Doron Perez
Rabbi Doron Perez דורון פרץ | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Occupation | Rabbi, community leader, educator, |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Jewish leader | |
| Position | Executive Chairman |
| Organisation | World Mizrachi |
Rabbi Doron Perez (Hebrew: דורון פרץ) is a South African-born Israeli Rabbi, educator and author. He is also the executive chairman of the World Mizrachi movement, having previously served as its chief executive.[1] In November 2025 he was appointed as President of the World Zionist Organization.[2]
Early life and education
Perez was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, and at 18 made Aliyah. He studied for 10 years in some of Israel's leading Yeshivot, served in the IDF as part of the Hesder program, and gained rabbinic ordination and a Bachelor of Education majoring in Jewish Philosophy[1] and a MA in Jewish History from Haifa University.[3]
Career
In South Africa
During his 15 years in South Africa, Perez fulfilled multiple leadership roles, as executive director of Mizrachi South Africa, the senior rabbi of the Mizrachi Shul, and head of the Yeshiva College school, the first and largest Torah school in Southern Africa.[4]
Mizrachi
Perez returned to Israel with his family during 2014 to assume his new position as chief executive of the World Mizrachi movement[5] and has driven the revitalization of the organization as a global movement.[6] Perez was behind the 2023 World Orthodox Israel Congress that welcomed over 1,000 delegates from 48 countries, representing more than 250 different cities and 1,000 Jewish organizations.[7]
In June 2024, Perez was presented with the Torat Tziyon Award from Yeshiva University.[8]
World Zionist Organization
In November 2025 Perez was elected as chairman of the World Zionist Organization to be shared on a rotational basis with incumbent WZO chairman Yaakov Hagoel.[9] Following a subsequent agreement, Rabbi Perez was elected as the President of the World Zionist Organization.[10]
Personal life
Rabbi Perez lives in Yad Binyamin with his wife Shelley and four children.[4] He is also the author of the books “Leading the Way”[3] and “The Jewish State From Opposition to Opportunity”.[11]
Perez' son, Daniel, was declared missing in action following the Gaza war before his death was confirmed in March 2024.[12] Daniel was a commander of a tank crew in the Israel Defense Forces. During the invasion his tank came under attack at Nahal Oz and was destroyed. One crewman was killed and Daniel and two other crewmen were listed as missing until March 2024. His other son, Yonatan, was lightly wounded in action.[13][14]
References
- 1 2 "Rabbi Doron Perez". Mizrachi. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "Father of former hostage Daniel Perez becomes WZO president | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 23 November 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Rabbi Doron Laurence Perez". Keren HaYesod. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- 1 2 "Rav Doron Perez". Mizrachi. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "Doron Peretz". Jewish Agency. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "Hundreds set to gather for first World Orthodox Israel Congress". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "1000 Mizrachi Leaders Gather for World Orthodox Congress in Jerusalem". Jewish Press. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "Rabbi Doron Perez presented prestigious award from Yeshiva University". Israel National News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ↑ Lidor, Canaan (11 November 2025). "Doron Perez elected to rotating WZO chairmanship". JNS.org. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ↑ https://www.timesofisrael.com/final-world-zionist-congress-deal-taps-doron-perez-for-president-hagoel-as-chairman/
- ↑ "The Jewish State From Opposition to Opportunity". Gefen Publishing. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ "IDF: Officer Daniel Perez was killed in fighting on Oct. 7, body held by Hamas in Gaza". Times of Israel. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ↑ "Israel at war: One brother married, the other missing - interview". The Jerusalem Post. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ↑ "Israeli son celebrates wedding while brother is missing". Reuters. Retrieved 7 November 2023.