Mizrachi (an acronym for Merkaz Ruchani or "spiritual centre") was founded in 1902 in Vilna at a world conference of religious Zionists called by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaacov Reines.  Our youth movement, Bnei Akiva, was founded in 1929.

Mizrachi believes that the Torah should be at the centre of Zionism and also sees Jewish nationalism as a tool for achieving religious objectives.  The Mizrachi party was the first official religious Zionist party and founded the Ministry of Religion in Israel and pushed for laws enforcing kashrut and the observance of Shabbat.  It also played a role prior to the creation of the State of Israel in building a network of religious schools that exist to this day.

Major figures in the Religious Zionist Movement include Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook who became the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Palestine in 1924 and tried to reconcile Zionism with Orthodox Judaism.

Mizrachi had a separate trade union wing, founded in 1921, called Hapo'el Hamizrachi which represented religious Jews in the Histadrut and tried to attract religious Labour Zionists.  In 1956, Mizarchi, Hapoel Hamizrachi and other religious Zionists formed the National Religious Party (Mafdal) to advance the rights of religious Jews in Israel.

Today in the UK, Mizrachi runs several educational and community programmes, promoting and strengthening the Jewish people’s connection to the Land of Israel.  Click here to read more about the Mizrachi family.
 

THE UK OFFICE

Our London-based head office is buzzing with religious Zionism.

Our office staff and team of dedicated volunteers work hard to ensure the next innovative educational programme is never far away. We work closely with our youth movement, Bnei Akiva, to ensure that the whole family is catered for in the field of Zionist and Jewish education.

  The office team -
  Jonny Lipczer (Executive Director)
  Betty Mandelson (Administrator)

  The executive -
  Arieh Handler (Life President)
  Stuart Taylor (Chairman)
  Jonathan Taylor (Vice Chairman)
  Itamar Engelsman
  Matti Fruhman
  Stephen Jacobson
  Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
  Rev Stewart Myers
  Sandra Selby

  Young Mizrachi -
  Georgina Taube (Chairman)
  Tova Grodzinski
  Tamar Kosky
  Dina Jacobson
  Jamie Lazarus
  Daniel Turgel
 

THE ISRAEL OFFICE

Mizrachi's world headquarters are at Beit Meir, named after Rav Meir Bar-Ilan.

Located in the centre of Jerusalem, the building houses the offices of World Mizrachi, World Bnei Akiva, Yavneh Olami, Kollel Torah Mitzion, Tehilla, Merkaz Hachinuch and Gmach Olei Ma’arav. The building is a hive of religious Zionist activity.

  The Israel office -
  Zevulun Orlev MK (President)
  Solly Sacks (Director)
  Eliezer Sheffer (Co-Chairman)
  Kurt Rothschild (Co-Chairman)
  Yossi Dahan
  Daniel Meyer
  Rachel Bermatz

Visit World Mizrachi's website at www.mizrachi.org