Yitzhak Goldknopf
{{Short description|Israeli politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Yitzchak Goldknopf 1.jpg
| caption = Goldknopf in 2023
| birth_date = {{birthdate and age|1950|10|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Jerusalem
| office1 = Ministerial roles
| suboffice1 = Minister of Housing & Construction
| subterm1 = 2022–
| office2 = Faction represented in the Knesset
| suboffice2 = United Torah Judaism
| subterm2 = 2022–2023
| native_name = יצחק גולדקנופף
| native_name_lang = he
}}
Yitzhak Issachar Goldknopf ({{langx|he|יצחק יששכר גולדקנופף}}; born 30 October 1950){{Cite web |title=חבר הכנסת יצחק גולדקנופף |url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/MK/APPS/mk/mk-personal-details/1099 |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=Knesset |language=he}} is an Israeli politician who serves as the Minister of Housing and Construction, and as the leader of Agudat Yisrael. Goldknopf is the leader of the United Torah Judaism party, following the resignation of Yaakov Litzman.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Hasidic faction picks replacement for Litzman to serve in Knesset |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/hasidic-faction-picks-replacement-for-litzman-to-serve-in-knesset/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Times of Israel |language=en-US}} He previously served as a member of the Jerusalem City Council.{{Cite news |last=Beniya |first=Yehonatan |date=31 October 2022 |title=הרשימות והפוליטיקאים שמחכים לקול שלכם |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/election2022/article/rjj1bbsno |access-date=3 November 2022}}
Biography
Goldknopf was born in Jerusalem to Malka and Yehuda, a follower of the Ger Hasidic dynasty.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Israel |date=21 June 2016 |title=בת 96 בפטירתה: מלכה גולדקנופף |url=https://www.kikar.co.il/death-notices/201942 |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=כיכר השבת |language=he}} Goldknopf is married, and has ten children.{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Nina |date=2 November 2022 |title=אחים של ראשי עיר, רבנים וקצינים בכירים לשעבר: הפנים החדשות בכנסת |language=he |work=Ynet |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/s1jupwxso |access-date=3 November 2022}}
Political career
Goldknopf is a member of Agudat Yisrael's national committee.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} He was elected to the Jerusalem City Council in 2003. Goldknopf is CEO of the Beit Yaakov and Beit Petahia kindergartens and daycare centers,{{Cite web |date=22 July 2022 |title=Litzman's Successor at Agudah Welcomes Gantz as PM, Eyes Finance Ministry |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/religious-secular-in-israel-israel/litzmans-successor-at-agudah-welcomes-gantz-as-pm-eyes-finance-ministry/2022/07/27/ |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Jewish Press}} which he inherited from his father.{{Cite web |title=Israel's Gur Hassidic leader picks next Knesset representative |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/06/israels-gur-hassidic-leader-picks-next-knesset-representative |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=www.al-monitor.com |date=6 June 2022 |language=en}} In June 2022, Yaakov Aryeh Alter, Rebbe of the Ger dynasty, appointed Goldknopf to replace Yaakov Litzman as leader of Agudat Yisrael.{{Cite web |date=24 June 2022 |title=הרב יצחק גולדקנופף יחליף את ליצמן ביהדות התורה |url=https://news.walla.co.il/break/3514292 |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Walla! |language=he}} Goldknopf was additionally assigned the first spot on the party's electoral list ahead of the 2022 election.{{Cite web |title=רשימת יהדות התורה בבחירות לכנסת ה-25 |url=https://www.maariv.co.il/elections-2022/Article-955264 |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=www.maariv.co.il|date=31 October 2022 |language=he}} Following the election, he became a Member of the 25th Knesset on 15 November, resigning on 6 January 2023 as part of the Norwegian Law. On 29 December 2022, Goldknopf became the Minister of Housing and Construction.
Goldknopf is well known in the religious community because of his position as chair of the "Committee for the Sanctity of the Sabbath". The committee has fought for restrictions in the Israeli public space, including a campaign that forced El Al to stop flying on Saturdays. In 2022, Goldknopf intervened in a highly publicized spat between the Gur leadership and Knesset member Meir Porush, who accused it of undermining his bid for Mayor of Jerusalem.
On March 23 2025, he was filmed dancing at a wedding to the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta anthem.{{Cite news |last=Freid |first=Shilo |date=2025-03-23 |title=Haredi minister sparks outrage in dance to song slamming IDF |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjnsvecn1e |access-date=2025-03-24 |work=Ynetnews |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-23 |title=Yitzhak Goldknopf filmed dancing to anti-Zionist Neturei Karta anthem, sparks outrage |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-847309 |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Current MKs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldknopf, Yitzhak}}
Category:Agudat Yisrael politicians
Category:Politicians from Jerusalem
Category:Members of the 25th Knesset (2022–)