Prominent Haredi Researcher Dr. Nechumi Yaffe Joins 'Haredi Public' Party List

Dr. Nechumi Yaffe, a leading Haredi researcher in political psychology, has joined the list of the 'Haredi Public' party for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. This marks the first time a Haredi party running for the Knesset has included a woman on its slate, a significant departure from the tradition of exclusively male candidate lists in Haredi politics.

Yaffe, 50, a mother of three and resident of Jerusalem, holds a senior position as a researcher at Tel Aviv University. She has also been involved in research at Harvard University focusing on the Haredi sector and its economic integration. In 2020, she was appointed a special advisor on Haredi affairs to the National Security Council, where she addressed poverty challenges within the community. Following the October 7th attacks, Yaffe established a Haredi command center that mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers to assist evacuees and bereaved families.

The 'Haredi Public' party, launched recently by Moti Lightner, aims to present an independent Haredi voice. Recent polling suggests the party has 1.2% support, translating to nearly two Knesset seats. Yaffe's research, including a study indicating nearly half of Haredim desire greater economic and social integration into Israeli society, has previously garnered attention.

Party leader Moti Lightner stated in an interview that the party unequivocally supports Benjamin Netanyahu for Prime Minister and denied allegations of left-wing funding, asserting all donations come from right-wing individuals and Torah scholars. Yaffe's inclusion is seen as a potentially transformative development in the Haredi political landscape, especially given Lightner's previous stance against including women on the party list.