After 38 years of Gafni: His successor marks a new era in Degel HaTorah | Profile

A profile of MK Yaakov Asher, chosen to replace Moshe Gafni as head of the Degel HaTorah party after 38 years. Asher, 61, former mayor of Bnei Brak, represents the next generation of Lithuanian leadership, with experience in local government and the Knesset. The article examines his ties to Rabbi Landau's household and the challenges ahead, including the draft law and political partnerships.

The upheaval in Degel HaTorah this week placed Yaakov Asher at the center of the political stage. Following the decision to oust Moshe Gafni from the party leadership after 38 years, Asher, 61, largely marks the next generation of Lithuanian leadership—a generation that operates within the Haredi world but also holds experience in local government, the labor market, and the Israeli political system. Asher, father of seven and grandfather, was born in Ramat Gan, served in the IDF, and integrated into the workforce and public life. He made his political career in Degel HaTorah and local government, eventually becoming mayor of Bnei Brak. During his tenure as mayor, he led economic initiatives, promoted the establishment of the BBC complex in the north of the city, and was involved in a recovery agreement. In the Knesset, Asher stood out mainly in committee work and legislation. He chaired the Constitution Committee during the COVID-19 crisis and the Interior Committee dealing with war damage rehabilitation. Asher is considered close to the household of the Lithuanian leader Rabbi Dov Landau, and importance is attributed to his ties with David Shapira, who was involved in Gafni's ouster. The main challenge awaiting him is the issue of Haredi conscription. The big question is whether the change in the figure standing at the party's forefront will also lead to a change in how Degel HaTorah conducts itself toward Israeli society and the political system.