Rabbi Yitzchak Chai Zaga has announced he plans to compete against Naftali Bennett in the party’s next primaries for the party’s leadership position. In the rav’s own words, he plans “To make Bayit Yehudi a part for all Israelis, with a clear ideological principle and addressing social issues together with offering practical and creative solutions in the fight against poverty and solving the housing crisis as well as all other aspects of Israeli life”.

The rav is building his camp, calling himself “Orot Bayit Yehudi”, reaching out to party members. Rabbi Zaga has a Masters degree in law as well as business and has worked as an attorney for a fund redeeming land in Yehuda and Shomron, a strategic advisor, a member of the directorates of Africa Israel, Dor Energy, Alon Delek, Dor Gas, and Negev Ceramics.

In 5763 he took a break to learn and teach Torah, seeking to bring a new Torah spirit to Israeli society and of late has been working under the title Beit Medrash Ruach Yerushalmit – Life According to Rav Kook. The rav also delivers a weekly shiur in Jerusalem’s Beit HaRav Kook.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)