Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, vol. 17, issue 49 (Spring 2018): 60-74.
ISSN: 1583-0039 © SACRI
AMIR MASHIACH
WORK AS A RELIGIOUS VALUE IN RELIGIOUS ZIONISM – RABBI
CHAIM HIRSCHENSOHN AS A CASE STUDY
Abstract: Rabbi Chaim Hirschensohn (1857-1935) was a religious Zionist thinker and one of
the founders of the “Mizrachi” movement. The present article aims to trace his approach
towards work: did he see work as a need, an obligation imposed upon the human being to
sustain his household, or did he, perhaps, associate work with a religious value as an
integral part of the theology which he steered by? The conclusion is that R. Hirschensohn's
approach towards work is both a must for a livelihood and part of Jewish and national
identity, to the point where Redemption itself depends upon it. Work is also part of
religious Zionist theology, one of whose proponents and founders Chaim Hirschensohn
was.
Key words: Hirschensohn; Work; Redemption; Nationalism; Jewish identity; Productivity;
Halakha; Theology; religious Zionism
Amir Mashiach
Ariel University of Samaria, Orot Israel College, Israel.
Email: a.mashiach@gmail.com