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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Gafni withdraws candidacy for spot on Rabbinical Judicial Appointments Committee
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
MK Moshe Gafni has withdrawn his candidacy for a seat on the Rabbinical Judicial Appointments Committee, according to a statement from the Degel HaTorah faction, which he heads, of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party.
In the statement, Degel HaTorah says Gafni “calls on Knesset members to support the candidacy of the Agudat Yisrael representative for the position,” referring to MK Yisrael Eichler of UTJ’s Agudat Yisrael faction, who is also seeking the role.
The committee selects and appoints dayanim (rabbinical court judges) to serve in the religious court system, which handles matters like marriage, divorce, and conversion.
UTJ formally left the coalition last week, following the government’s failure to pass a draft exemption bill.
MK Yinon Azoulay, whose Shas party also exited the government last week but remains in the coalition, is also running for the spot.
The Times of Israel Community.