 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Gilad Kariv | |
|---|---|
| גלעד קריב | |
 | |
| Faction represented in theKnesset | |
| 2021–2024 | Labor Party |
| 2024– | The Democrats |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-11-30)30 November 1973 (age 51) |
Gilad Kariv (Hebrew:גלעד קריב; born 30 November 1973)[1] is an Israeli attorney,Reform rabbi, and a politician. He was the formerCEO of theIsrael Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism[2][3] and is currently a member of theKnesset for theDemocrats[4] and previously for theLabor Party, in the25th Knesset. He has also served as chairman of theConstitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Knesset during the term of the36th Government of Israel.
Kariv was born and educated inTel Aviv.[1] His involvement with theReform Movement began in high school, when he joined the Beit Daniel Synagogue, the Center of Progressive movement in Tel Aviv. Once completing his secondary education at Lady Davis High School, Gilad volunteered for aService Year in theHebrew Scouts, and worked on establishing educationalNahal groups.
Kariv served in theIsrael Defense ForcesIntelligence Corps under theHamanTalpiot program.[5] Following five years of service in the8200 unit, during which he completed the officers program with honors,[6] reaching the rank of Lieutenant,[7] Kariv went to study at theHebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2001, he earned a bachelor's degree in law andJewish studies. In 2001–2002 he interned in the Supreme Court of the State Attorney Office. In 2003, he received a master's degree in Jewish studies atHebrew Union College inJerusalem. In 2004, he was certified as a lawyer by theIsrael Bar Association. In 2008, Kariv received a master's degree inconstitutional law fromNorthwestern University inChicago, through a combined program withTel Aviv University.
During his academic studies, Kariv establishedProgressive Movement student networks on campuses around the country. Following the economic sanctions of 2002, Kariv was one of the founding members of the Social Organizations Forum, and was active in several social initiatives, such as the single mothers protest. In 2003, Kariv received rabbinic ordination at the HUC. Among his posts, Kariv served as a rabbi at Congregation Beit Daniel inTel Aviv until 2008.
Kariv lives inGivatayim with his wife and three children.[8]
Between 2003 and 2009, Kariv served as the director of theIsrael Religious Action Center, and headed Reform movement public and legal initiatives in Israel on issues of freedom of religion, relation between religion and state, conversion, and many other social causes. Kariv initiated the establishment ofKeren Be'chavod ('Be'chavod Fund) – the Reform Movement's humanitarian aid foundation, and "Kehilat Tzedek" – the training and guidance center for people of all Jewish sects in the field of social action.
In 2009, Kariv was appointed executive director of theIsrael Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ). Since then, he has worked to expand the work of the movement, establish new Reform congregations around the country, and obtain government recognition of the movement's activities. He was replaced byAnna Kislanski after Kariv was elected to the Knesset in 2021.[9]
Kariv publishes opinion pieces in the news and online. He has published several position papers on a variety of topics, including a proposal for the re-organization of religious service provisions in Israel, a suggestion for separation of religious institutions from state bodies, Israeli public space on the Sabbath and a report on the crisis of conversion. Kariv is regularly invited to represent the Reform movement before Knesset committees and in a variety of other public settings. Between 2006 and 2009, Kariv took part in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee's discussions over the proposed writing of an Israeli constitution. In these meetings, Kariv represented theliberal Zionist point of view. Together with his colleagues at the IMPJ, Kariv proposed constitutional principles for the State of Israel.
As a representative of the Reform movement, Kariv serves as a board member at theJewish Federation Institute for Jewish Learning, and as a board member in the Menucha Nechona organization, which works to advance civil burials in Israel.[10] Between 2008 and 2011, Kariv also served as a committee member at theIsrael Broadcasting Authority.[11]
Kariv helped lead the efforts to establish an egalitarian praying platform at theWestern Wall, resulting in a government resolution officially recognizing the right for egalitarian prayer at the end of January 2016.[12]
Kariv ran in the 2012Israeli Labor Party primary elections, winning 27th place on the party's list for the2013 Knesset election.[13] The party won only 15 seats. In December 2014, he informed Labor Party ChairmanIsaac Herzog that he would be running for a spot on the Labor list for the2015 election.[14]
In January 2021, Kariv ran again in the Labor Party's primary election for the2021 Knesset election and placed fourth on the party's slate.[15] He was subsequently elected to the Knesset in 2021. As a Member of Knesset, he is vehemently opposed to the proposed "Police Reform" proposed by Minister of Interior,Itamar Ben Gvir.[16]
After the 2022 elections, resulting in the election of the25th Knesset, Kariv was involved in merging theMeretz andLabor parties into the new partyThe Democrats.[17] Kariv currently serves as a MK in the 25th Knesset, and heads the Committee for Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs.[18] He also serves on theNational Security Committee.[19]
In a July 2025 letter to the IDF Chief of StaffEyal Zamir and the Defense MinisterIsrael Katz, Kariv has called for the2023 Gaza war to end, citing the need to return thehostages, the danger to IDF soldiers, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, specifically calling out the number of Palestinian casualties, stating that thousands of Palestinian children have been killed, and mentioning the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza.[20]
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help){{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
