion.org
3. 3אגודת קדושת ציוןhe.wikipedia.org
4. 4קדושת ציוןwikidata.org