Ohad Tal

Ohad Tal
Faction represented in the Knesset
2022–	Mafdal–Religious Zionism
Personal details
Born	(1982-01-04) 4 January 1982 (age 42) Eilat, Israel

Ohad Tal (Hebrew: אוהד טל) is an Israeli politician who serves as a member of Knesset for the National Religious Party–Religious Zionism. He heads the Public Enterprises Knesset Committee, and is a member of the Security and Foreign affairs committee,^[1] Economics committee^[2] and Diaspora and absorption committee.^[3]

For 10 years, Tal led different educational initiatives that sought to connect the international community to Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In 2013, he embarked as an Emissary (Shaliach) of the Jewish Agency for Israel and World Bnei Akiva movement to the Netherlands.^[4]

After his time as an Emissary, Tal founded and directed the Religious Zionist Emissary (Shlichut) Center—a coalition of several nonprofit organizations responsible for diaspora relations and activities abroad among religious Zionist communities.^[5][6] Following his return to Israel, Tal served as Deputy Director of World Mizrachi Movement and led the operation to strengthen religious Zionist communities around the globe.^[7]

In 2021, Tal was appointed Director of World Bnei Akiva, the largest Zionist youth movement in the world. During the year, he served as a volunteer Chairman of several non-profit educational organizations,^[8] as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress and as a member of the presidium of the Presidium of the WZO Zionist General Council.^[9]

On the day that the lists were submitted for the 2022 election, the chairman of the Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, announced the placement of Tal as number 12 on the party's list for the Knesset, which ultimately won 14 seats.^[10]

On 13 November 2022, Tal began serving as an active member of the Knesset. After the government was formed, Tal began to serve as chairman of the Knesset committee for public projects.^[11] Under his tenure as chairman, the committee passed laws to lower the cost of living in Israel and reduce regulation and bureaucracy in the financial system as well as developing and securing a Jewish presence in the Negev and the Galilee areas.^[12][13]

Tal is an active member of the security and foreign affairs committee, leading several initiatives from the beginning of Operation Iron Swords to secure Israel's military and security positions. ^[14] Tal is also a member of the absorption committee and has been active in promoting Israel-diaspora relations^[15] as well as Israel-USA relations.^[16]

Tal heads the Knesset Caucus for Israel-USA Jewry Relations,^[17] the Knesset Caucus for Israeli Victory ,^[18] and is the Chair of the parliamentary friendship groups with Australia, Guatemala,^[19] and Honduras.

Tal Served in the IDF's Armored Corps as a tank commander and participated in Operation Defensive Shield. He holds both an Executive MBA in Public Policy and Administration from Hebrew University and a BA in Education Administration from Bar Ilan University. He is married to Tamar (née Shachal), the director of finance and human resources at the "Da’at" network of high schools and religious youth villages. The couple has four children and they live in Efrat.^[20]