Yitzchak Goldknopf

Yitzchak Goldknopf, born in Jerusalem to a well-connected Gur Hasidic family, is a prominent figure in the Israeli ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community and the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party leader.

Goldknopf began his career in education in his early 20s, initially running elementary “Talmud Torah” schools. In the early 1980s, he joined his father, Yehuda Arieh, in managing a network of Beit Yaakov kindergartens and daycare centers. Following his father’s death in 1988, Goldknopf took over the school system, which consisted of numerous kindergartens and daycare centers. In 1990, he expanded his educational endeavors by establishing Petachya, a network of special needs schools for Haredi students.

However, Goldknopf’s management of the Beit Yaakov institutions faced scrutiny. A 2008 State Comptroller report identified unfair labor practices, including underpaying staff and forcing resignations to prevent seniority benefits. Subsequent reports in 2010 and 2015 alleged the continuation of these practices, with workers claiming unpaid overtime and disproportionate penalties. Accusations of nepotism also surfaced. Goldknopf has maintained that he operates within the bounds of labor laws.

Beyond education, Goldknopf became actively involved in campaigns concerning Shabbat observance in Israel. He led the Rabbinic Committee for the Sanctity of Shabbat, formed in the late 1990s. The committee initiated boycotts against businesses operating on Shabbat, including El Al Airlines, the AM:PM supermarket chain, and the Phoenicia glass factory. While some campaigns, like the one against El Al, resulted in agreements, others, such as the effort against AM: PM’s Shefa Shuk stores, led to closures. These boycotts have faced criticism, with some alleging economic motivations behind them.

Goldknopf lacked significant political experience despite his long-standing public profile, never having served in the Knesset or a significant municipal role. Nevertheless, he was chosen to lead the UTJ faction, replacing Yaakov Litzman. His close ties to the head of the Gur Hasidic sect, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, were crucial to his selection. UTJ employs a rotation system for leadership between its two constituent parties, Agudat Yisrael (representing Hasidic sects, including Gur) and Degel HaTorah (representing non-Hasidic Haredi Jews).

Controversial statements marked Goldknopf’s entry into politics. He asserted that Torah study is more challenging than military service and questioned the economic contribution of secular subjects like English and mathematics. He also suggested Haredi’s reluctance to answer phone surveys stemmed from a fear of the Tax Authority. These remarks were widely criticized.

Following the 2022 elections, Goldknopf was appointed Minister of Housing and Construction in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. He was also a secondary minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

In December 2022, reports emerged that Goldknopf was the registered owner of a Jerusalem apartment illegally divided into five units before assuming his ministerial roles. While property tax records listed his wife as the owner, a report indicated the division occurred while he was the owner, though the municipality took no action. Sources close to Goldknopf stated that he and his wife did not own the apartment at the time of the report and had not divided it, claiming they had lived there previously but left in March 2021 and transferred their rights to the property. They currently reside in a luxury apartment in Jerusalem’s Schneller compound. Goldknopf’s legal team further clarified that the property transfer was reported to tax authorities and any division occurred after his departure. They also noted that the building’s registration was in the process of being regularized.

As Housing Minister, Goldknopf has been tasked with addressing the housing shortage but faced criticism for focusing on the ultra-Orthodox community. He was expected to jump-start housing programs aimed at the Haredi community, which had previously lagged. His tenure concentrated on implementing plans to construct tens of thousands of housing units in various locations. The appointment process for the director general of the Housing Ministry also garnered attention. Ultimately, Yehuda Morgenstern, a more qualified yet still politically connected individual, was appointed.

On March 23, 2025, Goldknopf sparked further controversy by being filmed dancing to an anti-Zionist “Neturei Karta” anthem at a family wedding, encouraging disobeying the state and refusing military service. This incident led to widespread outrage and criticism from Israeli leaders and organizations, who viewed it as disrespectful to IDF soldiers, especially during wartime. Lt.-Col. (res.) Yaya Fink even filed a police complaint. Goldknopf later apologized and publicly condemned these messages in an attempt to avoid public scrutiny.

The following day, Goldknopf resigned from his secondary role in the Prime Minister’s Office. He stated that this symbolic move was due to the government’s lack of progress on passing a bill exempting yeshiva students from military conscription, a key demand of UTJ, which he had accepted the position to help advance. He retained his position as Minister of Housing and Construction, remaining in the cabinet.

Sources: Judah Ari Gross, “The aggressive grievance politics of UTJ’s novice chief Yitzhak Goldknopf,” Times of Israel, (October 31, 2022).
Adi Cohen, Hadar Horesh, “Meet Israel’s Next Housing Minister, One of Netanyahu’s Toughest Coalition Partners,” Haaretz, (December 6, 2022).
“Incoming Housing Minister Goldknopf owns illegally divided apartment - report,” Jerusalem Post, (December 21, 2022).
“Yitzhak Goldknopf filmed dancing to anti-Zionist Neturei Karta anthem, sparks outrage,” Jerusalem Post, (March 23, 2025).
Sam Sokol, “In symbolic move, Goldknopf resigns secondary ministerial role but will stay housing minister,” Times of Israel, (March 24, 2025).

Photo: Avi Ohayon / Government Press Office of Israel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.