In an effort to increase national awareness of Jewish identity, the Ministry of Religious Services has established a Jewish Identity Administration, to be headed by former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General (reserves) Rabbi Avichai Ronsky. Ronsky, who developed a similar unit while serving as the IDF’s chief rabbi was tapped by Minister of Religious Services (Bayit Yehudi) Naftali Bennett for the post. Rav Ronsky will leave his current position as a rosh yeshiva in his community of Itamar to fill the post.

Ronsky told the press that he and Bennett along with party MK Ayelet Shaked spoke of establishing the unit before the general elections, explaining the idea is not to bring everyone back as baalei teshuvah but to increase Jewish identity in the Jewish state.

According to the Haaretz report, Rabbi Ronsky has already met with Minister of Education (Yesh Atid) Rabbi Shai Piron and he is conducting meetings with many outreach organizations as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)