Religious Services Minister of Israel

The Religious Services Minister of Israel ( _he. שר לשירותי דת, "Sar LeShirutei Dat") is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Religious Services and a relatively minor position in the Israeli cabinet.

The post was included in the provisional government, and was initially known as the Minister of Religions and War Victims. Upon the formation of the second government on 8 October 1951 it became the Minister of Religions. A second re-name occurred on 5 August 1981 when it became the Minister of Religious Affairs. The post was scrapped on 1 January 2004, but resurrected on 14 January 2008.

The office holders have largely religious, though some secularists have held the post; Haim Yosef Zadok being the first to do so when appointed in 1974. [ [http://www.idi.org.il/sites/english/AboutIDI/TheDemocracyAward/Pages/TheDemocracyAward2.aspx Haim J. Zadok] Israel Democracy Institute] Zerach Warhaftig is the longest serving minister to date, holding the post for over 12 years between 1961 and 1974. In Binyamin Netanyahu's government the portfolio changed hands six times, with four different people holding the post (Netanyahu three times and Eli Suissa twice).

There has been a Deputy Minister on several occasions.

List of Religious Services ministers

¹ Died in office.

Deputy Ministers

References

External links

* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/govt/eng/GovtByMinistry_eng.asp?ministry=12 All Ministers in the Ministry of Religions] Knesset website