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Maimon, Judah Leib (Fishman) (1875-1962)
 Rabbi
and leader of religious Zionism
His Life
Born in Bessarabia, Judah Leib Fishman studied in Lithuanian yeshivot,
and after ordination, was a preacher (maggid) and then rabbi. He met
Rabbi Yitzhak Reines, founder of the Mizrachi religious Zionist movement
in 1900 and took part in the movement's founding conference in Vilna.
He participated in the second and subsequent Zionist congresses and
was a member of the Zionist General Council. He settled in Eretz Yisrael
in 1913.
At the beginning of World War I, Rav Maimon was imprisoned by
the Turkish authorities, and when he was expelled, went to the
U.S. where he was active on behalf of the Mizrachi movement. He
returned on the first ship to reach Palestine after the war. His
friendship with Rav Kook led them to establish the Chief Rabbinate
of Palestine. He 1936 he founded Mosad HaRav Kook which still
publishes religious books. As Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive,
he was interned by the British on "Black Saturday" in June 1946.
After establishment of the State, he was a member of the First
Knesset, as well as minister of religions and minister in charge
of war casualties. He eventually gave up politics in favor of
writing.
His Accomplishments
Rav Maimon founded a number of institutions which are still important
in modern-day Israel. Specifically, the Mizrachi organization, including
its educational institutions; the Israeli chief rabbinate and Mosad
HaRav Kook.
While he was in exile in the United States, Rav Maimon became
a prolific writer on behalf of the Mizrachi movement for religious
Zionism. Later, although he was faithful to the leadership of
the Jewish Yishuv, he was sympathetic to breakaway Jewish organizations,
particularly the Irgun Zevai Leumi (Etzel) and Lohamei Herut Israel
(Lehi). He was clear about the right of every Jew to bear arms
in self-defense and in defense of Jewish rights in Eretz Yisrael.
When the Haganah, forerunner of today's IDF, began to suppress
the Etzel (1944-1945), he expressed his opposition.
After establishment of the State, he advocated institution a Sanhedrin
supreme religious authority, but the idea was opposed in most
religious circles.
His writing ranged from Halacha (religious law) and biblical investigation
to talmudic and literary works. He founded Mizrachi's weekly newspaper,
HaTor, which published 1921-1936. His major work was "Sarei HaMeah",
whose six volumes, published 1942-1947, describe the greatest
Jewish scholars of the 19th century. Other late works included
books on Jewish holidays, on religious Zionism and several figures
from Jewish history.
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