Mizrachi of Great Britain and Ireland
Religious Zionist organisation in the United Kingdom
| Mizrachi UK
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Zionist organisation |
| Headquarters | London |
| Website | Official website |
To give it its full name: Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland [1] Mizrachi UK is a religious Zionist organisation based in the United Kingdom. It operates as the UK branch of the international Mizrachi movement, which promotes Torah-centred Zionism and strengthens Jewish identity through education and community programmes. The organisation was originally established as the Mizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. A contemporary report makes clear that "The Mizrachi Organization, an orthodox Zionist group, announced the formation of the Mizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland on September 28, 1936."[2] By 1968 it was known as the Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, marking its golden jubilee that year.[3] Around 2014 the organisation rebranded and began operating as Mizrachi UK. In 2024 it celebrated "10 years of enriching and inspiring religious Zionism in the UK Jewish community."[4] It runs educational programmes, events and leadership initiatives focused on religious Zionism and Israel-Diaspora connections.[5][6]
History
The Mizrachi Federation was formally founded in London in 1936 following assistance from the world executive of the Mizrachi Organisation.[7] It later incorporated Hapoel Hamizrachi elements and by 1968 was operating as the Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation, actively involved in the religious life of Anglo-Jewry.[8] The modern Mizrachi UK identity emerged around 2014, with a focus on contemporary educational and inspirational work within the UK Jewish community.[9]
Activities
Mizrachi UK delivers programmes promoting religious Zionism, Jewish education and stronger ties to Israel. It organises events, leadership training and community initiatives.[10]
People involved
The Mizrachi Federation (later Mizrachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation) attracted many prominent figures in Anglo-Jewry from its foundation.
At the first conference in Manchester in December 1918 the following were elected: Honorary President Rabbi S. J. Rabinowitz; President The Very Rev. Dr. J. H. Hertz; Vice-Presidents Rabbi Dr. V. Schonfeld, Rabbi I. J. Yoffey, Mr. F. S. Spiers, B.Sc.; committee members included Dayan A. Feldman, Rabbi J. Rabinowitz, Rabbi Harris Cohen, Mr. H. Josselson, Mr. A. Josaphat, Mr. O. Philipp, Mr. S. Fleishman, Mr. M. Schiff, Mr. S. Kahn, Mr. E. Gaden.[8]
Provincial representatives included Mr. H. Sugarman (Manchester), Mr. N. Vogel (Manchester), Dr. J. S. Fox (Liverpool), Rev. S. Hovsha, Rev. N. Boyarsky, Rabbi Dr. I. Herzog, Rabbi J. D. Lurie (Glasgow), Mr. H. Shulman (Glasgow), Mr. M. Briskman (Glasgow) and Mr. D. Gillis (Sunderland).[8]
Notable early founders and activists included Rev. J. K. Goldbloom, Eliezer Halevy (also known as L. H. Laizerwitz and later L. H. Lawson), Oscar Philipp, Dr. Victor Schonfeld and Mr. Lazarus Cohen (Eliezer Halevy).[8]
Chairmen sequence: first Mr. Michael Schiff; then Mr. Abba Bornstein (later Executive Vice-President); wartime Mr. S. E. Sklan (Vice-President); later Mr. Harry Landy, Abba Bornstein, Dr. Jacob Braude, and Mr. Arieh L. Handler (Chairman in 1968).[8]
Mr. Barry Mindel served as General Secretary from 1942. In 1936 Prof. S. Pick was sent by the world Mizrachi executive to assist in the formal establishment of the Federation in London.[7]
By 1968 three long-serving Vice-Presidents had died: Rabbi Abraham Kon of Cricklewood, London; Rabbi Reuben Rabinowitz, Rav of Birmingham; and Mr. Mark Persoff of Cricklewood, London.[8]
See also
Religious Zionism Mizrachi (religious Zionism)
External links
Notes
- ↑ https://jewishmiscellanies.com/2023/10/05/50-years-of-the-mizrachi-hapoel-hamizrachi-federation-of-great-britain-and-ireland-london-1968/#:~:text=50%20Years%20of%20the%20Mizrachi,religious%20life%20of%20Anglo%2DJewry.
- ↑ Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Mizrachi Federation Founded in London Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 28 September 1936.
- ↑ Jewish Miscellanies, 50 Years of the Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1968 Jewish Miscellanies, 5 October 2023.
- ↑ Mizrachi UK, This year, Mizrachi UK is celebrating 10 years... Facebook, December 2024.
- ↑ Mizrachi UK, About mizrachi.org.uk, accessed 2026.
- ↑ Mizrachi UK, Mizrachi UK – The centre for religious Zionism in the UK mizrachi.org.uk, accessed 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Mizrachi Federation Founded in London Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 28 September 1936.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Jewish Miscellanies, 50 Years of the Mizrachi Hapoel Hamizrachi Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1968 Jewish Miscellanies, 5 October 2023.
- ↑ Mizrachi UK, This year, Mizrachi UK is celebrating 10 years... Facebook, December 2024.
- ↑ Mizrachi UK, About mizrachi.org.uk, accessed 2026.