Moshe Gafni: A Look at the Veteran Haredi Politician's Life and Career

Moshe Gafni, a long-serving Member of Knesset and a prominent figure in the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, has a multifaceted background that extends beyond his political career. He was a founder of the Haredi community in Ofakim, where he led the "Zichron Eliyahu" kollel (Torah study institute) and served on the local council.

Gafni has been a Member of Knesset almost continuously since 1988, representing the Degel HaTorah party. He received his initial appointment to the Knesset directly from Rabbi Shach, a revered Haredi leader, who called him late one night in 1988 to instruct him to enter politics. Gafni has stated that he is a disciple of Rabbi Shach and does not identify as right-wing, despite his party's alignment with the right bloc. He has expressed a pragmatic view on the Gaza conflict, suggesting a need for a figure like Trump to secure the release of hostages.

Surprisingly, Gafni has been a notable advocate for environmental legislation, receiving accolades from green organizations for his role in advancing the Clean Air Law in 2008. Earlier in his career, he worked as a writer for the Haredi publication "Yated Ne'eman."

He has also chaired the Knesset Finance Committee for nearly 15 years, since 2009, and has seen 49 private bills he sponsored become law. Gafni experienced a serious heart attack in 2020, during which he was treated by Dr. Abed Zahalka, a relative of former MK Jamal Zahalka. His nephew, Eliyahu Gafni, currently serves as the head of the local council in Emmanuel.