Who they are
Adlerstein was born in New York in 1950. He attended Queens College and received ordination at Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, then moved to California in 1978 to teach. He taught at Loyola Law School, worked for the Simon Wiesenthal Center and co-founded Cross-Currents. He moved to Jerusalem in 2017 and now heads global faith engagement at Israel365.
Positions and record
Haredi service: Supports deferment for genuine full-time Torah learners, with others serving in the IDF or another national-service route compatible with Haredi religious practice.
Education: Supports serious English and maths instruction for Haredi children alongside their religious education.
Employment: Rejects treating earning a living as incompatible with Haredi religious life and supports greater participation in work and national life.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.
Judea & Samariaparty lineRuns on the haredi sector's own questions, not on the West Bank
Two states / withdrawalSovereignty / annexation
Gaza & Securityparty lineIt has published nothing on the war or the hostages
Deal & disengagementFull military control
Haredi Enlistmentparty lineAbsolute protection for a young man learning all day, service for everyone else
Universal draftPreserve exemptions
Judiciaryparty lineIt has taken no position on the courts
Court can strike lawsKnesset can override
Economyparty lineTraining, civil-service affirmative action and housing supply, with no wider fiscal line
Social spendingFree market
Educationparty lineHaredi schools stay independent, with maths and English taught inside them
State runs the schoolsParents and communities
Religion & Stateparty lineRuns on the sector's own institutions, not on the state's religion policy
Civil / pluralistReligious authority
Nation & Citizenshipparty lineIt has taken no position on citizenship or the state's Jewish character
Equal citizenshipJewish national state