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GENERAL INTEREST PROFILE

ONE with

ON Naftali Bennett

ONE Prime Minister of Israel

Background Army
Shabbat
Naftali Bennett was born in Haifa in 1972. Six years in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit
His father was a real estate agent and entre- and commander in the elite Maglan unit. Shabbat is family time, when the kids get
preneur and his mother was active in the to spend time with Abba. “When Shabbat
American community in Israel. Family comes in – phew!”
During his childhood, the family moved Married to Galit, a professional chef whom Jewish unity
between Montreal, Israel and New Jersey, he met on Ammunition Hill where she
returning when his father fought in the Yom worked as an educator for youth groups. “It’s all about tolerance, acceptance and
Kippur War. They have four children and live in Raanana. togetherness. Uniting the Jewish people.
“Our life is very normal at home,” he says. Not in the sense that we’re trying to avoid
Childhood “We like to hike around Israel. We haven’t disagreements. It’s okay not to agree.
He loved to hike among the trees in the grove been able to do that lately and I miss it.” It’s important to create a dialogue, not
from a feeling of superiority of one group
near his house in Haifa. “I had a wonderful over another, but from a perspective of
childhood,” he says. “We were not especially Entering politics partnership.”
spoiled. I would walk in order to save the When the Second Lebanon War broke out,
bus fare.” “The State of Israel belongs to us all. We
Bennett found himself fighting for his coun-
“Once, my mother heard her sons using the try, with Galit pregnant with their daughter. have a wonderful nation, and we all have a
commitment and responsibility to take care
word friar (Hebrew for “loser”) and asked of our country. The political disputes and
what it meant. We said to her, ‘A friar is The trauma of the war led him to the deci- divisions must not overshadow our basic
someone who helps out and gives without sion to enter politics in an effort to influence concern for Israel.”
receiving anything in return.’ the country’s leadership, and he became
Binyamin Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff (2006–
My mother told us off and said in her heavy 2007). “Life is not only about enjoyment, but How does his kippah
American accent, ‘If so, friars are good. I mostly for serving and fixing.” stay on his head?
want you to be friars your whole life.’ My
parents left the good life in America to live in “After seeing what I’ve gone through, I don’t “I am proud to be religious, I am proud of my
Israel, without knowing a word in Hebrew. think my children will follow in my foot- kippah.” He uses Kippah Keeper – a product
Not because they were forced to, but because steps.” Two of his kids want him to leave made of reusable double-sided medical tape.
they had ideals. politics altogether, while the other two are Once, he had to deliver a speech outdoors
more understanding. on a windy day when he discovered he was
They didn’t come to receive, they came to out of tape. He took a piece of chewing gum
give. They came to be friars… These are the “I try to educate them that their sacrifice is and stuck it on his head to keep his kippah
kind of friars that make Israel great.” for the good of the country.” in place! n

Five Facts about Naftali Bennett

When he
In 5th grade, He was born One of his worked in
he burned his After his into a secular sons is named hi-tech, he
after Emanuel
school’s back army service, family and successfully
yard when his he worked as became Moreno, who made two
science project a gardener. religious of his fell in combat exits worth
went haywire. own volition. in the Second millions of
Lebanon War.
dollars.
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