Agudat Israel

views updated

Agudat Israel (Agudat Yisraʾel). ‘Union of Israel’, abbreviated as Agudah, a world movement of Orthodox Jews. It was founded in 1912, from a number of Orthodox communities as a counterweight to the programmes of the Zionist Congresses. Although it is not a party with a programme, it has developed daʿat Torah, the understanding of Torah on particular matters—i.e. the application by scholars of Torah to all aspects of life. See also ḤAFETS ḤAYYIM.

More From encyclopedia.com