Prime Minister Netanyahu recently proposed the appointment of the former Minister of Science, Rabbi Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz, to the role of the Civil Service Commissioner. His appointment requires the approval of the special committee headed by retired judge Chanan Efrati. If he is selected, he will be the third religious appointment of late by the administration.

In May of 2017, the former commissioner Moshe Dayan ended his term. The position was filled for the last 18 months by Ehud Parvar, but he had not yet served as a full-time official. About two weeks ago, the special committee, headed by Professors Mina Teicher and Dov Goldberger, rejected the appointment of Ofra Bracha, a director of a unit in the Interior Ministry, despite the pressure Netanyahu exerted for the appointment.

Last January Herschkowitz was appointed by President Reuven Rivlin and Minster of Science Ofir Akunis to serve as chairman of the National Council for Research & Development, a position he headed for the past five months.

Prof. Hershkowitz, 65 is a native of Haifa and a professor of mathematics at the Technion. Until recently he served as President of Bar-Ilan University, and before that, he served as Minister of Science & Technology and a MK in the 18th Knesset.

In addition to his academic training, he acquired Torah education at Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva and received rabbinic ordination. He completed his military service in the Intelligence Corps and graduated with the rank of Major. Prof. Hershkowitz is married to Amona, father of five children and grandfather of 11.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)