Key Facts
Career & Education
About
David Azoulay is an Israeli politician and rabbi affiliated with the Shas party, known for his long tenure as a member of the Knesset (MK) and his close alliance with party leader Aryeh Deri, with whom he was a classmate. Born in 1957 in Jerusalem, Azoulay grew up in a religious Sephardic Jewish family and pursued rabbinical studies, becoming ordained as a rabbi. He entered politics in the mid-1990s, leveraging his background in religious education and community leadership within Israel's ultra-Orthodox Mizrahi community. Azoulay's political career focused on advocating for religious and social welfare issues, particularly those affecting the Haredi population, including education, housing, and religious autonomy.
Azoulay first entered the Knesset in 1996 as part of the Shas list, serving until 1999. He returned in 2003 and held seats intermittently through 2013, during which he chaired committees on education and culture and was involved in parliamentary efforts to promote Sephardic Jewish heritage and religious institutions. As a deputy to Aryeh Deri, he played a supportive role in Shas's legislative agenda, often defending the party's positions on issues like Sabbath observance and state funding for yeshivas. After leaving the Knesset in 2013, Azoulay continued involvement in Shas activities and religious education, though he has maintained a lower public profile since then.
Throughout his career, Azoulay has been recognized for his loyalty to Shas and its ultra-Orthodox base but has faced criticism for the party's involvement in corruption scandals, including those surrounding Deri. No major personal legal issues have been publicly documented against him, and he remains an influential figure in Israel's religious-political networks.