Hardal (also spelled Chardal; , acronym for , , plural ) usually refers to the portion of the

Religious Zionist Religious Zionism () is a religious denomination that views Zionism as a fundamental component of Orthodox Judaism. Its adherents are also referred to as ''Dati Leumi'' (), and in Israel, they are most commonly known by the plural form of the fi ...

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

community in

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

which inclines significantly toward

Haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

ideology (in terms of outlook on the secular world, or in their stringent '' khumra'' approach to ''

Halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...

''). In their approach to the State of Israel, though, they are mainly Zionist, and believe that Israel is '' Atchalta De'Geula''. Hardal Jews are also known as ''Torani'' (lit., "Torah-oriented"), or ''Torani-Leumi'' ("Torahic Nationalist").

Overview

On yeshiva.org.il, "Chardal" is described as, "The people who classify themselves as 'Charedi Leumi', or 'Chardal', try to keep the Mitzvot strictly, ''Kalah Kechamurah'' ight and weighty matters alike while being involved in the national life in the state, and in the settling of Eretz Yisrael". It has also been explained as the "Anglo Orthodox religious sector who follow a Charedi lifestyle, yet may also serve in the army in religious units, attend a

Hesder Hesder ( "arrangement"; also Yeshivat Hesder ) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The program allows Orthodox J ...

yeshiva, and pursue a work career". Yet another explanation is, "those connected to the seriousness of Torah learning and stricter observance of Jewish Law - like the Charedim - but who are

Zionist Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...

and have a more positive view of the secular world and

, like the dati leumi camp". The term ''Hardal'' is sometimes used to refer to those coming from the Haredi world who join Nahal Haredi (the shortened army service for Yeshiva graduates) and continue to live within the broader Hardal world. It is also sometimes used for American yeshivish Jews who moved to Israel and support the state.

History

The term ''Hardal'' is part of a broad process of certain groups of

youth becoming more strict in certain religious observances, and more ideologically driven by the thought of Zvi Yehuda Kook (son of

Abraham Isaac Kook Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (; 7 September 1865 – 1 September 1935), known as HaRav Kook, and also known by the Hebrew-language acronym Hara'ayah (), was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, and the first Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbina ...

). In the late 1970s, graduates of Mercaz HaRav yeshiva began to reject certain aspects of the Religious Zionist and Bnei Akiva lifestyle. According to some sources, the term ''Hardal'' was created at a meeting of the youth group EZRA in 1990. (Ezra is the Poalei Agudah youth group associated with '' Torah im Derech Eretz''.) In later years, the term Hardal became a group that actually started separating itself from the broader religious Zionist community in order to dedicate itself to leading a life dedicated to strict Jewish practice, without the influence of outside culture. There was emphasis placed on modesty in dress, and early marriage. Shlomo Aviner was a major ideologue for this group. In recent years, it refers to those under the influence of Zvi Thau, who left Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav to found the more ''Hardalic'' Yeshivat Har Hamor. Thau rejects secular studies and secular influences. He is also against any academic influence on teachers colleges, rejecting the influence of modern educational psychology, and modern approaches to the study of the Bible. Those who follow this approach are called followers of ''Yeshivat HaKav'' - "''Yeshivot'' that follow the line".

Schools

There are schools for both boys and girls located in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

, as well as in Ramat Beit Shemesh (Ahavat Yisrael). Their philosophy is, "To adhere to an open Haredi approach to

and lifestyle, while at the same time leaving the possibility for army service and university studies as a goal".

Leadership

Past leaders (deceased) * Eliezer Waldman, dean of the Kiryat Arba yeshiva (1937-2021) * Mordechai Eliyahu, former Chief Rabbi of Israel (1929–2010) * Avraham Shapira, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and dean of the Merkaz HaRav yeshiva (1914–2007) * Zvi Yehuda Kook, former dean of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva (1891–1982) * Noah Weinberg, former dean of the Aish HaTorah yeshiva (1930–2009) * Meir Kahane, former leader of Kach (1932–1990) * Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, former leader of Kahane Chai (1966–2000) * Shaul Yisraeli, former rabbi of Kfar Haroeh and dean of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva (1909–1995) * Ya'akov Yosef, former dean of the Hazon Ya'akov yeshiva (1946–2013) * Yeshayahu Hadari, former dean of the HaKotel yeshiva (1933–2018) * Haim Drukman, dean of the Or Etzion yeshiva * Binyamin Elon, former leader of Moledet Current leaders: * Bezalel Smotrich, member of the

Knesset The Knesset ( , ) is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Israel. The Knesset passes all laws, elects the President of Israel, president and Prime Minister of Israel, prime minister, approves the Cabinet of Israel, cabinet, and supe ...

, leader of the

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, and co-founder of

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* Rafi Peretz, former

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, and former leader of The Jewish Home *

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, leader of Yachad * Avi Maoz, MK for Noam * Eli Ben-Dahan, former Deputy Defense Minister and leader of Ahi * Baruch Marzel — Rabbi Meir Kahane's "right-hand man" and former leader of the Judæan National Front * Ya'akov Katz, former leader of the National Union * Michael Ben-Ari, former spokesman for

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* Ben-Zion Gopstein, leader of Lehava * Shalom Dov Wolpo, leader of Eretz Yisrael Shelanu and SOS Israel *

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, leader of HALIBA and former

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MK * Hillel Horowitz, former Judæan Home MK * David Bar-Hayim, head of the Machon Shilo Institute * Yonatan Yosef, spokesman for Jewish settlers in Sheikh Jarrah * Yaakov Ariel, former rabbi of

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* Shmuel Eliyahu, rabbi of

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* Dov Lior, rabbi of Kiryat Arba * Nachman Kahana, rabbi of Hazon Yichezkeil * Zephaniah Drori, rabbi of

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* Zvi Thau, dean of the Har Hamor yeshiva and spiritual leader of Noam * Mordechai Elon, former dean of the HaKotel yeshiva * Meir Mazuz, dean of the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva * Zalman Melamed, dean of the Beit El yeshiva *

Eliezer Melamed Eliezer Melamed (; born 28 June 1961) is an Israeli religious-Zionist rabbi, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Bracha, the rabbi of the settlement Har Bracha, and the author of '' Peninei Halakha'', a series of '' Halakhic'' works. Biography ...

, dean of the Har Bracha yeshiva * Yitzhak Shapira, dean of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva * Shlomo Aviner, dean of the Ateret Yerushalayim yeshiva * Yisrael Ariel, former rabbi of Yamit, 2nd candidate of Kach and Kahane Chai and founder of the

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* Eli Sadan, founder and head of Bnei David Academy * Daniella Weiss, former mayor of Kedumim Village inSamaria * Menahem Hai Shalom, one of the co-founder's of Gush Emunim and an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish peacemaker. * Hillel Weiss, of " Professors for a Strong Israel" * Oury Amos Cherki, senior lecturer at Machon Meir *

Robert Aumann Robert John Aumann (Yisrael Aumann, ; born June 8, 1930) is an Israeli-American mathematician, and a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He is a professor at the Center for the Study of Rationality in the Hebrew University ...

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winner and professor at the

Hebrew University of Jerusalem The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI; ) is an Israeli public university, public research university based in Jerusalem. Co-founded by Albert Einstein and Chaim Weizmann in July 1918, the public university officially opened on 1 April 1925. ...

References

External links

Nefesh B'Nefesh: Choosing a School and its Religious Approach
{{Authority control History of Zionism Neo-Zionism Haredi Judaism Haredi Zionism Orthodox Judaism Judaism-related controversies