Established in 1956 through the merging of
Mizrachi, Ha-poel Mizrachi and other religious Zionist supporters,
the National Religious Party’s (NRP - Mafdal) emphasis is on making
Israeli law consistent with halacha (Jewish law). The NRP is largely responsible for the fact that
parents can choose to send their children to state-funded religious
schools, the establishment of religious courts endowed with legal
authority over all issues of personal jurisdiction in the Jewish
community and the exclusive use of kosher food in the Army and
government functions. The NRP consistently polled roughly 10 percent
of the popular vote until 1981, when new religious parties vied for
the same constituency.