Who they are
Yehuda Oppenheimer is a former congregational rabbi in the United States, and now a writer, editor and licensed tour guide in Afula. He studied for many years at haredi yeshivas in Israel and America, among them Kol Torah, the Mir in Jerusalem, Netzach Yisrael, Beis Moshe and Kiryat Nachliel in Migdal HaEmek, as a student of Rabbi Nachman Bulman, and was ordained by Rabbi Berel Wein in 1994.
For nearly twenty years he led American congregations: Kesser Israel in Portland, Oregon, where he also set up a local kashrut agency, and the Young Israel of Forest Hills in New York. Alongside the rabbinate he took a degree in electronics, mostly at the Jerusalem College of Technology, a master’s in computer science and a law degree at Brooklyn Law School, and worked as an electronics and communications engineer, including at AT&T Bell Labs, and as a lawyer. He was also active in NCSY and Ohr Somayach and trained in family mediation.
Back in Israel he served as rabbi of the synagogue in Lavon. He writes regular columns for the Jewish Press and the Queens Jewish Link and the blog Libi BaMizrach, and has edited several books.
Positions and record
Haredi service: Supports military or meaningful national service for Haredi men who are not genuine full-time Torah learners, with protected study for those who are and reliable religious safeguards for soldiers.
Education: Supports English and maths teaching for Haredi children and alternatives for pupils who do not succeed in the standard yeshiva system.
Employment: Supports professional education and training that allow Haredi adults to earn a living while remaining part of their community.
Where they stand
Holds the party line on every issue.