MOETZES GEDOLEI HATORAH

(Redirected from Moetzes gedolie hatorah)
The 'Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah' (or 'Moetzet Gedole HaTorah' also abbreviated as 'Moetzes' or 'The Moetzes') מועצת גדולי התורה ("Council of [great] Torah Sages") is the name for the councils that are the supreme rabbinical policy-making bodies of the two Ashkenazi Haredi political groups in Israel, Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, and for the social and political group in the United States that serves as the highest ranking rabbinic policy board of the Agudath Israel organization. In Israel, the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah speaks for most Haredi Sephardi Jews.

Contents

In Europe

In Israel

In the United States

Partial List of Previous Members of the Motzei Gedolei HaTorah of America

List of Current Members of the Motzei Gedolei HaTorah of America

Partial List of Current and Past Members of Agudath Israel of Israel's Motzei Gedolei HaTorah

Partial List of Current and Past Members of Degel HaTorah's Motzei Gedolei HaTorah

In Europe

Prior to World War Two, there was only one such body, serving the World Agudath Israel organization in Europe.

In Israel

Prior to Degel HaTorah's break from Agudat Israel (because of the dominance of the Hasidic groups), there was only one Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Israel; with the breakaway (led by Rabbi Elazar Shach), two separate, yet at times complementary, Moetzes's were created.
The Haredi Sephardi Jews of Israel had also at one time followed the leadership of Agudat Israel when it was still a body that spoke for most of Israel's Haredim. However, with Rabbi Shach's assistance, the Haredi Sefardim broke with their Ashkenazi counterparts and established the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah ("Council of [wise] Torah Sages") that in turn became the source for the formulation and expression of the policies and agenda of the Shas political party in the Israeli Knesset. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef would become the main leadership figure of this council.

In the United States

In the United States, Agudah's policies and leadership are directed by the council, which is comprised primarily of rosh yeshivas and Hasidic rebbes. The Moetzes sets all major policies and guides the organization according to its precepts of Da'as Torah.

Partial List of Previous Members of the Motzei Gedolei HaTorah of America

:Rabbi Aharon Kotler (Chairman)
:Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
:Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky
:Rabbi Gedalia Schorr
:Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman
:Rabbi Mordechai Gifter
:Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner

List of Current Members of the Motzei Gedolei HaTorah of America

:Rabbi Yaakov Perlow (Chairman)
:Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld
:Rabbi Yitzchok Feigelstock
:Rabbi Dovid Feinstein
:Rabbi Aharon Feldman
:Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky
:Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler
:Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Levine
:Rabbi Aaron Schechter
:Rabbi Elya Svei

Partial List of Current and Past Members of Agudath Israel of Israel's Motzei Gedolei HaTorah

:Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter (Chairman)
:Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (II)
:Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Horowitz
:Rabbi Avrohom Yaakov Friedman
:Rabbi Yisroel Don Taub

Partial List of Current and Past Members of Degel HaTorah's Motzei Gedolei HaTorah

:Rabbi Elazar Shach (Chairman)
:Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (Co-Chairman)
:Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman (Co-Chairman)