Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, described in a podcast with Eli Gotthelf how he moved from a successful software career in the haredi and wider Israeli tech world into local politics. A Hasid from the Rachmastrivka community, father of four, he said he left the “golden cage” of high-tech because he wanted a public role with real impact.
Leitner grew up in Jerusalem and spent much of his youth in Beitar Illit immersed in Torah study. After marriage he had expected to work in education and outreach, but as a father of four he concluded that teaching would not provide stable income. Inspired by his wife, who studied computer science, he completed matriculation exams and studied software engineering, then moved into Israeli high-tech. He said the experience of working alongside secular Israelis exposed deep gaps in language, values and assumptions, while reinforcing his pride in haredi life.
He argues that the ultra-Orthodox community needs a new “operating system” rather than more public relations. In his view, the community can no longer act as though it remains a tiny 3 percent minority, because it is becoming a major part of the state. He called on haredi men who are not studying full time to work, build industry and help sustain the economy, army and welfare system, saying, “We are the state.”
His move into politics began in Beit Shemesh, where he found there were no schools suited to his family’s specific Hasidic needs. He organized parents, put up flyers, found the Netzach educational network and helped establish two schools, one for boys and one for girls. That civic work led him to found the “Derech” movement, which offers a local alternative focused on quality of life, parks, sports within halachic limits, and kosher culture. He said opponents tried to stop the group with illegal and violent actions, but he would not be deterred. Despite the pressure, the list won two seats on the Beit Shemesh city council, and Leitner said he is already getting requests to expand the model to other cities and possibly to the national stage.
