Minister's Office Hires Six Associates from Kabbalah Group

The Israeli Ministry for Regional Cooperation, headed by Minister Dudi Amsalem, has become a significant employer for members of "Kabbalah La'am," an organization promoting Kabbalah studies and known for its ties to the Likud party. Six former and current activists from the group have secured positions within the ministry.

Among those hired is Gilad Shadmon, the ministry's director-general, who previously managed distribution for Kabbalah La'am. Another appointee is Dr. Eli Vinokur, a "Kabbalah wisdom lecturer" and associate of Shadmon, who was hired as an external consultant for "educational innovation." This contract, valued at over 150,000 shekels, was awarded without a tender, with the ministry soliciting bids from only three suppliers and prioritizing price.

Vinokur, who holds a doctorate in education and serves as vice president of Gordon Academic College, has already received over 80,000 shekels for his services between November 2025 and June 2026. This payment was made to his partnership with Dr. Avinoam Yumtovian, who also has past ties to Kabbalah La'am. Vinokur was previously investigated for allegedly obstructing justice by pressuring a complainant in a case involving MK Chanoch Milvitzky. Vinokur did not respond to inquiries regarding the status of that investigation.

Three of the Kabbalah La'am activists worked directly in Shadmon's office. Shelly Peretz, formerly digital and content manager at Kabbalah La'am, served as an advisor in the director-general's office and is now acting spokesperson. Shadmon and Peretz also co-hosted a podcast titled "Experts with Kabbalah." In 2024, Vinokur was part of the ministry's delegation to the COP29 climate conference in Baku, where four of the eight ministry representatives were from Kabbalah La'am: Vinokur, Shadmon, Peretz, and Sonia Inshko, an advisor to the director-general.

Kabbalah La'am was founded in the early 1990s by Dr. Michael Laitman. MK Milvitzky previously served as the organization's legal counsel and later ran for the Likud party as part of the "United People's Headquarters," which claimed to mobilize 5,000 supporters through its association with Kabbalah La'am activists.

The ministry stated that Vinokur is an education expert and his contract was handled professionally and according to regulations. They also noted that trust-based positions allow the director-general to select trusted professionals. Shadmon asserted he was not involved in Vinokur's selection, while Vinokur maintained his appointments followed standard procedures. Yumtovian stated he and Vinokur collaborate on services for various entities, denying any political affiliation. Peretz and Kabbalah La'am did not provide a response.