# Hardal

Hardal (also spelled Chardal; Hebrew: חרד״ל, acronym for חרדי לאומי‎ Ḥaredi Le'umi, lit. '"Nationalist Haredi"', plural Hardalim) usually refers to the portion of the Religious Zionist Jewish community in Israel which inclines significantly toward Haredi ideology (in terms of outlook on the secular world, or in their stringent khumra approach to Halakha). In their approach to the State of Israel, though, they are very much Zionist, and believe that Israel is Atchalta De'Geula.
Hardal Jews are also known as Torani (lit., "Torah-oriented"), or Torani-Leumi ("Torahic Nationalist").

## Overview

On yeshiva.org.il, "Chardal" is described as, "The people who classify themselves as 'Charedi Leumi', or 'Chardal', try to keep the Mitzvot strictly, Kalah Kechamurah [light and weighty matters alike], while being involved in the national life in the state, and in the settling of Eretz Yisrael". It has also been explained as the "Anglo Orthodox religious sector who follow a Charedi lifestyle, yet may also serve in the army in religious units, attend a Hesder yeshiva, and pursue a work career". Yet another explanation is, "those connected to the seriousness of Torah learning and stricter observance of Jewish Law - like the Charedim - but who are Zionist and have a more positive view of the secular world and Israel, like the dati leumi camp".
The term Hardal is sometimes used to refer to those coming from the Haredi world who join Nahal Haredi (the shortened army service for Yeshiva graduates) and continue to live within the broader Hardal world. It is also sometimes used for American yeshivish Jews who moved to Israel and support the state.

## History

The term Hardal is part of a broad process of certain groups of Religious Zionist youth becoming more strict in certain religious observances, and more ideologically driven by the thought of Zvi Yehuda Kook (son of Abraham Isaac Kook). In the late 1970s, graduates of Mercaz HaRav yeshiva began to reject certain aspects of the Religious Zionist and Bnei Akiva lifestyle.
According to some sources, the term Hardal was created at a meeting of the youth group EZRA in 1990. (Ezra is the Poalei Agudah youth group associated with Torah im Derech Eretz.) In later years, the term Hardal became a group that actually started separating itself from the broader religious Zionist community in order to dedicate itself to leading a life dedicated to strict Jewish practice, without the influence of outside culture. There was emphasis placed on modesty in dress, and early marriage. Shlomo Aviner was a major ideologue for this group.
In recent years, it refers to those under the influence of Zvi Thau, who left Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav to found the more Hardalic Yeshivat Har Hamor. Thau rejects secular studies and secular influences. He is also against any academic influence on teachers colleges, rejecting the influence of modern educational psychology, and modern approaches to the study of the Bible. Those who follow this approach are called followers of Yeshivat HaKav - "Yeshivot that follow the line".

## Schools

There are schools for both boys and girls located in Jerusalem, as well as in Ramat Beit Shemesh (Ahavat Yisrael). Their philosophy is, "To adhere to an open Haredi approach to Halakha and lifestyle, while at the same time leaving the possibility for army service and university studies as a goal".

## Leadership

Past leaders (deceased)
* Eliezer Waldman, dean of the Kiryat Arba yeshiva (1937-2021)
* Mordechai Eliyahu, former Chief Rabbi of Israel (1929–2010)
* Avraham Shapira, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and dean of the Merkaz HaRav yeshiva (1914–2007)
* Zvi Yehuda Kook, former dean of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva (1891–1982)
* Noah Weinberg, former dean of the Aish HaTorah yeshiva (1930–2009)
* Meir Kahane, former leader of Kach (1932–1990)
* Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, former leader of Kahane Chai (1966–2000)
* Shaul Yisraeli, former rabbi of Kfar Haroeh and dean of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva (1909–1995)
* Ya'akov Yosef, former dean of the Hazon Ya'akov yeshiva (1946–2013)
* Yeshayahu Hadari, former dean of the HaKotel yeshiva (1933–2018)
* Haim Drukman, dean of the Or Etzion yeshiva
* Binyamin Elon, former leader of Moledet
Current leaders:
* Bezalel Smotrich, member of the Knesset, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, and co-founder of Regavim
* Rafi Peretz, former Education Minister, and former leader of The Jewish Home
* Eli Yishai, leader of Yachad
* Avi Maoz, MK for Noam
* Eli Ben-Dahan, former Deputy Defense Minister and leader of Ahi
* Baruch Marzel, former leader of the Jewish National Front
* Ya'akov Katz, former leader of the National Union
* Michael Ben-Ari, former chairman and spokesman for Otzma Yehudit
* Ben-Zion Gopstein, leader of Lehava
* Shalom Dov Wolpo, leader of Eretz Yisrael Shelanu and SOS Israel
* Yehuda Glick, leader of HALIBA and former Likud MK
* Hillel Horowitz, former Jewish Home MK
* David Bar-Hayim, head of the Machon Shilo Institute
* Yonatan Yosef, spokesman for Jewish settlers in Sheikh Jarrah
* Yaakov Ariel, former rabbi of Ramat Gan
* Shmuel Eliyahu, rabbi of Safed
* Dov Lior, rabbi of Kiryat Arba
* Nachman Kahana, rabbi of Hazon Yichezkeil
* Zephaniah Drori, rabbi of Kiryat Shmona
* Zvi Thau, dean of the Har Hamor yeshiva and spiritual leader of Noam
* Mordechai Elon, former dean of the HaKotel yeshiva
* Meir Mazuz, dean of the Kisse Rahamim yeshiva
* Zalman Melamed, dean of the Beit El yeshiva
* Eliezer Melamed, dean of the Har Bracha yeshiva
* Yitzhak Shapira, dean of the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva
* Shlomo Aviner, dean of the Ateret Yerushalayim yeshiva
* Yisrael Ariel, former rabbi of Yamit and founder of the Temple Institute
* Eli Sadan, founder and head of Bnei David Academy
* Daniella Weiss, former mayor of Kedumim Village in Samaria
* Hillel Weiss, of "Professors for a Strong Israel"
* Oury Amos Cherki, senior lecturer at Machon Meir
* Robert Aumann, Nobel Prize winner and professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem