Yaakov Asher Emerges as New Face of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Yaakov Asher has become the new leader of Degel HaTorah and the UTJ electoral list in September 2026, succeeding Moshe Gafni. Asher, a former mayor of Bnei Brak and Knesset member since 2013, prioritizes maintaining military service exemptions for yeshiva students. This stance has caused a rift with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leading to Degel HaTorah's departure from the coalition in July 2025. Asher is now demanding legislative guarantees on conscription for any future government participation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yaakov Asher took leadership of Degel HaTorah and the UTJ list in September 2026.
- Asher is demanding legislative guarantees on yeshiva students' military service exemptions.
- Degel HaTorah left Netanyahu's coalition in July 2025 over conscription commitments.
- Asher has signaled a potential alliance outside of Netanyahu's Likud party.
- He advocates for family allowances and subsidies for religious schools.
Yaakov Asher, born in Ramat Gan on July 2, 1965, has risen to prominence within the ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi community. After receiving his education in several yeshivas and completing a brief military service, Asher transitioned to local politics. He became a member of Degel HaTorah, a party representing the Lithuanian religious stream, and steadily advanced within the Bnei Brak municipality, eventually becoming its mayor in 2008. Elected to the Knesset in 2013 as part of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, Asher established himself as an experienced parliamentarian, chairing the Constitution and Interior committees and advocating for his community's interests in housing, education, and religious institution funding.
In September 2026, Asher succeeded Moshe Gafni as the head of Degel HaTorah, a significant generational shift. He also took the lead of the UTJ's electoral list. Despite this change in leadership, Asher remains guided by the directives of senior ultra-Orthodox rabbinical authorities, indicating no ideological break from his predecessors. His primary political focus is securing exemptions from military service for yeshiva students, a stance that has intensified amid the ongoing war in Gaza and calls for equitable duty distribution.
Asher insists that Torah study is a fundamental pillar of Jewish society, while critics argue that such exemptions are increasingly indefensible during wartime. This issue has created friction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously enjoyed strong support from ultra-Orthodox parties. In July 2025, Degel HaTorah's Knesset members left the governing coalition, citing unfulfilled government commitments regarding conscription. As the October 27, 2026, elections approach, Asher has adopted a firmer position, stating his party will not join any government without legislative guarantees on military service. Notably, he has also signaled a potential willingness to ally with Gadi Eisenkot, suggesting that loyalty to Netanyahu is no longer absolute.
Economically and socially, Asher champions family allowances, subsidies for religious schools, and the preservation of a Jewish character in public spaces. Unlike figures on the nationalist right, territorial and military concerns are secondary in his political discourse.
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