Kanai (Judaism)

Kanai (Hebrew: קנאי, plural: "kana'im", קנאים) is a term for a zealot. It means one who is zealous on behalf of God.

The first kanai

The first "kanai" mentioned in the scriptures (Tanach) is "Pinchas".

Pinchas was rewarded by God for his zealotry because he didn't act out of hate or for any personal gain. He meant solely for the sake of God.

In modern history "Kana'ut" (zealotry) has taken on new meanings. While during the previous centuries "Kana'ut" was considered a positive attribute, which simulated the zealotry of Pinchas; the "kana'im" of today are considered by many religious Jews as fanatic. Those feelings became more pronounced when a delegation of the "Neturei Karta" attended the conference in Tehran on Holocaust Denial. Many Jewish organizations including the Anti-Zionist Satmar issued a formal protest.

Kanaim of the 18th century

Rabbi Jacob Emden who fought the remnants of the Sabbateans was considered a "kanai".

Kanaim of the 19th century in the Holy Land

Starting in the middle of the 19th century, those fighting the attempts of the Maskilim to introduce secular institutions to Jerusalem were known as "kanaim". Among the "kanaim" was the leader of the Perushim Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin who banned the secular institutions.

Kanaim in the 20th century

The Anti-Zionist Neturei karta are called "kanaim". Its leader was the Jerusalem born Rabbi Amram Blau.

ee also

* Zealotry
* Neturei Karta
* Knanaya