Rafi Peretz

Biography and religious work

Peretz trained and worked as an Orthodox rabbi, active in educational settings and community leadership. His rabbinic identity and pastoral role have shaped his public profile and provided a platform for engaging with issues of Jewish law, national identity and the place of religion in public life. Sources describing his background include entries that give his Hebrew name and traditional credentials; see Hebrew name and general notes on Orthodox Judaism and the office of a rabbi for context. He was born and raised in Jerusalem, a city central to both his personal history and many of the issues he later engaged with politically.

Military service

Peretz served in the Israel Defense Forces, rising to senior rank and holding the post of Chief Military Rabbi. During his military career he attained the rank of brigadier general and led the Military Rabbinate, a role that places religious services, pastoral care and Jewish legal guidance within the armed forces. The Military Rabbinate operates as a branch of the Chief Military Rabbinate and interacts closely with the broader Israel Defense Forces. His tenure in uniform reinforced his reputation as a figure at the intersection of faith and national service.

Political career

Transitioning from military and rabbinic roles into party politics, Peretz became involved with the religious Zionist party The Jewish Home and related alliances. He served as leader of The Jewish Home from 2019 until 2021 and was elected to the Knesset as part of the Jewish Home–Tkuma grouping. In 2019 he was appointed Minister of Education in the Fourth Netanyahu Government, a post that aligned with his background in religious education. On 17 May 2020 he took office as Minister of Jerusalem Affairs in the subsequent government. These positions placed him at the center of debates on curricula, school policy and the civic dimensions of Jerusalem.

Significance and public role

Peretz is frequently cited as an example of the crossover between rabbinic authority, military service and conservative religious politics in Israel. Supporters point to his pastoral experience and service record; critics and commentators have debated his statements and decisions in public office. Regardless of perspective, his career illustrates how religious leadership and state institutions interact in contemporary Israeli life, especially around education and matters of national identity.

Further reading

• Detailed biographical notes — Hebrew name and language resources
• Background on Orthodox Judaism
• Role and duties of a rabbi
• Information about Jerusalem
• Military ranks and their meanings
• Overview of the Military Rabbinate
• General resources on the Israel Defense Forces