Zeev Elkin is an Israeli politician, historian, and journalist born as Vladimir Borisovich Elkin in 1964 to a secular Russian-speaking Jewish family in Kharkiv, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union. He developed an interest in Judaism during his youth, joined the Bnei Akiva youth movement, and taught himself Hebrew before immigrating to Israel (aliyah) in December 1990 with his wife Maria. He holds a BA in mathematics from Kharkiv University (1987–1990), a BA and MA in history from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1994), and studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion (1995). Elkin has been involved in academic studies of Jewish and medieval history, Jewish education in former Soviet states, and founded the Association of Hebrew and Jewish Teachers during university. He is married to Maria Elkin, with whom he has five children, including a daughter born circa 2016, and resides in Jerusalem, Israel. Elkin has served as a Member of the Knesset since 2006 (17th–25th Knessets), currently representing New Hope–The State Right (HaYamin HaMamlakhti). His political career includes affiliations with Kadima (2006–2008), Likud (2008–2020), New Hope (2020–2022, 2024–present), and National Unity (2022–2024). Key ministerial roles include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2013–2014), Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Environmental Protection (2013–2015), Minister of Higher Education (2015), Minister of Immigrant Absorption (2015–2016), Minister of Environmental Protection (2016–2020), Minister of Water Resources (2020), Minister of Jerusalem Affairs (2021–2022), and Minister of Housing and Construction (2021–2022). Currently, he serves as Additional Minister in the Ministry of Finance (responsible for South/North rehabilitation), a security cabinet member, and Chair of the Israel-Ukraine Friendship Group. Contact: Knesset email zelkin@knesset.gov.il, phone 02-6408838. Social media: X/Twitter @zeev_elkin, Instagram @zeev_elkin, Facebook Zeev Elkin. Controversies include criticism for hardline settler views (labeled 'genocide supporter' by some critics, low-confidence biased source), denial of Israeli government involvement in the 2019 NSO-WhatsApp hack, and an incident where his wife was accosted by Likud supporters in 2021. No major legal issues or convictions documented.