The Charter of HaOlim

Excerpts

From the charter of HaOlim, a movement attempted by Dr. Nathan Birnbaum, but cut short by the decimation of European Jewry (Quoted in Reb Moshe Prager's L'Or HaNetzach pp. 441-443):

There should arise a small army of pioneers in kedusha, an example for Am Yisroel, similar to the great army of pioneers that the entire nation should become in its task as a model for the entire world...

These pioneers must gather to take counsel and create societal tools that will teach: a) How to deepen our awareness and love of Hashem; b) How to love our fellow human beings; c) How to pursue the modesty that is the glory of our G-dliness.

...This avoda naturally precludes bureaucracies... and, besides the oversight of Torah sages, any form of hierarchy.

...The cold of intellectualism has penetrated our relationship with Hashem... Olim must not remain at ease with this cold. They must toil in their respective societies until all develop Divine hislahavus (fervor) and inner spiritual feeling.

As means of achieving aliya in awareness of Hashem I propose: a) The study of Torah in a more profound manner... b) Festive gatherings for spiritual purposes (a la the Eastern European shalosh seudos). c) Special instruction in the development of hislahavus and deveykus. d) Requiring every Oleh to refrain from any excess or immodesty in speech, clothing, and deed... e) Freeing the architecture of our shuls and the nature of our music from influences of other religions and societies.

As means of achieving aliya in bein adam l'chaveiro I propose: a) Increased study in this area, guidance in practical applications, and the development of a sense of society. b) Self assessment through a weekly Cheshbon HaNefesh. c) An outright ban on certain occupations. d) Subtantive and apolitical common counsel concerning the resolution of Jewish societal problems in the spirit of our Torah and Mesorah...

Even if the image of life we currently convey does not manifest our glory as the Chosen Nation, Olim cannot allow the status quo to continue, but must attempt to rectify as much as possible. As means of achieving aliya in this area I propose: a) Instruction in the definition of glory (tiferes) in the spirit of Torah and Judaism, its relation to religion and mussar, and guidance in practical applications of these principles. b) The development of a unique independent Jewish society. c) The development of arts, especially architecture, music and poetry, rooted in the spirit of Mesorah... d) The previously mentioned ban on excesses.

...Young men and women should be educated according to the ideals of HaOlim...