Rafi Peretz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rafi Peretz
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רפי פרץ
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| Ministerial roles | |
| 2019–2020 | Minister of Education |
| 2020–2021 | Minister of Jerusalem Affairs |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 2019 | Union of Right-Wing Parties |
| 2019 | Yamina |
| 2019–2020 | Jewish Home–National Union |
| 2020 | Yamina |
| 2020–2021 | Jewish Home |
| Other roles | |
| 2010–2016 | Chief Military Rabbi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 January 1956 Jerusalem, Israel |
Rafael "Rafi" Peretz was born on January 7, 1956. He is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and a former politician. He used to be a military officer and a helicopter pilot. He also served as the Chief Military Rabbi for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Later, he became the leader of the Jewish Home political party. Peretz was a member of the Knesset (Israel's parliament) as part of the Yamina group. He later left Yamina to join the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Early Life and Education
Rafi Peretz was born in Jerusalem, Israel. His parents were from a Moroccan-Jewish background. He grew up in the Kiryat HaYovel area of Western Jerusalem.
He studied at two important religious schools: Mercaz HaRav and Yeshivat HaKotel. He received his semikhah, which means he was officially ordained as a rabbi. This ordination came from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
Military Career
Before becoming a brigadier general, Peretz led the Otzem Pre-Military Academy. He started this academy in 1993 in Bnei Atzmon, and it later moved to Yated. He was also a major in the Israeli Air Force reserves, where he flew helicopters.
In 2010, he became the Chief Military Rabbi. This is a very important role in the Israeli army. He served in this position until 2016. In 2014, some of his comments about the Temple Mount caused public discussion. The IDF quickly stated that his remarks did not represent their views. Peretz later expressed regret if his comments had offended anyone.
Political Career
Peretz was chosen to lead the Jewish Home party in February 2019. His party then joined a group called the Union of the Right-Wing Parties. Peretz was the main candidate for this group in the April 2019 elections. He was elected to the Knesset when the group won five seats.
In 2019, Peretz was appointed as the temporary Minister of Education. This means he was in charge of Israel's education system for a period.
In July 2019, some of his comments caused further public discussion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said these comments were "unacceptable." After protests, Peretz stated that he rejected the ideas he had previously supported.
In May 2020, the Yamina group moved to the opposition. Peretz then left Yamina. He joined the new government led by Netanyahu and Gantz. He became the "Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage."
In January 2021, Rafi Peretz announced that he was leaving politics.
Personal Life
Rafi Peretz is married and has 12 children. Before 2005, he lived in Bnei Atzmon, which was a settlement in Gush Katif. After the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, he moved. He now lives in Naveh. This village was started in 2008 by people who used to live in Gush Katif. In August 2020, Peretz tested positive for COVID-19.
