Rav Ben-Zion Meir Hai Ouziel (1880-1953) was a visionary rabbinic leader, a strong promoter of Jewish unity, and the 20th century’s most authentic embodiment of the classic Sephardic rabbinic tradition. His leadership was characterized, on the one hand, by a burning desire to abolish divisions between Jews, yet at the same time he was committed to promoting Sephardic Judaism. How did he reconcile these seemingly conflicting agendas?
As the Haham Bashi (Ottoman-appointed Chief Rabbi) of Jaffa-Tel Aviv (1911-1939), and then as the Rishon L’Zion of the pre-state Yishuv (1939-1947) and of the State of Israel (1948-1953), Rav Ouziel was officially the “Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel”. But despite holding an official title and position that seems to have ethnic and particularistic overtones, Rav Ouziel was an outspoken proponent of Jewish unity. He passionately sought to abolish the traditional ethnic divisions amongst Jews, especially in Israel. His push for Jewish unity was persistent and thorough, and he articulated his vision of Jewish unity in many forums, including public addresses, written position papers and halakhic rulings. From his earliest moments as a young rabbinic leader, all the way through to his famous “Spiritual Will to the Jewish People” written a few weeks before his death in 1953, Rav Ouziel advocated Jewish unity as an ideal position.
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