HaRav Chaim Drukman (b. 1933)

Rav Chaim Drukman was born in Poland in 5693 (1933). He was miraculously saved from the Holocaust and in 1944, during the war -- succeeded in making “aliyah” [immigrating] to Israel. He was accepted into the “Aliyah” Institute in Petach Tikva, and continued his learning in the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in K’far Haroeh. Later on he transferred to Yeshivat Merkaz Harav in Jerusalem where he became a “talmid muvhak”, a special student, of Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook, zt”l.

Alongside his studies, Rav Drukman became very active in the areas of youth and Jewish education. He served in the Army in the Nachal framework, as part of a Bnei Akiva Gar’in and has been a both a member of the Bnei Akiva Movement’s National Directorate and one of its mentors since 5712 (1952).

Out of a feeling of communal and national partnership and responsibility for the State of Israel Rav Drukman was instrumental in developing the concept of “Yeshivot Hesder”, in which students combine their yeshiva studies with Army service.

Since 5724, Rav Drukman has been the Rosh Yeshiva of the “Ohr Etzion” B’nei Akiva Yeshiva [High School] in Merkaz Shapira. In 5737 (1977) he founded the Ohr Etzion Advanced Yeshiva, which later became one of the largest Yeshivot Hesder in the country. Since the year 5756 (1996) Rav Drukman has headed the Center for B’nei Akiva Yeshivot and Ulpanot [religious girls high schools] in Israel.

Rav Drukman has long been and continues to be both a mentor of and a member of the Worldwide Secretariat of the B’nei Akiva World Youth Movement.

Rav Drukman was as a Member of Knesset [the Israeli Parliament] during the years 5737 through 5749. Within that framework, he also served as the Deputy Minister of the Religious Affairs Ministry, as a member in the Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, the Education Committee and the Aliyah [Immigration] and Absorption Knesset Committees.

Throughout the years Rav Drukman has worked and continues to tirelessly work at bringing together the various parts of the nation, out of a true love for the People of Israel. Since 5750 (1990), with the beginning of the mass aliyah from the former Soviet Union, Rav Drukman has served as the Chief “Dayan” [judge] at the Special Court for Conversions.