Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Reines - yurzeit: 9 Elul. Founder of MIZRACHI Movement

Rav Yitzchak Yaakov Reines (1839-1915). 

(9 Elul per www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org) 

Born in Karolin, Belarus, Rav Yitzchak Yaacov Reines studied at Volozhin Yeshiva under the Netziv. 

His first rabbinical position was in Saukenai, Lithuania, in 1867, followed by a position in Svencionys in 1869. 

In 1882 he founded a yeshiva with a curriculum that included secular subjects. 

From 1885 until his death, he headed a yeshiva in Lida (now in Belarus). 

He was a member of the Chibbas Tzion movement from its inception. 

In 1893, Rav Shmuel Mohliver founded Mercaz Ruchani, or the "spiritual center.” 

Rav Reines

Ten years later, when Rav Reines was looking for a good name for a religious Zionist movement, he adopted the name, “Mizrachi.” 

Rav Reines was one of the first rabbis to answer Herzl's call to become part of the Zionist movement, and he attended the Third Zionist Congress in 1899. 

While most of his colleagues remained opposed to political Zionism, in 1902 Reines published a book, Or Chadash al Tzion which presents a call to a Zionist Judaism. 

The same year, he organized a conference of the religious Zionist movement in Vilna, where the Mizrachi movement was founded. 

He was recognized as the movement's leader at its founding convention in Pressburg, Bratislava in 1904. 

Rav Reines authored many sefarim including Sefer Ha-arakhim and Edus beYaakov.