Dr. Nechumi Yaffe, a haredi researcher, is joining the HaTzibur HaCharedi party and will run on its list for the 26th Knesset, marking the first time a haredi party running for Knesset has included a woman on its list.
Yaffe, 50, is a Jerusalem resident, mother of three, and researcher in political psychology. Over the past year, she has worked at Harvard University as part of a research project on the haredi sector within the "Israel and the Regional Economy" initiative. She also serves as a senior faculty member and researcher at Tel Aviv University.
In 2020, Yaffe was appointed special advisor on haredi affairs to the National Security Council, where her work focused extensively on poverty within the haredi community.
Following the October 7th massacre, Yaffe established a haredi emergency response center. Through the center, tens of thousands of haredi volunteers provided support to evacuees from the Gaza border communities and to bereaved families.
Yaffe grew up and was educated in Jerusalem's Slonim Hasidic community. She taught religious law and history at the "old" haredi seminary and at Sniff, and authored history curricula used in 11th and 12th grade classes across haredi seminaries.
Moti Leitner, speaking on behalf of the HaTzibur HaCharedi Party, welcomed Yaffe's decision to join the party's Knesset list.
"I welcome the joining of Mrs. Dr. Nechumi Yaffe to the Knesset list of the HaTzibur HaCharedi Party. Over 30 years of an educational and academic career, Yaffe has worked to advance our haredi brothers and sisters. Together, we will merit to sanctify God's name. This time, we take responsibility," Leitner stated.