- Yaakov Litzman
MKs
Date of birth = Birth date and age|1948|09|2|df=y
Place of birth = Germany
Year of Aliyah =
Date of death =
Knesset(s) = 15th, 16th, 17th (current)
Party =United Torah Judaism
Former parties =Agudat Israel
Gov't roles =Yaakov Litzman ( _he. יעקב ליצמן, born
2 September 1948 ) is a German-born follower of the Ger Hasidic dynasty who heads theAgudat Israel part of theUnited Torah Judaism faction in theIsrael iKnesset .Biography
Litzman was born in 1948 to Polish survivors of
the Holocaust , in adisplaced persons camp inGermany . When he was two years old, the family immigrated to theBorough Park section ofBrooklyn , where he grew up. At the age of 17 he continued his studies in Israel. His first job was as principal of the HasidicBeis Yaakov girls' school inJerusalem .Yaakov Litzman has five children and lives in Jerusalem.
Politics
He later became active in politics under the guidance of the then Gerrer
Rebbe , RabbiSimcha Binem Alter . Over time he became known as the rebbe's right-hand man, a role he continues under the present Gerrer Rebbe, RabbiYaakov Arye Alter .In 1999 the present rebbe asked Litzman to give up his U.S. citizenship and join the Aguda slate for the legislative election held that year. He has since served as the leader of the Agudat Israel faction in the Knesset, in which role he consults the Gerrer Rebbe on a daily basis.
Litzman served on the Knesset's Internal Affairs Committee from 1999-2001, [ [http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5761/shemini/aknesset.htm News 2001] ] and as the Deputy Chairman of Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee. [ [http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5760/pinchas/azoglkbc.htm News 2000] ] As part of the coalition agreement with the ruling government of
Ariel Sharon in 2000, Litzman was appointed chairman of theKnesset Finance Committee , a position he held until 2007.Litzman is quoted as saying that "in some respects, I envy the low profile the Haredi community in the United States has been able to retain by staying out of politics". He also said that, in Israel, the media attention makes for misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the Haredi community. [cite web| title=Brooklyn-bred Hasid Takes Position of Power in Israel| url=http://www.forward.com/articles/brooklyn-bred-hasid-takes-position-of-power-in-isr/| publisher=Forward, the Jewish Daily| last=Popper| first=Nathaniel| date=
2005-01-28 | accessdate=2007-09-17]References
External links
* [http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?id=216 Yaakov Litzman on the Knesset website (in English)]
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