Goldknopf Demands Ouster of Chief of Staff Babchik Amid Gur Hasidic Crisis
Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf is pushing to remove his powerful chief of staff, Moti Babchik, just two days before Knesset candidate lists close, amid wider ultra-Orthodox political shakeups.
Political Power Struggle Within Gur Hasidism
Just two days before the deadline for submitting candidate lists for the upcoming Knesset elections, a fierce and open power struggle has erupted at the top of the Gur Hasidic sect. Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf is actively pushing for the immediate removal of his chief of staff, Moti Babchik, from all political decision-making positions. Goldknopf claims that his long-time senior aide has been operating with excessive independence and has amassed political power inappropriate for his rank.
The final decision now rests with the Gur Admor (spiritual leader), who is weighing whether to accept Goldknopf's demand or leverage the crisis for a comprehensive overhaul of the sect's political representation. This development comes just one day after a dramatic purge shook their Lithuanian partner faction, Degel HaTorah.
The Shadow Diplomat of Haredi Politics
The intensity of the clash stems from Babchik's extraordinary standing in the public arena. While officially designated as Goldknopf's chief of staff, he has in practice become one of the most influential figures in ultra-Orthodox politics. Babchik, who previously served as the right-hand man to Yaakov Litzman, has for years managed the diplomatic and political channels of the Gur Hasidic sect with party leaders and senior government officials.
In recent months, his independence peaked during the military enlistment law crisis. He voiced sharp, public criticism in interviews against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his treatment of the Haredi sector, claiming in June that Netanyahu attempted to bypass him to sow internal division within the Gur community.
Babchik's independent influence was also evident three weeks ago when he was dispatched to conduct secret negotiations with the extremist Jerusalem Faction. During a late-night meeting, he was offered a proposal for Gur to split from United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and form an independent, hardline anti-enlistment list. Babchik rejected the idea, urging them to support UTJ and declaring that Gur would continue to lead Agudat Yisrael.
This independent power base triggered reactions beyond the sect. Last week, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri intervened, emphasizing that Gur has only "one boss"—the Admor—who determined that Goldknopf would remain in his role, and demanded that Babchik be treated merely as an assistant. Babchik fired back publicly, referencing Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's positions on the draft law and Netanyahu.
When reached for comment, Moti Babchik dismissed the reports as "absolute nonsense."
Broader Shakeups in United Torah Judaism
The flare-up within Gur occurs against the backdrop of an unprecedented political earthquake in the Lithuanian Degel HaTorah faction, which partners with the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael under the UTJ alliance. The leader of the Lithuanian community, Rabbi Dov Lando, unexpectedly ordered the removal of Moshe Gafni—who has served in parliament almost continuously since 1988—and Uri Maklev from the Knesset candidate list.
The Lithuanian shakeup was driven by deep internal frustration over the failure to pass the draft exemption law, alongside subsequent arrests of draft evaders and financial sanctions imposed on yeshivas.
Until recently, political analysts believed that the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael faction would head to the polls in complete stability, with all four incumbent representatives—Yitzhak Goldknopf, Israel Eichler, Meir Porush, and Yaakov Tessler—retaining their spots. However, the explosive battle between Goldknopf and his chief of staff reopens the field, raising the possibility of a broader reshuffle within the Gur political ranks.
