Yaakov Hagoel (born February 19, 1971) (Hebrew:
יעקב חגואל), is the Chairman of the Executive of the
World Zionist Organization
The World Zionist Organization ( he, הַהִסְתַּדְּרוּת הַצִּיּוֹנִית הָעוֹלָמִית; ''HaHistadrut HaTzionit Ha'Olamit''), or WZO, is a non-governmental organization that promotes Zionism. It was founded as the ...
. He was formerly acting chairman of
The Jewish Agency for Israel
The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...
.
Between 2015 - 2020 Hagoel served as the Vice Chairman of the WZO. He was also the Head of the WZO's Department of Activities in Israel and Countering Antisemitism.
Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization
Hagoel was elected to the position of Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization at the 37th Zionist Congress in October, 2015. Hagoel was elected to the position of the WZO's Department for Activities in Israel & Countering Antisemitism in 2010. He founded the Center for Countering Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization. In this capacity, he has chaired meetings, lectures and conferences in the field of countering Antisemitism, frequently speaking out against incidents. In his capacity as Vice-Chairman, Hagoel has worked closely with the
American Zionist Movement
The American Zionist Movement (AZM) is the American federation of Zionist groups and individuals affiliated with the World Zionist Organization. According to its mission, it is committed to Zionism: the idea that the Jewish people is one people wi ...
, the
Zionist Federation of Great Britain and organizations around the world on issues of anti-Israel bias and Judeo-phobia. In 2018, he co-chaired a conference in the US in the wake of the deadly shooting at a
Pittsburgh synagogue. In August 2020, Hagoel, together with Member of Knesset
David Bitan
David Hai Bitan ( he, דָּוִד בִּיטָן, born 8 April 1960) is an Israeli lawyer and politician. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset from the Likud party. During 2016-2017 he served as the Chairman of the Coalition and Chair ...
, met with representatives of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to establish a team to handle the rise of Antisemitic content in social media.
In September 2020, Hagoel was listed as one of the world's most influential Jews by the Jerusalem Post.
Biography
Hagoel was born in 1971 in Tel Aviv. Before serving in the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
, he volunteered for a year in the southern city of
Ofakim
Ofakim ( he, אֳפָקִים ''ʾŎfāqīm'', or אוֹפָקִים ''ʾŌfāqīm'', ''lit.'' "horizons") is a city in the Southern District of Israel, 20 kilometers (12.4 mi) west of Beersheba. It achieved municipal status in 1955. I ...
. During his military service, he served in the
Nahal
Nahal ( he, נח"ל) (acronym of ''Noar Halutzi Lohem'', lit. Fighting Pioneer Youth) is a program that combines military service with mostly social welfare and informal education projects such as youth movement activities, as well as training ...
unit. Following his regular service, he joined the army reserves in the Gaza Division. He studied law at the
Ono Academic College
Ono Academic College (''in Hebrew'': הקריה האקדמית אונו) is a private college located in Kiryat Ono, Israel. With over 14,000 students, the college is among Israel's fastest growing institutions of higher education. OAC"s stated ...
and earned an LL.B.
career
Hagoel joined the ranks of the Betar youth movement at a young age, eventually becoming the treasurer and later the Executive CEO of World
Betar. He served as chairman of the Council of World Zionist Youth Movements, presidium member of the Zionist Executive Committee, member of the WZO Finance Committee and executive CEO of the World Leadership of the Betar Movement. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Agency since 2010. Additionally, Hagoel serves as co-chair of the Task Force on Countering Antisemitism of the
Jewish Agency
The Jewish Agency for Israel ( he, הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל, translit=HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el) formerly known as The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. ...
's Board of Trustees,
a member of the Board of Governors of Keren Hayesod—
United Israel Appeal
United Israel Appeal (UIA), a subsidiary of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), is a link between the American Jewish community and the people of Israel. An independent legal entity with 501(c)(3) charity status, and a Board of ...
, and a member of the Herzl Council and the Jabostinky's Council of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. He also serves as a member of Executive Committee of the
Ariel University
Ariel University ( he, אוניברסיטת אריאל), previously a public college known as the Ariel University Center of Samaria, is an Israeli university located in the urban Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank.
The college preced ...
. In 2011 Hagoel was elected to serve as a member of the
Yad Vashem
Yad Vashem ( he, יָד וַשֵׁם; literally, "a memorial and a name") is Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Jews who were murdered; honoring Jews who fought against th ...
Council. Hagoel was Chairman of World Likud from 2015 - 2020 and elected Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization during the World Zionist Congress that took place in Jerusalem. On August 11th 2022, the 14th of Av 5782, Yaakov Hagoel was appointed as a member of the National Council for Planning and Construction and a member of the Subcommittee for Principled Planning. On July 7, 2021, Hagoel was elected by the Jewish Agency's management to serve as acting chairman of the Jewish Agency. Hagoel replaced
Isaac Herzog
Isaac "Bougie" Herzog ( he, יצחק "בוז׳י" הרצוג, Yitskhak "Buzhi" Hertsog; born 22 September 1960) is an Israeli politician who has been serving as the 11th president of Israel since 2021. He is the first president to be born in ...
who previously served as the chairman until he was elected to be the President of Israel. Haguel served in this position until Doron Almog took office on August 21, 2022.
Hagoel lives in Netanya and is married to Tehiya with four children.
In July 2017, Hagoel led and initiated the Benyamin Ze'ev Herzl Law in the Knesset. This amendment to the Herzl Law pass in both a penultimate and final vote, according to which, the State will participate in funding the
WZO's ongoing activities at the
Herzl Museum
The Herzl Museum is a museum in Jerusalem, which deals with activities and vision of Theodor Herzl. The museum is located at the main entrance plaza to Mount Herzl.
History
Shortly after Herzl's death, the Anglo–Palestine Bank acquired about ...
and the Midrasha, along with any costs related to the continued maintenance and training obligations of both the Museum and Midrasha.
References
External links
Yaakov Hagoel on the WZO's iZionist siteYaakov Hagoel on WZO main site
News Items
Yaakov Hagoel elected chairman of WZO executive, The Jerusalem Post , 22 October 2020
Understanding the lessons of the Holocaust, The Jerusalem Post , 21 January 2020
In many ways, Herzl reminds us of Moses, The Jerusalem Post , 24 July 2019
Throughout history, no other people has held so strongly to the memory of their homeland, The Jerusalem Post , 16 October 2018
Ze’ev Jabotinsky, his legacy and importance in Zionism, The Jerusalem Post , 11 July 2018
Giro d’Italia, Mahmoud Abbas and JerusalemThe Jerusalem Post , 6 May 2018
Poll: 85% of Jews worldwide experienced or saw anti-Semitism Israel Hayom , 13 January 2017
Herzog and Edelstein agree: Not all criticism of Israel is antisemitism Jerusalem Post , 16 January 2017
Stabbing part of growing global trend of anti-Semitic violence, says Hagoel Haaretz / Associated Press
Response to Call for French Jews to hide kippot Jerusalem Post
Yaakov Hagoel warns of increased anti-Semitism throughout EuropeIsrael National News
The Israeli Mission to the United Nations and the AJC hosted "The Battle for Zionism"Jewish Journal
YNET News
Zionist Anti BDS ConferenceIsrael National News
Nike's World Cup Video Slammed as Anti-SemiticIsrael National News
Yaakov Hagoel interview on Israel Channel 10(Hebrew)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hagoel, Yaakov
1971 births
Israeli chief executives
Living people
Jewish Agency for Israel
Ono Academic College alumni
Zionist organizations
Betar members