'Jewish Home' party head Rabbi-Professor Daniel Hershkowitz spoke to Arutz Sheva radio on Wednesday about his new role as head of a Knesset faction. Rabbi Hershkowitz said he was prepared to enter politics, and expressed confidence that the public will soon be familiar with his work.
The move from academics to politics is not as dramatic as it may seem, Hershkowitz said. His work as a professor required him to deal with politics, he said, including negotiations with the Finance Ministry.
Hershkowitz expressed confidence that the new party, created from the merger of four nationalist parties, would be an example of cooperation. The party's veteran members are working well together and support him as head of the party, he said. One of the party's more veteran members will likely to soon be named as chairman.
Hershkowitz said despite his recent entrance to politics, he is not unknown: many know his work as a professor, and others know him as a neighborhood rabbi in Haifa. Soon everyone will know him, he said: “When you are elected as head of a party, you stop being anonymous.”
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The Jewish Home is beginning a new path, one that will turn the religious-Zionist community into an active partner in the government, Hershkowitz said. Members of the community already fill senior positions in other public areas, he added, and the time has come for the community to excel in the political realm as well.
Hershkowitz denied charges that he had not fought against the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif. He fought the expulsion in many ways despite not being physically present in the area, he said.
When asked if the Jewish Home is open to those who have called on soldiers to refuse orders and to others more “militant” than him, Hershkowitz said the party is open to all forms of Zionism.
The Jewish Home Central Committee decided to select the party's Knesset list itself instead of holding public primaries, in a move that sparked controversy and created tension within the party. The committee selected Hershkowitz on Monday.
The party has now opened a site where the public can select 15 representatives to fill seats on the party list. Those who vote will not choose the party list, but their recommendations will be taken into consideration when the committee makes its choice.