Ministry of Regional Cooperation Staffed with Kabbalah L'Am Activists
The Ministry of Regional Cooperation under Minister David Amsalem has hired multiple activists from the Kabbalah L'Am organization, sparking scrutiny over government appointments and external consulting contracts.
The Ministry of Regional Cooperation under Minister David Amsalem has increasingly become a hiring ground for activists from "Kabbalah L'Am," an organization promoting Kabbalah studies that has registered thousands of members for Likud. At least six activists associated with the organization have worked or are currently working in the ministry, including Director-General Gilad Shadmon, a former distribution manager for the group.
Controversial Consulting Contracts and Tenders
Another prominent figure is Dr. Eli Vinokur, a Kabbalah lecturer and close associate of Shadmon, who was selected as an external consultant in "educational innovation" through a contract exceeding 150,000 shekels. Vinokur, an educator and vice president of the Gordon Academic College, was chosen without a competitive tender via a procedure where the ministry approached him and two other suppliers, with price as the primary criterion. Between November 2025 and late June 2026, he received over 80,000 shekels, disbursed to his partnership with Dr. Avinoam Yomtovian, who also previously worked with Kabbalah L'Am.
"The ministry stated that Vinokur is an educational expert and that his engagement was conducted professionally and in accordance with all applicable rules, adding that trust-based positions allow the director-general to choose professionals he knows and trusts."
Vinokur was previously investigated on suspicion of obstructing justice in a case that also involved Likud MK Hanoch Milvitsky, with allegations touching on pressuring a complainant to provide false testimony. Furthermore, in 2024, Vinokur joined the ministry's delegation to the COP29 climate conference in Baku, where four out of the eight ministry representatives were affiliated with Kabbalah L'Am: Vinokur, Shadmon, Shelly Peretz, and Sonia Inshko.
Organizational Ties and Responses
Kabbalah L'Am was founded in the early 1990s by Dr. Michael Laitman. MK Milvitsky previously served as the organization's legal advisor before running for the Knesset via a faction backed by the group, which reportedly registered 5,000 supporters. Shadmon stated he was not involved in Vinokur's selection, while Vinokur maintained that all his roles were secured through proper procedures.
