Omer Yankelevich

Omer Yankelevich (; born 25 May 1978) is an Israeli attorney, educator, social activist, and politician. She was the Minister of Diaspora Affairs and was a Member of the Knesset for the Blue and White from 2019 to 2021. She is a co-founder of the "Just Begun Foundation", which sponsors social initiatives to help integrate peripheral and marginalized populations in Israel, with an emphasis on the Haredi sector. In 2019, she joined the Israel Resilience Party, which is part of the Blue and White political alliance, and was placed #23 on the faction's list for the April 2019 Knesset election. The Blue and White alliance gained 35 seats in the election, resulting in Yankelevich becoming a Member of the Knesset. She was subsequently elected to the Knesset as part of the Blue and White alliance in the September 2019 and March 2020 elections. In the national unity government which comprised the thirty-fifth government of Israel, Yankelevich was named Minister of Diaspora Affairs, becoming the first-ever Haredi woman cabinet minister.

Early life and education Omer Galinsky was born on 25 May 1978 to a secular family in Tel Aviv. She was named for her birthdate on the Jewish calendar, which coincided that year with the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer. She has one younger brother.

She attended Bais Yaakov for her elementary schooling, She graduated from Ono Academic College with a bachelor's of law (LL.B) with honors, and from Bar-Ilan University with a master's in law (LL.M) with distinction. Among the group's initiatives are the opening of an art gallery showcasing Haredi artists in a Tel Aviv flea market, and projects in theatre, film, media, and plastics and visual arts.

Political career In 2019, Yankelevich was chosen by Benny Gantz to be a member of his Israel Resilience Party, which was part of the Blue and White political alliance for the April 2019 Israeli legislative election. Her appointment was seen as an attempt by Gantz to present the party's political orientation as centrist, rather than left, although her presence was not expected to pull in Haredi votes. Yankelevich became a Member of the Knesset.

In the national unity government of the thirty-fifth government of Israel, Gantz appointed Yankelevich to serve as Minister of Diaspora Affairs, She did not run for re-election in the 2021 elections.

Yankelevich sponsored a Knesset bill to require consultation with Diaspora on matters regarding world Jewry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led a rule change in Israel's entry policy, to allow visits of families of new immigrants.

Personal life Yankelevich is a Haredi Jew.

She is involved in strategy consulting and public relations as well as counseling leaders in geopolitical matters.