First Woman on Ultra-Orthodox Party List for Knesset

Dr. Nechumi Yaffe, a 50-year-old Jerusalem resident and mother of three, has joined the "Ultra-Orthodox Public" party, becoming the first woman to be placed on a list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. This move is a significant departure from the norm in the ultra-Orthodox political sphere, where major parties have historically excluded women from their Knesset slates.

Yaffe, a researcher in political psychology and a senior faculty member at Tel Aviv University, has also been involved in research at Harvard University focusing on ultra-Orthodox society. In 2020, she was appointed a special advisor on the ultra-Orthodox sector to the National Security Council, addressing poverty and economic challenges within the community. Following the October 7th attacks, she established an ultra-Orthodox "war room" to aid evacuees and bereaved families, which reportedly involved tens of thousands of volunteers.

Her background also includes extensive experience in the ultra-Orthodox education system, having grown up in the Slonim Hasidic community in Jerusalem and later teaching in religious seminaries. She also contributed to curriculum development for history in these institutions.

This unprecedented inclusion by the "Ultra-Orthodox Public" party contrasts sharply with the established ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which adhere to rabbinical directives against women's direct political participation. While there have been past attempts to integrate women into politics within smaller parties or local government, such as Hila Hassan Lefkovitz's candidacy in the 24th Knesset elections, Yaffe's placement marks a new development for a party seeking Knesset representation.